Falling In Read Online Free PDF Page B

after all.  
    Finally, realizing that he isn’t getting any spoilers out of me, he suggests we start on the boxes. We work quietly, but somehow it isn’t awkward. The silence is comfortable. But every time our arms or hands accidentally brush, or when I get a whiff of his scent that reminds me of spring, my body ignites, sending tiny prickles of electricity everywhere. And I mean ev-er-y-where . I’m very aware of his presence. I can feel the heat radiating off of him, and my hands become clammy from his nearness. It’s only been a little over an hour, but I’m thinking I might need to step away before I do something I regret. I curse my stupidity for bringing wine. Big effing mistake .
    I peek over at him as I place some books on his shelf and catch him watching me. I smile nervously and wipe the bead of sweat from my brow. Why is it so hot in here? I pull a hair tie from my wrist and gather my long brown curls in a haphazard knot on top of my head. Jake walks over, grabbing more books from the box I’m unloading. But before he turns back to the shelf, he stops right in front of me. Timidly, he reaches up and tucks a loose curl behind my ear. I close my eyes and inhale, butterflies fluttering away in my belly. When I open them, I meet his gaze head-on and immediately step back. He feels it, too. Whatever it is . I see it in his eyes. I need to leave. Now .
    Or like ten minutes ago.
                  “Um, I should go.” Grabbing my stuff quickly, I head for the door and swing it open.
                  But just before I head out, I hear, “Evangeline!” On a deep breath, I turn around.
                  “Thank you, for today.” He sighs, looking like he wants so say more, but doesn’t.
                  I nod curtly and walk away. I can feel his eyes on me as I go, stirring feelings in me that I don’t understand. Feelings that are forbidden. The scary thing is that I like it.
                  And that is why, from now on, I vow to keep my distance from my neighbor.
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Four
    Jake
    What the fuck am I doing?
    I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect her . I was fine. Okay, maybe not fine, but I was dealing. Coasting. Drifting. Fuck — I don’t know what I was. But this ? I don’t need this. Feeling like this.
    It’s been five days since she came over, and I fucked it up. I crossed a line. I know I did. But I just couldn’t help myself. She was here, and she’s so unbelievably beautiful. I had to touch that hair—that crazy, unruly, soft as fuck, curly hair.
    Five days of courteous nods and tight smiles followed that single touch. Why her? I swear, I must’ve been a fucking Nazi in a previous life, because this one is a joke. A sick and twisted joke . The only good thing I’ve got going is Ben. Whom—no thanks to me, but to Evangeline and her kids—is actually smiling and laughing again. He’s a kid again . They did in a week what I couldn’t do in eight months—get him to heal.
    I look over at their house as I sit alone on my porch. Drinking my fifth beer, I can’t help but picture her on that first day we met. Evangeline . She’s overenthusiastic, clever, and drop dead gorgeous. This tiny little thing. She reminds me of a fairy or pixie. Cake in hand that was fucking delicious, she strutted over here in that slinky dress that hugged every single damn curve. I watched her coming from the window and knew right then and there that she was trouble. And then she opened that sexy mouth, and I was gone. No one takes me by surprise, but she—she is bewildering. I knew with that ‘I’m not gonna say sorry because sorrys don’t change anything’ bit, she was different. She saw my pain, because she has pain, too. A kindred spirit . I don’t think it’s because of Cole because unfortunately, I actually like the lucky bastard. He seems to truly love her, and she loves him back. He’s just a nice guy. If I wasn’t lusting