All That Jazz (Butler Cove #1)(26)

“Hmmm,” he said finally. “And you’re … okay?”

“Yep.”

“And you’re not in love with him?”

He was referring to his ridiculous theory that I would fall madly in love with the first guy I slept with.

“Nope,” I sang, forcing levity to my tone.

“I usually hate to be wrong, but in this case I’m glad,” he said. “We’re here.”

Pulling into the parking lot, he found a spot. As soon as he killed the engine, he jumped out the car and slammed the door. Was I imagining he’d slammed it harder than usual?





JOEY CAME AROUND to my side of the truck outside the YMCA. “So how’s your ankle?”

“I took painkillers, but I can feel it still.”

“We could have rescheduled this. You should be keeping it elevated.”

Before I realized what he was doing, he’d scooped me up effortlessly from the truck seat, his arms around my back and under my knees.

I yelped in surprise. “Don’t you dare friggin’ drop me, Joseph.”

“Ye of little faith. Just hold on,” he said and kicked the door shut behind me.

“Of course I’m freaking holding on. If your arms give out, I plan on hanging from your neck.”

The scent of his warm skin and traces of laundry detergent invaded my senses, and I didn’t like the way my instinct was to breathe deeper. I held my breath and clung to him as he shifted and gathered me up against his hard body.

“Ahh. So there’s a chivalrous side to Joseph Butler,” I said.

His chest vibrated as he chuckled, maneuvering across the parking lot and toward the entrance of the YMCA.

He grunted as he reached the door. “And you’re not exactly light as a feather.”

“Joseph!”

Joey chuckled. “I’m kidding. Sort of.”

Luckily someone exited just as we strode up—an older guy in workout gear, his eyebrows raised in surprised amusement and held the door open for us.

“I’ll have to carry you all the way to your class.”

“Good.” I looked up at him innocently, “coz … Oh, Joooooeeeey, I forgot I had to visit the little girls’ room? Would you mind?”

He scowled at my sing-song tone and studied my expression for a second, then rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”

I really did need to go, but his suspicion was priceless. I stretched my mouth into a wide smile and nodded. “Seriously.”

“Fine.” He huffed and rolled his eyes. “I didn’t get to work out yet today anyway. Come on.”

I pointed out the signs for the bathroom as he strode past the check in desk and the amused expressions on the staff members’ faces.

“I’m not going in there with you.” Joey huffed. “Just so we’re clear.”

“Oh,” I said, disappointment lacing my tone. “I thought—”

“You thought what?” Joey reared his head back and then seeing my expression pursed his lips. “You’re kidding.”

“Yes, I’m kidding. You should have seen your face though.”

“Funny, ha ha.” He let me down, sliding me gently to my feet.

I let go, and grabbing the doorframe, hopped inside. Spinning on my good foot I went to close the door. Joey leaned up against the wall opposite the bathroom to wait for me. He took his phone from his pocket and one hand casually scrolled the screen, the other shoved into his jeans pocket. His dark blond hair was curling over his ears and the collar of his white shirt, teasing his forehead and looking artfully messy.

Oh shit buckets. I had it bad. So, so bad.

I quickly closed the door before he looked up.





AFTER MY CLASS, Joey gave me an arm rather than carrying me to the truck.

I tried to squash the disappointment. “What did you do while you waited?”

“Not much, went for a coffee, caught up on the news, and all my friends’ Facebook posts. So how did it go?”

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I pulled it out with my free hand.



Chase: Plans tonight?



I put it back without answering. “Good,” I answered Joey. “I passed.”

“Congrats,” he said. “You’re coming to school here in Beaufort, right? Let’s ride around and check it out.”

I glanced up to see if he’d read my text, but he was looking ahead to the truck.

“Sure,” I said, surprised at Joseph being so friendly to me. This was us hanging out again. “That’d be good.”

We rode down Boundary Street, heading toward the water and taking the curve to the right. The buildings got older and more beautiful. Old clapboard houses with double porches and moss swaying in the trees. Little alleyways strewn with crushed oyster shells ran between them. Boundary Street took us right past the University on the left. “You gonna find a place in town? These old houses are awesome. I bet you could find tons of them that have been converted to student apartments.”

I sighed. “I wish. I have to live at home and commute. Maybe sophomore year. Anyway, I haven’t been told yet whether I’m assigned to this campus or the Hilton Head gateway campus in Bluffton.”

“That would sure be closer to Butler Cove if you’re driving.”