Straight To You: A Novella (Taking Chances Series Book 1) (6 page)

“It’s those hormones in your head. You really couldn’t have picked a better time to fall in love, girl. I heard dopamine not only makes you happy, it also increases your attention span and improves your short-term memory.”

“Maybe that explains why I’ve been rather productive at studying lately. Just last night Jeremy brought dinner over and we studied all evening. Well, I studied and he surfed the web and did some work. I managed to brush up on three chapters’ worth of material and memorize a whole list of terms.”

Zoe dropped her jaw in disbelief. “My idea of a romantic evening never includes books or computers. Sounds a little boring to me, like you’re turning into an old married couple. How long has it been now anyway?”

“Well, counting from the first time he took me out to dinner, it’s been five months … and twenty-three days.”

“Not even half a year and the sizzle has died out already? How you can sit and study with all that hotness next to you is beyond me.” Zoe raised her eyebrows teasingly.

“I do get distracted at times.” Ashlynn blushed as she thought back to the previous night’s study date.

The evening had started off with their eyes focused on their laptops, but it wasn’t long before she caught Jeremy looking at her.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” Ashlynn brushed her hand across her cheeks to remove any stray crumbs left over from dinner.

Jeremy smiled, causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle. Her presence alone was enough to distract him, but he had found it incredibly hard to focus when she started pursing her lips and biting the pen she held in one hand. The way she wore her hair in a messy bun with several wavy tendrils falling around her eyes mesmerized him. This girl next door could definitely pull off the sexy librarian look.

“No, I’m just looking at how beautiful you are.”

Ashlynn flushed under his intense gaze. She never thought of herself as beautiful, but those blues eyes certainly had the power to convince her otherwise.

“And I was thinking about doing this.” He leaned in close and planted soft kisses on the corners of her mouth.

In the next moment, her laptop somehow found its way to the coffee table and all notions of studying left her. He began to kiss her neck slowly. “You taste so good, Ash.” He marveled at how much sweeter she tasted than the ice-cream they had eaten for dessert.

Ashlynn’s heart fluttered as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. She had never been kissed this way before, but she had to admit she liked it
.
He was quickly tearing down her reserves with each gentle touch of his lips. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the armrest, her body eagerly responding to Jeremy’s every touch.
Am I dreaming?
It was still hard to believe a man like Jeremy would pay attention to her, much less desire her like this. Her shoulders relaxed as the heat of his breath lingered along the curve of her neck, making its way down to her collarbone. A nagging thought crossed her mind, however, when Jeremy’s hand caressed the bare skin that was exposed at her waist. His fingers soon found their way underneath her pink pullover sweater and began tracing a path up her body.
Whoa, hold on.
At that moment, a toilet flushed upstairs in Ben and Melanie’s bedroom, bringing her back to reality. She grasped his hand and gently pushed it away. “Hey Jeremy, can we talk?”

A look of surprise crossed his face. “Sure.” He felt certain she had been responding well to his kisses. What could be wrong? “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Ashlynn’s cheeks reddened as she sat up. “No, no, that was … you were amazing.” She nervously tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s just that we were moving kind of fast. Faster than I’m used to. Do you mind if we slow down?” She looked expectantly at him.

“Uh, sure. Just how slow do you want to go?”

“The kissing was fine. Just, no, um, you know, exploring?”

“Exploring, huh?” he asked with a grin. “You mean no touching?”

“Uh, yeah. Is that okay?”

“But you know, I hadn’t touched anything of significance yet. You were assuming I was going to.”

“I know. I guess I’m just being cautious and giving you advanced notice. Kind of like how the traffic light turns yellow to warn you to stop.”

“I always thought the yellow light meant for you to speed up.” Jeremy raised his eyebrows in amusement. So this was what dating a good girl was like. None of the women from his previous relationships had ever asked him to take it slow before. But that was exactly why he had been drawn to Ashlynn, because she was different. He liked how genuine and trustworthy she was. He even liked the challenge she was posing for him right now. “I’m kidding. I understand what you’re saying. And yes, I’ll be sure to keep these where you can see them.” He held his hands up and winked.

Ashlynn exhaled in relief when she saw no hint of annoyance in his eyes. “I’m so glad you don’t mind. The guys I’ve dated before weren’t quite so understanding.”

“I’m a patient guy.” It wasn’t the first time he had made a concession in order to further a negotiation. “I know good things come to those who wait.”

She reached over and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “It’s not that I don’t
want
to do more. Believe me, I do.”

“Oh, I believe you.” Jeremy’s smug expression revealed he knew exactly what kind of influence he had on her.

Ashlynn’s cheeks flushed. “It’s just that I think it’s important to save some things, you know, for marriage. Some things are too intimate and sacred to be shared with just anyone. Not that you’re just anyone. You’re my boyfriend and that makes you very special. But you know what I mean, don’t you?”

Jeremy swallowed hard as he took in the meaning behind Ashlynn’s words. He finally grasped what it was about her that seemed so pure. “Let me make sure I understand. You’re saying you haven’t been with anyone before?”

Ashlynn shook her head, her eyes filled with the same innocent quality he remembered seeing in them when she was twelve. “Of course not. Not even close.”

“When you say not even close, just how far are we talking about?”

“I guess you could say I’m a first base kind of girl.”

“First base, huh?” Jeremy had assumed most, if not every, woman in their twenties had experienced their fair share of intimate relationships. But not Ashlynn; she had the conviction to stand firm. Knowing this side of her character motivated him to cherish her all the more. Sure, this was a different ball game from the one he was used to playing, but he would learn to play by the rules. He leaned over and gently kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and lastly, her mouth. “Then I’ll make sure I don’t go stealing any bases.”

“Earth to Ashlynn.” Zoe’s voice sounded in Ashlynn’s ears, bringing her back to the present. “You’ve got it bad, girl.”

“Sorry.” Ashlynn blushed. “I was just thinking about last night. I think I finally found a guy who doesn’t mind going at my pace. We talked about taking it slow and he was okay with it.”

“Really? That’s nice... yet kind of surprising.”

“What do you mean? Jeremy’s really considerate. He listens and cares about what I say. He’s nothing like Derrick or any other guy I’ve dated for that matter.”

“You’ve got that right. He’s a lot hotter by far,” she said with a wink, “and obviously very experienced. Which means he doesn’t know the first thing about taking it slow.”

“How do you know what he’s like?”

“Don’t tell me you think Jeremy’s been holed up in a cave all his life. Guys like him are chick magnets. They have this aura about them that girls are drawn to and they know how to use their charm to their advantage. You can see it in how they carry themselves when they walk, how they smile at you like you’re the only person in the room-”

“And how they kiss?” Ashlynn interjected in a hesitant tone. She was starting to be keenly aware of the truth behind Zoe’s words. Only someone well practiced could use their lips and hands to coax her to the edge of her limits. She had to admit she had trouble keeping a level head whenever she was near Jeremy. He made her want to do things she had never considered doing with a guy.

Things that made her blush even more than usual.

“Exactly. So he is as good of a kisser as I thought, isn’t he?”

“The best,” she answered with rosy cheeks. “Not that I have many guys to compare with, but yeah, he definitely knows what he’s doing.”

“See, that’s what I’m saying. He’s experienced - with a capital E. And experienced guys know how to attract their prey. They’ll take it slow when they need to, if it’s to their advantage. Then when the time is right, they pounce.”

Ashlynn shook her head. “You’re making Jeremy sound like some wild animal. He’s not like that. He’s just a very charismatic and likeable guy. You can’t fault him for being himself. He’s always been charming, even back when he was in high school.” Memories of him being flocked by girls from their former youth group suddenly filled her mind. First, Ben had been on Jeremy’s case and now Zoe? She was starting to wonder if their concerns were valid. “He’s just friendly and completely … harmless.”

Zoe raised an eyebrow at the lack of conviction in Ashlynn’s voice.

Ashlynn sighed as she considered how captivating his smile could be. Not to mention the sweet words that seemed to flow like honey from his lips. “Okay, maybe harmless is not the right word to use.”

“If anyone’s harmless here, it would be you.” She gestured to the conservative neckline of Ashlynn’s peasant blouse. “That’s why I’m letting you know what you’re getting yourself into. You have to know how a lion thinks in order to tame him.”

“I don’t know the first thing about lion taming, literally or figuratively. And I really don’t think I could change him even if I wanted to.” She sighed. “Just how experienced do you think he is?”

“That, my dear, is for you to find out, if you dare. I prefer to keep some things a mystery.”

“Wouldn’t you want to know everything about the guy you’re dating?”

“Only when I’m ready to hear it. We’ve all got baggage from past relationships that would be better left at the lost and found, some preferably never to be found. It’s a delicate process, sharing about one’s past. You can’t just hang your dirty laundry out on your first, or even fifth, date. Some people aren’t ready to see your grandma undies that soon. That’s why you show your cute, lacy stuff first, metaphorically speaking. Once you’ve established a stronger connection, then you start sharing bits and pieces.”

“Uh, all I got from that was a visual of a clothesline. I guess I can’t really relate. I don’t mind sharing about my dating experiences.”

“That’s because you’ve got a tiny tote bag. Me, I’ve got several carry ons and even a trunk stashed somewhere.” She narrowed her green eyes. “As for your Prince Charming, I’m betting he has a suitcase... or two. Just don’t be too shocked when he starts opening them up for you.” Zoe turned toward the front door as the bell jingled. “Speaking of...”

Ashlynn looked up to see Jeremy walk into the store. He had on a navy V-neck sweater that brought out the blue in his eyes. He smiled as soon as he saw her.

“Hi honey.” Jeremy bent down to kiss Ashlynn on the cheek. “I know I’m early, but I couldn’t wait to see you.”

“Oh, hi. It’s fine.” Her spirits lifted at the sight of him, though Zoe’s words still hung like a dark cloud over her head. “Hey Zoe, is it okay if I take my lunch now?”

She waved her hand, gesturing for them to go. “Of course.” Then she leaned in and whispered in Ashlynn’s ear, “I wouldn’t want to keep a hungry lion waiting.”

EIGHT

Jeremy took Ashlynn’s hand in his as they walked down the street. He smiled when he caught a glimpse of their reflection in a passing store window. The thought of settling down once made him cringe, but not anymore. He would be the first to admit that Ashlynn was doing a good job of negotiating her way into his heart. He clasped her hand in both of his and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss.

“Hmm?” She peered up at him through her lashes and saw tenderness in his blue eyes. “What was that for?”

“I’m happy, that’s all. So happy to have found you again after all these years.”

“Me, too.” The doubt darkening her hazel eyes contradicted her words.

“Everything okay, Ash?” He reached over to smooth the frown lines on her forehead. “You look worried.”

Worried? Without a doubt. Zoe’s comments still weighed on her mind and heart. They had gotten her thinking that there was a lot she still needed to find out about Jeremy. “Nothing’s wrong exactly. It’s just that I feel like there’s so much I don’t know about you and your life after you moved to Boston. A lot can happen in twelve years and I missed out on it all.”

“Sure, well, there’s a lot I want to know about you, too. But there’s no need to rush,” he replied with an amused grin. “There’s plenty of time to catch up on our pasts.”

“I guess so. But it wouldn’t hurt to start now, would it?”

“I can see you’re eager. So, what kind of things do you want to know about?”

“Well, how about what your first job out of college was or any other jobs you’ve had since then. Places you’ve traveled to besides China. Girls you’ve dated … things like that.” Ashlynn’s voice trailed off as she looked expectantly at Jeremy.

He raised an eyebrow at the direction her questions were heading. That last topic was not one he was ready to tackle. “That’s a lot for one conversation. Which question do you want me to answer first?”

“Um, maybe the last one? About your previous relationships?”

“Okay,” Jeremy replied after a deep breath. “Why don’t we sit down.” He pointed to a cafe at the end of the block. “Come on, this is the place I was telling you about. They have the best sandwiches.”

They entered the restaurant and a server directed them to a table near the entrance. They had only sat down and picked up their menus when a woman spotted them from across the room.

The blonde sauntered over in her red heels and placed one perfectly manicured hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. “Jeremy! I thought that was you.”

Jeremy looked up in surprise. “Nicole, hi. How are you?” He turned to Ashlynn. “This is Ashlynn, my girlfriend. Ash, this is Nicole.”