When We Fall (Take the Fall, #2)(3)

Up this close, I’m very aware of how large he is, how powerful and self-confident. Somehow he got taller in prison, even though it’s not the most nurturing of places. He’s more muscular, leaner, more handsome…all around, Jase is more intimidating than he’s ever been. Yet, he follows me to Head’s Up when I work nights.

There’s no mistaking his bike…or him.

If he’s doing it because he still views me as his little sister’s best friend, or because he views me as something more than that, I don’t know.

“I don’t know…in the past few months, it felt like I had my very own guardian angel watching me,” I say lightly.

His face gives away nothing. “Good.”

“I applied to another place, though—two streets up on Queen Anne Avenue.”

His neutral expression immediately gets hard. “Why the f*ck would you do that?”

“It’s a paying job.” It’s also a job that gives me the right kind of experience for when I’m done with graduate school.

“You still gonna work there, even if you work for Emmett and me?”

I nod, pleased as anything that we’re still carrying on a two-way conversation. Usually, by now, I’ve said something stupid or some girl is shoving her tongue down his throat.

“I’ll let you know tomorrow night.” He holds out his hand. “Give me your phone, kitten.”

“I don’t have it with me.” I run my hands over the sides of my skirt. “No pockets.”

He pulls his out. “What’s your number?” After I give it to him, he says, “Just texted you. Make sure you save it.”

“Okay.”

He looks at me, his eyes so deep a blue that they are the exact color of the ocean at dusk. No man should have eyes so pretty.

I look at him. Yeah, I’m all kinds of sophisticated and cool. Why can’t I think of anything good to say?

Finally, he puts his phone up and says, “Don’t worry about the tables and chairs. I’ll have someone get those for you.”

“Wonderful,” I say brightly, then want to hurl myself into the street. “I—”

“Gotta go, Piper.” He pushes past me but somehow manages not to touch me at all.

“Bye,” I say to his retreating form. As soon as he’s out of sight, I drop my head into my hands and groan. “Could I be any lamer?”

“No, I don’t think you can be,” Rowan says, walking up beside me.

Lowering my hands while raising my head, I make at face at her. “Thanks, bestest friend in the world.”

“I take it Jase said no.”

“You would be wrong.” I smirk at her a little.

Rowan’s blue eyes widen and her mouth drops open. I fully enjoy this look on her. It doesn’t happen very often. “You. Are. Joking.”

I shake my head. “Nope, and I gave him my number.”

“I’m impressed.” Rowan hugs me. “Really impressed, and not just with Jase, but—” Letting go of me, she turns around. “All of this. I never dreamed—thank you.”

“You’re welcome. It was rather easy to do.”

“Me throwing something as classy as this is as easy as when you help me out at the garage.” Rowan smiles. “I’m sorry to say that I won’t be able to duplicate this amazingly gorgeous party.”

I let my head fall back for a minute. “How many times do I have to tell you—?”

“I know, I know. I don’t owe you anything,” Rowan repeats.

“Exactly. You’re my best friend and I wanted to give you this party. Besides, your brother helped a little.”

Rowan snorted. “Do tell.”

“He made sure to stay out of my way today while I decorated.” When I had arrived earlier this morning, I was disappointed to find that he had to leave. “He had to work or something.”

“I’m sure. He and Emmett are slammed most days.”

“Hopefully, Emmett will say yes to me working for them.”

The admiration in her eyes is enough to make me want to preen, but I restrain myself. Barely. “Holy shit, Piper. When you go for it, you go for it.”

With a huge grin on my face, I elbow her lightly in the side. “Learned from the best.” Everything is going to change now. For the good. I know it.





Chapter 2





Jase


I never should have agreed to allow her to move in with me, I think for the hundredth time. But she’d batted those damn lashes and I caved, I remind myself for the thousandth time.

I never cave. I never have trouble saying no to women. I do it all the time.

No, I won’t call you. No, you can’t spend the night. No, your hot friend can’t join—okay, so I do say yes to that. But Piper’s not like those women. She’s different in every way. Every way that would be good for anyone who isn’t me.

“Can I have the room on the second floor, the one with the big bay of windows in the back?” she asks as she lightly jogs down the stairs. Her full breasts bounce under her green sleeveless top while her denim skirt teases me with glimpses of the golden skin of her thighs. “It’s so pretty in there.”