Waiting for Love ((Waiting) Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

row of trees. He’s helping me by picking the apples that are too high for me to reach. He’s always treated me well and now that I’m an adult, I consider him to be one of my friends. We don’t get the chance to hang out that often since I’m busy with school and he works full-time as an IT specialist. If Jake weren't Hailey’s brother, I would definitely be interested in him. He’s absolutely gorgeous with his curly black as midnight hair and piercing blue eyes. He and Hailey actually look quite a bit alike but where her eyes lean more toward a light turquoise, his are closer to a baby blue and they have a dark blue ring around the iris. As a result of his good looks he has quite the reputation for being a heartbreaker, but from what I’ve heard, he’s honest and upfront about preferring to do the friends with benefits thing, much like me.
          “Why do you think that you and I have never slept together?” Jake completely shocks me with his out of the blue question, so much so, that my mouth is literally hanging open. It takes me a minute to even formulate a reply.
    “The main reason for me, is that you’re Hailey’s brother. If you guys weren’t related, I’d be all over you like poison ivy, big boy.” I wink at him before I return to picking more apples.
    “I guess I don’t see the issue with me being Hailey’s brother. Why does that matter? Sex is sex; it doesn’t have to cloud anything.” He shrugs as if it’s no big deal…as if we’re merely talking about the weather or what we had for dinner last night.
    “Yeah, but your sister is my best friend and out of respect for her, I won’t sleep with you. You, my friend, are off limits.” I poke him in the chest for extra emphasis. He catches my hand in his, sensually rubbing my wrist with his thumb.
    “You and I will sleep together, Shelby, it’s inevitable. It may not happen anytime in the immediate future, but mark my words, it will happen.” He smiles cockily at me before letting go of my hand. I pause to pick a few more apples and check them over for worm holes and bruises before placing them in my tote.
    “Jake, I think you’re being a bit delusional and we can agree to disagree on this issue.” His only reaction to what I say is a small quirk of his lips. We spend the rest of our time picking apples in companionable silence.
     
    ***
     
        I sleep in on Sunday morning and finally drag myself out of bed at noon to do some much-needed studying. I’m doing well in all of my classes right now and I have to make sure this continues so I can maintain my high-grade point average. I’m passing math with a solid B, solely thanks to Jeff and his mad tutoring skills. He’s helped me to understand why we have to do things a certain way and not just how to do it. It’s really helpful if I can actually grasp the concepts and not just know the steps I need to follow.
          I’m sprawled on my bed with textbooks and notebooks spread out all around me when Hailey peeks her head in my room.
    “Shelb, are you free tonight? I’m working at a faculty cocktail party and we’re short one server.”
    Hailey works for a catering company that’s owned by a family friend. She makes great money working these events and from time to time I’ll fill in when they’re short staffed.
    “Yeah, I can do it. What do I have to wear and I need the time and location.” I roll over on my back and look up at the ceiling. I hope Professor Hanlon won’t be there. Ugh, I really don’t want to deal with him. I’ve been doing everything I can to avoid him, including making Jeff sit with me in the rear of his class so I can blend in with all the gigglers and not be singled out.
    “You need to wear a black skirt, knee length or shorter, black pantyhose and a plain white tee shirt. I have an extra black vest that you’ll need to borrow and make sure you wear heels. You have to be there by six thirty and I need to be there an hour earlier to help set