Page 62 of Dead Pretty

I bet when this helmet comes off my hair, it will be stuck to my head, like a sweaty mess.

He looks perfect.

Gorgeous. Sexy. And so very cool.

He’s like a character out of the books I read. All broody and hot. Ex-military, now writer. Alpha with a side of nerdiness that makes all the girls swoon.

But I’m not swooning.

Okay, I’m totally swooning.

I’m stopping now.

Any … minute … now …

Jack swings a long leg over the bike and comes to stand in front of me. “Let me.” He brushes my hands away from the strap, which I stalled on, taking over.

His nearness sets me off again.

And I’m standing here, just gawking at him.

Because, you know, he’s so damn attractive.

In my defense, any girl would find it hard not to stare at Jack.

It would be like asking the stars not to shine at night. Im-frigging-possible.

The clasp clicks open, freeing me from the helmet. Jack gently pulls the helmet off for me.

“Thanks,” I say, hastily smoothing back the strands of hair stuck to my forehead and cheeks.

My cheeks are warm from the helmet heat and the internal heat that I have going on.

I sweep my braid back around over my shoulder, checking that it’s still in decent shape.

When I look up, I catch Jack watching me.

“What?” I say self-consciously, giving my braid a tug.

His lips curve into one of those easy smiles of his. Stepping closer, he tucks a strand of hair I missed behind my ear.

Everything inside of me stops.

His finger traces around the outer shell of my ear, making me shiver. “Nothing.” He shakes his head, eyes holding mine captive. “I just like looking at you.”

Right back at ya, babe.

Obviously, I don’t say this.

I just swallow down, feeling every single thing in this moment.

The heat in his eyes. The caress of his warm fingers against my cooling skin. The sentiment of his words.

I’m starting to quickly realize that the feelings I have for Jack aren’t just entirely sexual.

And that’s not good.

I don’t want to feel like this every time he is near me or touches me or says something nice to me.