Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(32)

"Pretty much. Well, I didn't pay for them. I was on a scholarship. So technically, the college paid for them."

"Scholarship?" His eyes perk in surprise.

"Yeah, I had an academic scholarship until I got my first degree."

"Wait, you already have a degree?"

"Yep, I have a bachelors and two associate degrees."

"Wow! What are you still doing in school then?"

"I didn't exactly think my Bowling Alley Management degree was going to take me very far in life. Honestly, I'm a little creeped out by all the sweaty shoes. I learned to enjoy the sport from my cute professor, but I'm not cracked up to spend forty hours a week in a bowling alley."

"Oh my God, you really did hustle me yesterday." His loud accusation makes me playfully bite my lip and look away. "Shit, that's even hotter than the dress." I barely hear him mumble to himself.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"No, please don't apologize. Who else knows about this little skill of yours? I believe Caleb needs to join us next time for a bowling excursion. You can win back some of my money he stole in poker last month. You'll be like my own secret weapon." I barely contain my excitement as he talks about future plans together. Just the idea of a second date brings an instant smile to my face.

"Judging by that smile, I think you like the idea of hustling Caleb too. I've got to tell you babe, I like that a lot." He flirts, and we both start laughing.

When the check arrives, Brett doesn't even look at the total. He just hands his credit card to the waiter. My eyes must have grown wide, because he shakes his head and says, "Not one word, gorgeous. This has been completely worth whatever is on that total line." He essentially hushes me before I even have a chance to comment.





Brett

AS WE leave Lang's, I slide my hand down Jesse's back, stopping just above the curve of her ass. God, she looks incredible tonight. I've been wanting to peel off that dress from the first second I laid eyes on her. I never noticed it before, but I think I might have a slight obsession with heels now. For such a short woman, Jesse has two of the most amazing legs I have ever seen. But then again, the whole Jesse package is sexy.

I was shocked at dinner when she told me she already has a couple of college degrees. I mean, seriously, I pegged her all wrong. This isn't a girl stuck in a job at a coffee shop. Jesse is a woman with so many dreams, she doesn't even know how to focus in one place. I dig smart girls, and listening to her talk tonight, only reinforced that. She might be quiet and shy at first, but once you break her out of that invisible shell, she's unbelievable.

When she opened herself up to me tonight about her childhood, it killed me. The last thing I was trying to do was intimidate her with my car or restaurant choice. I just wanted to take her someplace nice and do it in style. She deserves that. I hate that my attempts to impress her actually brought out some painful feelings for her. I wish she didn't feel like that, but I loved the way she fearlessly opened up to me. I hope a little insight into my background brought her some semblance of comfort. She has nothing to be ashamed of. We all have a past. Especially me.

"It's still early. You want to go for a drive?" I ask as we leisurely stroll towards my car.

"Yeah, sure." She innocently lifts her big brown eyes in my direction. It's all I can do to wait the last three steps before pinning her against my car. I catch her off guard because she stumbles forward, but I won't let her fall. I gently lift her off her feet, spinning her to face me. One hand sifts into her hair, the other tracing down her waist.

"What if we go back to my place instead? I've got some beer and we can pretend to watch another movie." I don't wait for her to answer. I lean down and begin to trail kisses over her exposed shoulder.

"Mmm, that sounds like a much better plan." She turns her head, exposing her neck, and inviting me in for another taste of her skin. Who am I to turn down a beautiful lady? But before I can kiss her again, she buries herself in my chest. Her arms are curled between us as she snuggles into me.

"I had fun tonight," I say while enjoying the moment of closeness. It's been a long time since I've been able to share something so simple with someone.

"Mmmhmm," is her only response.

I think she has taken this moment from hot and sexy, and down shifted it to sweet and innocent. But then she loops her hands under my arms, grabbing my shoulders, and pulls me down to kiss the red mark she left last night. She ends the lingering kiss with a wet dart of her tongue, licking up my neck.

I let out a growl, "I need to get you home."

"I agree," she moans.

"In you go." I pull open the door, jokingly shoving her inside as quickly as possible. Luckily, she gets my joke and starts giggling. Unfortunately for me, it causes my dick to go ridged, and I have to ride home uncomfortably trapped in my pants.



WHEN WE arrive at my apartment, I waste no time grabbing two beers out of the fridge. I walk over to see her sitting on the couch with her jacket still wrapped tightly around her. I place the beers on the table in front of her and remember my manners.

“Here, let me take your jacket."

"No, it's okay. I shouldn't stay long," she says, retreating back into herself. Jesse is unlike any woman I have ever met. She is either shy and reserved, or feisty and hilarious. It's like dating two different women. I thought we made such progress at dinner. She opened up to me about her past, but it seems the drive home has set us right back into insecure territory. It's going to be my personal mission to shatter the shell that she uses as a shield.