All You'll Ever Need by Sharon C. Cooper Page B

butt as if he were holding a football, and pulled her against his hard body. “Well, if you need me to massage a certain part of your anatomy,” he said, his voice deep and sensual, sent a ripple of excitement through her veins, “just say the word, and I’m there.”
    Jada gulped and stared into his sexy eyes. “Okay,” she croaked, unable to form any other words. This man had the power to short circuit any common sense she had, and Jada could feel herself falling for him. Falling hard.
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    “So what gives? You haven’t gone out on the town in a couple of weeks, which has to be a first,” CJ said strolling into the living room.
    Jada lounged on the sofa, her feet on the coffee table as she flipped through television stations. She didn’t know how people sat in front of the TV all day every day when there was nothing good on.
    When she turned the channel to a football game, she stopped, hoping Cincinnati was playing. She didn’t know much about football, but thanks to her cousin Nick, she knew more now that she and Zack were seeing each other.
     “Ahh, so that’s it.”
    “What’s it?” Jada glanced at Christina when she sat next to her. “And if you start throwing out some of your big, stupid words, I’m going to shove this remote down your throat.” She held the television remote next to CJ’s face, daring her.
    “Oh stop.” Christina swatted Jada’s hand away. “I don’t do the words anymore. It wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be. Most of the people I talk to are you and our cousins. Kinda like talking to a brick wall.”
    “Whatever.” Jada grinned. She had to give her cousin credit for trying to build her vocabulary, especially considering the type of networking she had to do in her secret life. The part of her life that the rest of the family didn’t know existed.
    Jada turned her attention to the television. The Cincinnati Cougars weren’t playing, but according to the sports announcer, their game was up next.
    “Since you’re watching football, does that mean that you and Zack are getting serious?”
    “I’m watching football because there’s nothing else on.” Jada, not sure why, hadn’t told her cousin that she and Zack were exclusive. Maybe because what she felt for him still made her a little nervous.
    “Yeah, right. You’re watching football because there is nothing else on? Tell it to someone who doesn’t know you.” Christina moved around trying to get comfortable on the sofa. “I guess since the Cougars have had away games the last two weeks, you’ve had to settle for trying to get a glimpse of Zack during the game on TV, huh?”
    Jada couldn’t ever remember missing someone as much as she missed Zack. So much for protecting my heart. Memories of a time where she allowed herself to get emotionally attached to a man came flooding into her mind. Dion Greely . The man she’d met and fallen in love with three years ago, the first and only man to break her heart. Jada made the mistake of thinking that eating at fancy restaurants, being whisked away on weekend trips, and receiving expensive gifts meant he loved her. That was a lesson learned quickly, and she vowed never again. Finding out he was married with a child wasn’t as easy to get over. The knowledge nearly destroyed her emotionally. Dion had made it clear that even if he weren’t already married, he’d never be able to marry someone who didn’t have anything to bring to the table besides a pretty face and a tight body.
    “You know, I’m a little shocked by your behavior,” Christina said, breaking into Jada’s thoughts. “Over the past month, you’ve complained about the less than glamourous dates that Zack has taken you on, yet you’re still interested in him. So how do you explain that?”
    Jada couldn’t explain her desire to be with him. Yet, she had determined early on that Zack was nothing like Dion. Zack had morals, compassion, and treated her special. Most