Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(27)

"Oh, um…Thursdays are bad for me." Of course she would pick the one night that I see Sarah every week. And just like that, all of the guilt and responsibilities come crashing back down on my shoulders. It was one night of freedom, but it was just long enough to remind me how great it is to feel like myself again. All good things must come to an end, right? The universe has never been kind to me. I should have predicted Jess's only free night would be a Thursday.

"Okay, how about Friday?" She smiles.

"Yeah, that works," I say in somber tone.

"What's going on? You just flipped on me again. You went from funny and sweet, to sad and distant."

I let out a loud breath feeling bad that I keep doing this to her. "No, I'm fine. I just don't want to wait until Friday to see you again." It's the truth, but not the answer to her question. "Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow night?"

"Are you sure you don't want to wait the mandatory three days between dates?" she asks. I have no idea if she is kidding or not, because she looks worried about my answer.

"Yes, I'm positive I don't want to wait three days. If you decide to avoid me for three days just to play hard to get, I will remind you that I'm a detective and I know where you work." I joke trying to lighten the mood again.

"Brett, I've asked you out twice now. It's safe to assume that I don't understand the concept of playing hard to get."

"Good, then its decided. Dinner tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at seven. Oh and Jess, please don't let Kara dress you this time. I won't be able to handle seeing you dressed like that again without being able to touch every inch of that sexy body." And just like that, my mission is accomplished. Her eyes go wide and her cheeks turn pink as she sucks in a shocked breath. She looks so damn adorable it causes my dick to get hard all over again.





Jesse

AFTER BRETT dropped me off last night, I stayed awake for hours replaying every moment of our date to Kara. I ran directly into her room jumping on her bed to wake her up. I needed someone to help me analyze this whole situation. Kara isn't exactly the best person at giving at advice about guys, though. It usually ends with her saying, "...then just buy crotch-less panties, and he will be eating out of your hand in no time." Although, at midnight on a Sunday, I didn't have any other options.

"Holy shizzle, Jesse, you twisted tongues with half of the Sexy Detective Duo!" she shrieks when I get to the kiss at the bowling alley.

"I KNOW! It was such a good kiss too! His lips were so soft, but still in command. He didn't drool on me at all, either. He even had good breath after drinking a zillion beers. God, it was amazing. Then, we laid on the couch for hours just making out. He does this thing with his teeth on my neck-"

"Oh my God, Officer Hot Ass is a freak in the bed!" She interrupts hopping to her feet and jumping on the bed, mimicking me a few minutes earlier.

"No he's not!"

"Wait! Do you have firsthand knowledge of his bedroom behavior?” she asks, raising her eyebrows questioningly.

"No!"

"Damn it! Why not? I'm dying to know what that man is hiding under those slacks."

"Jesus, Kara. Even if I did sleep with him, you will never know what he is hiding in his pants."

"What? I thought we were best friends? Best friends tell each everything."

"We are, but that's a bit much don't you think?"

"Fine, I don't need details, but you have to at least compare it to a vegetable it resembles. I bet it’s a large zucchini." She smiles, staring off into space lost in her imagination. "If it will make you more comfortable, I'll start. That guy Jason I was seeing last week, was a small carrot. I'm talking the baby ones you dip in ranch dressing." She winks as I stare at her with my lips curled in disgust.

"That's terrible, Kara."

"You're telling me. I wasn't even sure they made condoms that tiny."

"Oh God, this conversation is over. I need to go to bed. We have to be up in five hours."

"You didn't finish telling me about the rest of the date," she whines as I walk out of her room.

"I'm guessing it went really well since he's taking me to dinner tomorrow night," I say, walking down the hall in to my own room. Just as I start to close my door I hear her scream, "Shut. Up."



THE NEXT morning, I can't contain the huge smile on my face as the guys walk into Nell's. However, Brett looks anything but happy. If it wasn't for Caleb behind him with the world’s biggest grin, I would have immediately run to hide in the back office. My mind come up blank as I try to figure out what could have ticked him off in the eight hours since he dropped me off. So instead, I go straight to the point.

"What's wrong?" I ask as my heart begins to race. Maybe he regrets last night? We had been drinking, but by the time he drove me home and he gave me that toe-curling kiss outside my door, we were both very sober.

"Nothing," he answers shortly as Caleb slaps him on the back of the head.

"Stop being a dick, you’re scaring the poor girl," Caleb scolds before looking back at me and saying, "Jesse, you little minx," and flashing me his million watt smile.

"What are you talking about?" I ask completely confused, but none the less embarrassed.