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  Looking in his big brown eyes, I felt my face burning. “I have an inhaler in my bag.”

  He dug through my bag and handed me my inhaler, and I quickly used it. “You have asthma?”

  I nodded yes, and held my breath. When I finally exhaled, I lay back onto the blanket and closed my eyes.

  “Carly, are you okay?”

  He pushed my hair off of my eyes, and I looked at him and nodded.

  “You scared the shit out of me, are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Yes, I’m just cold. I should get back.” I sat up, and he stopped me.

  “Hold up, you need to chill for a minute, right there, lay back down,” he smiled and lowered me back, and I let him. I let him lay me down…on a beach…in the moonlight.

  The way he looked at me made my heart race, thumping against my chest, which didn’t help the breathing situation at all. I rolled to my side to avoid looking at him. I took long, deep, breaths, and he started to rub my back.

  “Jase, please stop, that’s not helping. Just please stop.” I’m sure my face was turning even redder, and I couldn’t get it together. I was wrecked.

  I heard him laugh, and I lay on my back and looked at him sitting next to me smiling.

  “It’s really not that funny, I could be dying over here, and you’re laughing.” I sat up and grabbed my bag.

  “Sorry, I don’t know what the hell just happened. Sorry.” He scowled at the ground.

  “No big deal. I’m going to head back. Thanks…I guess.” I stood and left.

  I practically ran the four blocks home, and climbed back up the tree and into the window. I grabbed my inhaler and took one big puff and held my breath. I let it out and flopped back on my bed and laughed, thinking of how foolish I must have looked. And then I laughed harder into my pillow, my God what just happened?

  I stopped laughing when my phone chimed. I jumped up and grabbed my bag and ruffled through it like a crazy woman until I saw the message. The smile on my face was so big it hurt. I flopped back on my bed and read it over and over again.

  Jase: Tell me you made it home all right

  Carly: I made it home all right

  Jase: Good, tell me you can breathe and that I don’t have to worry

  Carly: I can breathe and you don’t have to worry

  Jase: Now tell me you feel what I have felt for two weeks, and tell me when I can see you again, Carly

  I gasped out loud and tried to think of something to say. My phone chimed again.

  Jase: Good, see you tomorrow, same time same place

  Carly: OK

  And that was how it all began….

  Crushin’

  Carly

  The day dragged, and I mean, duh. Rag. Duh. I even napped, and I don’t nap. I was probably exhausted from over-thinking everything until three in the morning. I fell asleep at around six, right after dinner I heard my phone ringing and sat up and looked at the clock—shit! I threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, grabbed my bag, brushed my teeth, and threw my flip-flops out the window and shimmied down the tree. I was almost down the damn thing when a branch snapped, causing me to fall four feet from the bottom, which wouldn’t have been so bad if I didn’t scrape my forearm trying my damnedest to either stop the fall, or at least lessen the impact when I landed.

  I shoved my feet in the flip-flops and started running. I realized if I ran the whole way I would probably need the inhaler again. So I walked fast, really fast. When I realized I would probably be sweating when I got there, I slowed it down. Keep it together was my mantra for the rest of my walk to the beach.

  As I neared the beach, I saw him pacing and slowed down and enjoyed the view. I walked closer and he turned and saw me.

  “You’re late,” he said, scowling.

  “Sorry.” I looked away.

  He didn’t say anything, and I couldn’t look at him, but I felt him watching me. When they say silence is deadly they are not kidding, and if I knew who the hell they were, I would really like to ask them how to stop it, the deadly silence, the awkward moment, the…

  Jase lifted my chin and was coming in for a kiss. Honestly…he was going to kiss me. Not that I hadn’t thought about those lips, those beautiful lips touching mine but….

  “Stop.”

  He looked at me with that same dumbstruck look he wore at the beach, you know when I told him we are hanging out, that same one, and then he looked pissed.

  “I don’t know what the hell you want from me, Carly. This seriously was a bad idea.” Jase stepped away from me.

  Now I’m pissed, seriously pissed, which, for me, is likely to stem from embarrassment- my mom taught me that. “Yes, it was.”

  I reached down to grab my bag that must have slipped off my shoulder when I was trying to avoid something I really wanted, but not really this soon or like this. FRUSTRATING! I’ll have to remember to thank my mother for all the knowledge she has given me.

  As I started to walk away, he grabbed my arm, and I must have sounded like a puppy whelping, because he let go and looked at his hand. “Shit—Carly, are you bleeding?”

  I quickly looked at my arm and yep, I was. I was bleeding, and pretty bad.

  “Great,” I said as I began to walk away.

  “Wait, damn it…just wait.” Jase stood in front of me. “You’re bleeding.”

  “We’ve established that. I’m going home to take care of it.” I started to walk around him and he moved in front of me again.

  “Would you just at least look at it, what if…let me see.” Jase pulled my sleeve up. “Do you have anything in that bag to clean it up?”

  I pulled my arm away. “No.”

  “Carly, I was in that bag last night, and I’m pretty sure along with the inhaler and…well, just look.” Jase tried to hide his amusement.

  I looked up at him and quickly away, I wasn’t comfortable looking into those eyes, AT ALL.

  “I need to go home, it’s four blocks away. I’ll be fine.” I looked up, cautiously trying to avoid sinking into the depths of those chocolate eyes. “But thank you for your concern.”

  Jase snatched the bag out of my hand and ruffled through the bag and pulled out…oh yes, a freaking Maxi pad, one with wings and all.

  I knew my jaw dropped, and there was not one thing I could do about it. “It’s a pad, Carly. I have a Mom, and I’ve seen them before.”

  He took my hand and walked to the water, and he cupped water in his hand and looked at me. “If you squat down, it will be easier, Carly.”

  I squatted, and he put water over it, salt water might I add—ouch. In an effort to not whelp like a puppy again, I laughed. I laughed through the pain, and when he laughed I finally looked at him for more than a split second and smiled.

  He smiled back and continued. He started to open the pad, but I grabbed it quickly and stood up.

  “I think I can get it from here,” I giggled.

  He looked at my arm after I had wiped it off. “Doesn’t look that serious.”

  “Thank you,” I smiled.

  “How the hell did that happen?”

  “Oh, you know, climbing out of my window onto a tree, snapping a twig that apparently wasn’t strong enough to hold me. Thank God no one saw it,” I laughed.

  “All to see me, and honestly, Carly, I don’t know that it was worth all that effort.” He picked up my bag.

  “I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.” I took the bag. “Thanks for everything.”

  “You’re welcome, I guess.” He looked up and then laughed.

  “What?” I smiled at him.

  “You,” he laughed.

  “Well, if I wasn’t already embarrassed enough by the asthma attack and the arm requiring you to dig in my bag for a…maxi pad, I might take offense to that.” Okay…this felt better, much more relaxed.

  “And I might be tempted to enjoy you being offended after I tried to kiss you and you blocked me, but I’m not.” He seemed more comfortable as well. “By the way, why?”
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  I stopped and turned toward him. “I don’t know, but I’m glad I did.”

  “Wow.”

  “No, that wasn’t meant to be rude,” I giggled. “But now, right now, I kind of feel like it was worth it, this is nice.”

  “It’s nice?” He looked up again.

  “Well, I think it is,” I said softly.

  “Okay, that’s cool.” Jase took my hand. “Come sit with me, Carly.”

  “I really should get home. I don’t want this to be any more awkward.” I patted his hand and pulled mine away.

  He looked confused and amused. “Just for a few minutes, I truly would like to…talk.”

  “Okay.” I sat and held my bag on my lap.

  “You’re Abe’s cousin.”

  “I am,” I smiled back.

  He looked up at me and chuckled. “You’re not like the other girls, you’re…different.”

  “Well, thank you—I think.”

  “No, you are. But in a good way, I think.” He looked at me, and his face went from confused to intense. “I don’t know what’s going on but I actually do like hanging out with you. But, Carly, it’s more than…I don’t know, it’s not like my other female friends.”

  “Okay.” I smiled and quickly looked at my hands.

  “What does okay mean? What do you want from me?” Jase’s voice was deeper.

  I took a deep breath and looked up at him. “I leave here to go back home soon. I wish I had time to get to know you. I …I know I like you. But I also know you have a girlfriend, and I know I don’t like the thought of kissing someone else’s boyfriend. Although, I have to say the whole possessive, ownership over someone is pretty lame. I mean we’re young and learning and growing, right? How the hell are we supposed to know if we love someone? My God, my friends back home say I love you to a different boy each time they put out. It’s insane. But, what do I know? Life is so confusing.” When I realized I had just went on a rather embarrassing tangent, I looked up at him, “Wow, I’m so sorry.”

  “No,” he laughed. “Do go on.”

  “No, I think I’ll stop there, thanks. Thanks for the chat.” I stood up and so did he.

  “I really didn’t mind,” Jase smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  He walked with me for a bit looking at the water and then at me. “I still want to hang out, Carly.”

  “Even after that? Are you insane?” I laughed.

  “Possibly. That’s debatable I guess. I don’t know. But I do know you seem…I don’t know… different.” He stopped.

  “Hold on, I’m different from most girls.” I flipped my hair back and did my best to give him a sexy sultry look. “I’ve heard that’s one of THE lines boys use to get into a girls panties, Jase.”

  “Really, that’s what you’ve heard, huh?”

  I laughed and we kept walking.

  “Let me ask you something: how many boyfriends have used that one on you? And help me out here, Carly…did it work?” He winked, causing me to laugh.

  “No.” I smiled.

  “No, it didn’t work?” he asked curiously.

  “Well, technically, I haven’t had a boyfriend since like sixth grade, and no it wouldn’t have worked.”

  “Really?” Jase looked at me like I was crazy.

  “Really, and don’t look at me like that,” I pushed him in jest. “I’ve moved a lot. And I’m quite an over achiever. College courses in high school, chess club, you know all the nerdy things a girl like me does.”

  Jase grabbed my hand and walked up to a vendor cart, bought a couple sodas and hotdogs and paid for them. “Sit with me.”

  We sat down at a picnic table on the boardwalk, and he handed me a drink, and a hot dog. “So, then, this would be your first date?”

  I took a drink. “Well, technically, yes.”

  He smiled. “Glad it could be with me.”

  We sat silently while he ate his hotdog.

  “You aren’t hungry? Oh, is this a girl thing? Not eating on a date, so us guys are even more confused by what makes you all tick?”

  “I’m a vegetarian. I also think it would be crazy to accept an offer to go on a dinner date and not eat. See, Jase, I would be horrible at this dating thing.”

  He grabbed my hotdog and took a bite. “I don’t think so. I want to take you on a date.”

  I blushed and looked away.

  “Why does that embarrass you?” he grinned.

  “You have a girlfriend…I’m leaving…I thought we kind of covered all that.” I finally looked back at him.

  “I can get rid of her.” He smiled and took a drink. I laughed at him, and he looked at me, “What?”

  “Well, I don’t know how to say this, but I don’t think that would be a big loss. You two are awful together,” I laughed.

  “Yeah, I guess. But she hasn’t been any different than any of the other ones. You’re all the same.”

  His eyes, those damn dark brown, gold-flecked eyes were smiling. He was funny—really, really funny, and I laughed.

  “I really like hanging out with you, Carly.” He sat back and closed his eyes. He blew out a breath, slowly and then sat up and looked in my eyes. “I have an idea.”

  “Do tell.”

  “How about we compromise. We hang out as often as you want until you leave. We do stuff together, like…I don’t know…a fake date?” He looked happy and confused at the same time, and it made me laugh.

  “You want to fake date me?” I smiled.

  “Yeah, I want to fake date you.” Jase grinned back and grabbed my hand.

  “You’re fake holding my hand now, huh?”

  “I am, and when you’re ready…I wanna fake-kiss those lips, Carly.” He looked again at my lips.

  Immediately they went dry, and I licked them quickly and swallowed. “Please don’t say things like that,” I whispered.

  “Okay. You do have amazing lips, though. Full, pink, pouty, wonderful lips.”

  “Thanks?” Laughing and embarrassed, I looked away.

  “You’re welcome.” He squeezed my hand in his.

  We walked to the corner of my father’s street, and he turned and smiled at me. “Tomorrow night, Carly, I would love to fake date you…again.”

  “Well then, Jase, I would love to accept your very intriguing offer of another fake date.” I smiled.

  “Same time?”

  “Same place?” I asked back.

  The way he smiled at me touched my heart. I hoped my returned smiled would do the same for him.

  To see where Gage Falcon began,

  check out the ultra-sexy MEN OF STEEL.

  Jase is available everywhere free and the entire box set,

  4 novels and 4 novellas, is available in a box set for a low, low, price.

  JASE ON AMAZON

  MEN OF STEEL BOX SET ON AMAZON

  About The Author

  USA Today bestselling author MJ Fields write books that scorch pages and melt hearts. Her style is raw, gritty and authentic. Love an alpha and a strong heroine? She does too.

  Join MJ’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/MJFNews

  Visit her website here: http://www.mjfieldsbooks.com/

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  Readers Group: http://bit.ly/MJReaders

  Also By MJ Fields

  The Men of Steel Series

  Forever Steel

  Jase

  Jase and Carly

  Cyrus

  Zandor

  Xavier

  Forever Family

  Family

  Momma Joe

  The Ties of Steel Series

  Abe

  Dominic

  Eroe

  Sabato

  The Rockers of Steel Series

  Memphi
s Black (Memphis and Tallia)

  Finn Beckett (Finn and Sonia)

  River James (River and Kianna)

  Billy Jeffers (Billy and Madison)

  UnSocial Daters Club: Matched Duet

  Match This!

  ImPerfectly Matched!

  Steel Country Series (Coming Soon)

  LRAH Legacy Series (These families’ stories are intertwined starting with The Love series, they move to the Wrapped Series, the Burning Souls series, and end in Love You Anyways.

  Many more series will spin off from these characters already written and each will be a standalone series but for those of us who love a story to continue I recommend reading in this order.

  The Love Series

  (Must Be Read In This Order)

  Blue Love

  New Love

  Sad Love

  True Love

  The Wrapped Series

  Wrapped In Silk

  Wrapped In Armor

  Wrapped In Always and Forever

  Burning Souls Series

  Stained

  Forged

  Merged

  LRAH Legacy Additions

  Love You Anyway

  Love Notes

  The Truth About Love Series

  27 Truths (Ava’s Story)

  27 Lies (Luke’s Story)

  The Norfolk Series

  Irons (Jaxson and Frankie, book 1)

  Shadows (Shadows and Mary, book 2)

  Titan (Coming 2017)

  Published with Loveswept/Penguin Random House

  The Caldwell Brothers Series

  (co-written w/ Chelsea Camaron)

  Hendrix

  Morrison

  Jagger

  Standalones

  Visibly Broken

  (co-written w/ Chelsea Camaron)

  Offensive Rebound