Wrecked (Clayton Falls #3)(12)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

The waiter came over and refilled Jake’s water glass. He’d already downed all of his. I scanned the menu. The shrimp salad sounded perfect.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“Coaching the high school football team.”

“Really? I’d have thought community service meant trash pickup or something.”

He played with the straw in his water. “I thought the same thing, but evidently I have special skills.”

“Are you looking forward to it? Is that more your speed than boats?”

“It would be if I had any idea how to coach. I can play, but throwing a football is different than telling someone else how to do it.”

“They wouldn’t have asked you if they didn’t think you could handle it.”

He rested his hand on the table. “And you’re telling me you’re not an optimist?”

I laughed.

“What brought you to Wilmington?” He took another sip of water, not bothering to look at the menu.

“Oh, I just wanted a change of scenery really.” I so didn’t want to go into my past. It was definitely not good first date material.

“You do realize how sketchy that sounds, right?”

“Sketchy?”

“A change of scenery?”

“Are we really going to talk about sketchy? You hit on me right after waking up from a medically induced coma.” The best deflection was usually humor.

“Good point. Okay, new topic. Where do you live in Wilmington? Are you in the city, or outside a little?”

Before I could answer, the waiter came over to take our orders. I ordered my shrimp salad and Jake ordered crab cakes.

“I have an apartment about twenty minutes from downtown.”

“Cool. That’s got to be fun.”

“It is most of the time.”

My stomach growled.

“I guess you’re hungry.”

“Yeah, I forgot to have breakfast.”

He shook his head. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

“I know. Does coffee count?”

He laughed. “Not at all.”

“All right, I’ll try to remember that.”

The waiter returned with our food, and I dug in. The shrimp was perfect. “Have you always lived here?”

“Yeah. I’ve been here my whole life.” He didn’t sound too thrilled about it, and I wondered if it was the town or something else.

“That’s cool. Does your brother still live in town too?”

“Uh huh. He and Molly actually bought her parents’ house.”

“Really? I didn’t realize she was also from here.”

“Yeah, we all grew up together.” He took another bite of his crab cake.

“That’s nice.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Are you an only child?”

“Nope. I’m the baby of the family. My brother was three years ahead of me in school.”

“Oh, okay. Ben and I are only eighteen months apart.”

“Really? Isn’t that called Irish Twins or something?”

“I think that’s even closer. But we might as well have been. I don’t know how my mom did it.” He earned points by saying that. Any guy that thought about his mother’s wellbeing deserved credit.

“I bet you gave her a run for her money.”

He laughed. “Maybe just a little.”

The waiter came by to clear the dishes and leave the check.

Jake grabbed the check before I could. “I’ve got it.”

“It’s okay. I can get mine.”

“You drove here. It’s the least I can do.”

I smiled. “When you put it that way…”

“Want to take a walk on the beach?” Jake waited to get his credit card back from the server.

“Sure. It’s beautiful out.”

He took my hand again, and we walked down to the sand. I started to bend down to unstrap my sandals. “Here, let me help you.” He quickly unstrapped them, and I slipped them off.

I couldn’t ignore the thrill that went through me as his hands touched my legs. “Thanks.”

“You’re very welcome.”

I picked up my sandals, and we walked down toward the water. “I forgot to mention it earlier, but my friend Mel said hi.”

“Oh, cool. Are you guys close?”

“Very. She’s my best friend.” I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

“I don’t remember her too well, but if she’s your friend, she’s got to be cool.”

“She remembers you.”

“Yeah?” He bent down to pick up a shell.

“I have a feeling most girls do.”

He shrugged. “A few.”

“You asked about my recent dating. What about yours?” I don’t know what it was, but being out on the beach made me more forward.

“There isn’t much. I just hadn’t met anyone too special.” He emphasized hadn’t.

“That’s too bad.”

“I have a feeling that may have changed though…” He once again took my hand. I liked that he kept doing that. It was sweet. The last guy I was with never held my hand.

“If you haven’t figured it out yet, I like you, Emily.” He tugged on my hand slightly to pull me closer. “I really like you.”

“I— ” I was cut off when his lips met mine. He moved his against mine gently. He pulled away, and I looked up at him. “I like you too.”

He smiled. “I figured that out when you kissed me back.”

“I could have just been so surprised I didn’t know how to react.”

“Let’s make sure.” He leaned over and kissed me again. This time it wasn’t quite as gentle. Even so, he didn’t move to deepen it. I’d have expected a guy like him to move things fast. I liked that he didn’t. He let it stay just as it was meant to be—a kiss.

“Yeah, I like you.”

He laughed. “Good.”

He wrapped his arms around me. I leaned my head on his chest. It was strong—muscular, just the way it looked.

“When can I see you again?” he mumbled against my hair.

“I’m not sure.”

He moved away so he could look at me. “I thought we just established we both like each other. We kissed—twice. Are you really doubting whether I’m getting a second date?”

“No. You’re getting a second date, I just don’t know when.”