Page 86 of Five Alarm Kiss

Jess answered on the second ring. “Hey, Jake. What’s up?”

“I need a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“A huge one. I need you to go pick up Grand from my house and take her shopping,” he said. “Or lunch. Or even better, shopping and lunch.”

“Right now? She’s?—”

“Jess,” he interrupted. “I need this.” He glanced at Laurel, who was blushing furiously, obviously having realized he wastalking about getting rid of his pushy little squatter so they could be alone.

“I can’t go get her. I’m in the middle of baking cookies.”

Fuck the cookies!

“Jessa, I’m beg?—”

“With Grand,” she interrupted, sounding pleased with herself and probably sporting her annoying I-love-torturing-my-brother grin. “Atmyhouse.”

Relief tackled him like a linebacker. “She’s there?”

“Yep. And after we’re done, she’s going home. Toherhouse. The carpet smell has dissipated enough to meet her approval, so she’s not going back to your place.”

I’m buying a fucking lottery ticket!

“Messa, I could kiss you right now.”

“Um,eww!” Jess groaned, the cringe in her voice unmistakable.

“You know what I mean.”

His sister laughed. “I do, and I want details.”

“Not a chance in hell.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Laurel had been uncharacteristically brave in the car when she’d told Jake to take her home. But now that they were standing in his house, her bravado disappeared quicker than brownies in a roomful of six-year-olds.

“Are you hungry?” Jake asked, motioning for her to sit down on the couch. “I can make you something to eat.”

“No, thank you.” She was still full from the ice cream, but even if she hadn’t been, her stomach was tied into so many nervous knots, she doubted she’d be able to keep anything down.

Her legs were shaking by the time she reached the couch. When she started to sit down, her knees practically buckled. Her butt hit the cushion with a bounce.

“How ’bout something to drink?”

“Water would be great.” She folded her hands in her lap, not knowing what else to do with them.

Jake joined her a moment later with an ice-cold, bottled water. He twisted off the cap and handed it over.

“Thank you.” She took a drink, the cool liquid lessening the cottony feel of her mouth.

She handed the bottle back, in case he wanted some. He recapped it and set it on the coffee table. Without thinking, she moved it off of the wood and onto a coaster.

Jake grinned.

“What? You’ll get a ring.”

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