Running Back to You (The Running Series, #1) by Suzanne Sweeney Page B

to, anyway.”  He
stretches out his arm and I find myself cuddling beside him.
    Suddenly, my cell phone beeps in my pocket with an in-coming message,
which I ignore.
    “Aren’t you going to check?  It might be important.  I don’t mind.  Go
ahead.”  Evan has resumed his gentle circular caresses on my shoulder.  I take
out my phone to check and there’s a text from Derek.
    Derek:  u
free tonite?  Wanna hang out?
    Jette:  sorry
–I have plans.  tomorrow?
    Derek:  Sure.  c u
later
    “So, was it important?”  Evan seems annoyed.  He obviously saw the text
and the name of the sender.
    “Nope, just Derek, a friend from work.”  Derek is a friend from work,
nothing more.
    “You sure he’s just a friend, Juliette?  I want to make sure I know what
I’m getting myself into.  You know, no surprises.”  He’s waiting for me to
clarify.  “If he’s just a friend, then would you be willing to cancel your
plans with him tomorrow and go out with me?”
    “No, Evan, but you could join us.  I don’t cancel plans with my friends
because of a guy.  Boys come and go, but friends are there to pick up the
pieces when they break your heart.”
    “Maybe I will.  Join you tomorrow, I mean.  Come on, it’s getting dark and
cold.  Let’s go inside and watch a movie.”
    “So, what are we watching?” I ask as I settle into the thick, plush couch
in the living room.
    Evan pulls up Netflix on the TV screen and starts typing in the search
box.  “I told you, Nightmare on Elm Street.  You ready?”  He walks around the
house, turning off all the lights.  He grabs the blanket from the deck and
joins me on the couch.
    “Do we have to watch with the lights out?  Really?”  I know I’m being a
big chicken and I don’t care.
    “Just sit with me, I’ll protect you.  I promise to warn you before the
really scary stuff comes on.”
    “But ...”
    Before I can finish, he kisses me.  Our first kiss is tender and sweet,
gently touching his lips to mine.  His lips are soft, wet, and delicious. 
Desire builds up instantly inside me and my nerve endings are all firing at
once.
    He breaks away from the kiss and whispers in my ear, “I’ve been wanting
to do that since the moment I saw you.”  He moves an errant strand of hair
behind my ear.  “Now, about the lights?”
    “This is fine.  I’m good,” I admit as I lean into his chest.
    From the opening scene of the movie, I’m a basket case.  Evan is a
brilliant man, he has me in the palm of his hands the moment Freddy makes his
first appearance.  At one point, I actually crawl onto his lap and pull the
blanket over my head.
    By the time Johnny Depp’s character is killed, I have to excuse myself to
the bathroom.  I wish Maddy were with me right about now.  When I return, Evan
holds out his arm and I return to my spot on the couch tucked beneath his
strong arm. 
    “Do you want me to turn it off?” he asks.
    “No, why?”
    “Well, you’re squeezing all the blood from my arm, and I might need to
use that arm again someday.”
    I immediately release him, “Sorry.”  I pull the blanket up to my chin, hoping
it will offer me protection.  When the little girls show up on screen chanting
their monotonous jump rope chant, I can no longer watch and I hide my face
beneath his arm. 
    Only ninety-one minutes of torture and my terror is over.  Evan releases
me and reaches for the remote to turn off the TV.  “Come on; let me make you a
drink.”  He offers me his hand and he helps me off the couch.
    “I’m so embarrassed, Evan, you must think I’m a total dork.  I tried to
be brave, but that movie really was scary.”
    “Juliette, let me assure you, I enjoyed every moment of that movie.  In
fact, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a movie so much in my life.”  He hands me
a rocks glass, and I don’t even ask what’s inside.  “Here’s to new beginnings
and throwing all caution to the wind.”  We clink glasses and I swallow