Breathe Read Online Free PDF

me.
    “I am here to do my job, sir, and nothing more.”
    “Do me a favor and don’t call me ‘sir.’ I am just two years older than you.”
    I took the plate, careful not to touch his hands, and stepped back. “Okay,” I replied, hoping I could leave.
    “So, is he your boyfriend?”
    He caught me off guard with his question, and I halted in my tracks.
    “Who? Marcus?”
    A crooked grin appeared on his face. He was hard not to stare at. “If Marcus is the guy who seemed quite determined to make sure you made no mistakes tonight, then yes.”
    “No, he is…he is a friend.” It was strange saying those words. I’d never called anyone a friend in my life.
    Jax smiled and leaned down to whisper close to my ear. “I hope someday soon you will consider me a friend as well. I don’t have very many of those.”
    My face grew hot, and my skin tingled at his nearness. His warm breath on my skin made it hard to form words. I swallowed hard, trying to focus on his comment and not swooning at his feet like some crazy lunatic. “I only have one,” I blurted out like an idiot.
    Jax frowned. “I find that hard to believe”
    I shrugged. “I don’t have time for friends.”
    Jax stepped forward, opened the door for me, and smiled. “Well, I hope we can find some time in your busy schedule because I happen to be in need of a friend myself…. Someone who doesn’t care who I am…. Someone who doesn’t laugh at my jokes when they’re not funny. If I’m not mistaken, you could care less about the fact I am on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine this month, and on the bedroom walls of every teenage girl in America.”
    His comment seemed to ease my momentary lapse of common sense from his nearness, and I shook my head. “Not every teenage girl in America. You have never been on my walls. So, I guess you’re right, I don’t care.” I walked away, leaving him standing behind me.

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    Chapter Three
    Marcus waited on me in the kitchen, drinking sweet tea and talking to Ms. Mary. He stood when he saw me. “Well, how did it go?”
    “He thought I was a fan who slid through the cracks and wanted to know how I did it. I informed him I had replaced my mother because of her pregnancy, I wasn’t a fan, and I didn’t realize this house belonged to him when I took the job.”
    Marcus frowned. “How did he take your explanation?”
    “I don’t think there will be any problem now he knows I am not a crazy fan about to slip him my number on a dinner napkin. I doubt he notices my existence from now on.”
    Marcus raised his eyebrows as if he didn’t believe me.
    Ms. Mary walked forward and took the tray from my hands. “Good, I knew you were going to work out just fine. Now, go change out of your uniform and head on home. You won’t be expected in until seven in the morning.”
    I hurried to the laundry room to change. Once I changed back into my own clothing, I headed for the door. Ms. Mary hummed while she cleaned, and Marcus stood leaning against the door waiting.
    “It’s late, did you drive or walk?” he asked when I got to the door.
    “I rode my bike.”
    He opened the door, and we walked out into the night together. “Let me put it in the bed of my truck and take you home.” He genuinely seemed worried about me.
    “Okay, thank you.”
    * * * *
    Once we were both in the truck, I relaxed and leaned back on his worn leather seats. “So, how long have you worked at the Stone Mansion?”
    He looked over at me. “I just started last summer. I only work summers here. I’m a local, but I am currently attending the University of Alabama. This is a summer job for me.”
    “It’s obviously just a summer job for me too. I will begin my senior year this fall. We just moved here from Tennessee.”
    We sat in silence for a few minutes, and I watched out the window as families walked down the sidewalks still in their beach clothing. I’d never seen the beach before we moved here. I couldn’t help but be fascinated