Go to the bar? With Jesse? All six foot four of him and his dimples? “I don’t know. I had a pretty great night planned. It involved pasta casserole but without the pasta and someJerry Springerreruns.”
His lips twitched. “We can still finish the pasta-less casserole before we go, andJerry Springerwill still be here if the bar’s a dud. Although, I think you’ll have a good time. You haven’t met my family yet. My sister’s pretty awesome, and my brother will talk shit about me all night. You don’t want to miss an opportunity like that.”
She bit her bottom lip, and Jesse’s gaze immediately lowered to her mouth. Air halted in her lungs.
You’re not dating right now, Aspen. Look away. Look the heck away from the gorgeous man.
“The bar sounds good.” Dammit, she sounded croaky. “I’ll finish this and get changed.”
She swung around and her elbow hit the cutting board which sent the carrots flying.
Jesse lunged for the board. He moved so quickly that she flinched. A big, thought-he-was-going-to-hit-her-even-though-she-knew-he-wouldn’t-do-that flinch. The kind of flinch someone only did if they’d experienced a man’s violence before.
Her heart stopped.Shit, shit, shit.
He frowned, looking at her so closely, it felt like he’d finally worked her out. “Aspen—”
“Actually, I might go get changed now. I need a shower.” With a hurried step, she backed away, almost slipping on acarrot. He reached for her, but she took another quick step back. “I’m okay. I’ll just go now.”
Then she turned and walked, almost ran, to the sanctuary of her bedroom.
Jesse gotout of the car, watching as Aspen climbed out of the passenger seat. She’d barely said two words to him since she’d run out of the kitchen. Hell, he’d barelyseenher. She’d come out of her room so late, she hadn’t eaten any of the casserole he’d finished.
He stepped beside her onto the sidewalk. “You sure you don’t want to grab some food before we go in?”
“I’m okay.”
He sighed as they headed toward the door of CJ’s Bar.
His hand twitched to reach out and touch her. Put a palm on the small of her back. Or take her hand in his.
She wore high-rise jeans that hugged her curves and a tight black top that left nothing to the imagination. And her heels…fuck, they emphasized her sexy calves. How calves could be sexy, he had no idea. But hers were.
He fisted his hands as they stepped inside the bar. The smell of beer permeated the air, and the sounds of people talking and laughing were loud. The place was packed.
Aspen inched closer and, instinctively, he snaked an arm around her waist, grateful when she didn’t pull away. He wove through the crowd, keeping her flush against his side.
The second he spotted his brother and sister standing at a table, a grin tugged at his mouth. Clara was whacking Becket on the shoulder and appeared to be scolding him, while Becket looked really fucking pleased with himself.
It was nothing new. Their five-foot-nothing sister enjoyed putting each of them in their places, while Becket liked to get a reaction out of people.
“What did Becket do this time?” Jesse asked as they stopped at the table.
One side of Becket’s mouth lifted. “I said one innocent thing about my neighbor.”
Clara rolled her eyes. “His neighbor is an acupuncture client of mine, and he was being an ass.”
“Me? An ass?” Becket feigned disbelief.
“Yes, you,” Clara said with a little shove at Becket’s shoulder. His sister’s gaze shifted to Aspen, then to the arm Jesse still had around her waist. Interest lit Clara’s eyes. “Hi. You must be the new roommate we’ve been dying to meet. I’m Clara, the levelheaded sister of these two knuckleheads.”
Becket reached out a hand. “Becket, knucklehead number one.”
Aspen chuckled as she took his hand. “Aspen.”
Clara tilted her head. “You look familiar. Why?”
“You’ve probably seen me around town.” She inched to the side, and Jesse’s arm fell. Immediately, he wanted to tug her back.
