Jocelyn's Choice (2 page)

I paced the living room, waiting for Alex to pick me up. He'd called last night, just like he said he would, and asked if I wanted to go and get something to eat. I agreed, despite Evan's warnings that Alex wasn't first date material. He didn't mean going out for the first time with a guy I’d just met, but that this was my first date
ever.
I knew Evan was right. Alex was older, experienced, and a player. He’d dated half the town before leaving for college, but that didn't bother me. I found him incredibly cute, sexy, and charming. I knew I was out of his league, but what was the harm in going to dinner with him? It wasn't as if I had anything else to do.

"Jocelyn," Max said, "would you please sit still? I'm trying to watch the game."

"Sorry." I laughed. "I guess I'm being silly."

The doorbell rang, and I jumped. Max laughed. "You want me to get it?"

"No!" I headed to the door.

I took one second and checked myself in the hall mirror, then I took a deep breath and reached for the handle. He was already smiling when I opened the door. I didn't think it was possible, but he looked better than he had yesterday. He had on a black, long-sleeve T-shirt that hugged him in all the right places, outlining his perfectly toned chest and abs. His jeans fit him like he was a Calvin Klein model. And, Oh My God . . . worn-out cowboy boots. All he needed was a horse, and he'd be every girl's fantasy.

Giddy-up, cowboy!

"Hello." He smiled, and I noticed he allowed his eyes to briefly wander over me.

Hmm . . . he's checking me out, too.

"Hi," I shyly responded.

Alex looked over my shoulder and said, "Hello, Chief Andrews."

Max?
I turned, and sure enough, he was standing behind me.
Can't he cut me a
break?

"Dad, this is Alex Jordan."

"Hello, Alex, it's nice to meet you." Max extended his hand. "Jocelyn tells me you're home from school for a few months."

"Yes, sir." Alex smiled. "I'm going back in July for an internship, and then I'll decide if I'm going to continue on with medical school."

"Wow, medical school, that's pretty impressive." Max looked at me; he’d been encouraging me to attend one of the out-of-state universities that had accepted me, instead of staying local.

"Are you ready, Alex?" I asked.

"Sure." He took my hand.

I was holding his hand! I just about died.

"Eleven, Jocey?" Max reminded me.

Great, I'm going out with an older man, and I have a curfew.
Was that really necessary? It wasn't as if I had ever come home later than I should. I never went anywhere!

"Of course, Chief," Alex answered for me. "I'll have her back on time."

I could feel the burn on my cheeks as Alex opened the car door for me.

"Jocey?" He smiled.

"And I have a curfew. I guess you're sorry you asked a high school kid out?"

"No." He stared at me for what seemed like forever. "I think it's cute."

He got in and started the engine of his sleek, black Lexus. It looked like his father's car, but more sporty.

"Your dad's just looking out for you," he said as he sped down my street. "I'm sure I'd do the same if I ever had a daughter."

I stared at his profile and thought any child of his would be beautiful. All the Jordans were perfect, and Alex was no exception.

We went to a small restaurant a few towns over and talked more than we ate. At first, I was afraid to open my mouth, for fear I’d say something that would make me sound like an idiot, but as the evening progressed, I felt more at ease with him. He had this strange, calming effect on me. His voice was soft and soothing, and the way his green eyes sparkled when he smiled made me weak in the knees. I didn't know what was wrong with me; I’d never had this strong a reaction to anyone.

During dinner, we talked about our childhoods and what we liked to do when we were young. We traded stories about school and laughed when we realized that not much had changed in five years. Alex told me how he had wanted to play professional baseball, and how he'd gotten a full scholarship to Florida University, but when the acceptance letter came from Yale, he knew that was where his father really wanted him to go. I could tell from our brief time together that he wanted nothing more than to please Jack.

"Would you like to walk a bit?" He took my hand and led me out of the restaurant. It was a nice night for March in Colorado, and the streets were pretty busy with people checking out the shops. "It's still early."

"Sure," I agreed, since I didn't want the evening to end. I knew there was a good chance this was a one-shot deal. As we walked the streets of the small, downtown area, Alex kept my hand in his. I noticed the second glances he earned from several girls, and even one guy, but being the center of attention didn’t faze him.

"You didn't mind leaving your life in Connecticut to come home for a few months?"

"Not really," he said. "I missed my family and friends, and I wanted to come back. I thought it would help me make a decision on medical school."

"You don't want to go." It wasn't a question because, from our dinner conversation, I could tell he wasn’t into the whole
more school
idea.

"Aren't you perceptive?" He smiled as we walked over to a bench that faced the mountains. "It's not that I don't want to go someday. It's just that I've been working so hard for the past five years, and I think I'd like to try psychology first. Maybe get a job working with underprivileged kids? I like the idea of being a psychiatrist, but I'm still young, and I want to explore my options."

"That makes sense. Do you want to do the internship?"

"Yes. That's a good opportunity either way, and it'll look great on my resume, plus my father really wants me to do it. It's a win-win."

"You don’t have to make any decisions right now."

"True." He nodded. "School wouldn’t start until September."

"And the internship sounds like a good opportunity for you. Between that and your education, I’d say you’ll be fine no matter what you decide."

"You're pretty smart, Jocelyn Andrews." He pushed a strand of hair from my face.

I looked down, afraid he'd see me blushing.

He tilted my chin up and leaned in slightly. My breath caught in my throat and I felt a nervous knot in my stomach.

"I better get you back home."

"Okay," I said, a little disappointed.

"If I want the chief to let me take you out again tomorrow night, I can't blow his curfew."

"You want to go out with me again?" I asked, stunned.

"If
you
want to go out with
me
," he said, and I swore he looked nervous. "I had a really nice time getting to know you, and I think we have more to talk about."

"I'd like that." I couldn't believe he'd want to spend another evening with me.

"I told my friends Zack and James I'd hang out with them tomorrow night, but if you're around in the afternoon, maybe we could go for a drive? Spend more time getting to know one another?"

"I'm not really that interesting."

"I'm gonna have to disagree, sweetheart." He smiled as he pulled me up from the bench and led me toward the car.

As we walked, we talked some more. It was as if neither one of us could ask enough questions about the other.

When we were still a few feet away from the car, someone yelled from the street.

"Alex!" A pretty brunette came running into the parking lot. "When did you get back?"

"Hey, Carly," he said. "I got into town yesterday."

"Are you planning on staying long?" she asked as she looked down at our joined hands.

"A few months," he said. "Then I have to go back to school."

"Well, a few months is enough time for us to get together." She smiled. "You know, like we used to." She looked me over. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Jocelyn Andrews," Alex said. "Jocelyn, this is an old friend of mine, Carly." It was obvious Alex couldn't remember her last name and equally obvious that fact annoyed her.

"You still have my cell number?" she asked.

"I'm sure I do," he said. "But, I'm probably gonna be busy, and I don't think we'll have a chance to hook up."

"I think you should make time." She smiled confidently. "You know I'm worth it."

She made a point of looking at me.

"It was nice seeing you again, Carly," Alex politely said. "Maybe I'll see you around."

"I sure hope so." She leaned in and quickly kissed his cheek. "Call me."

The nerve of her
! Alex was clearly on a date with me, and he all but told her he wouldn't have time to see her, but she wasn’t getting it. Not that I could blame her. He was definitely worth throwing yourself at.

"Sorry about that." Alex laid a hand at my waist and guided me the rest of the way to the car. "She never could take no for an answer."

"Ex-girlfriend?" I asked as he opened the passenger door for me.

"Hardly." He smiled as he walked around and got in the car. "Just a girl I met at a party a couple of years ago."

"Must have been some party." I grinned.

"I did a lot of stupid things in my youth."

"I bet there's a lot of Carlys out there," I said, shocked by my own boldness.

"I think you've been talking to Evan."

"He may have warned me about you." I laughed. "But I didn't listen."

"Good girl. I don't need Evan scaring you away."

"It'll take more than Evan and a few random hook-ups from your past to scare me." I wasn't sure where I was finding the confidence to be so honest with him, but I was glad I did.

"Happy to hear it." He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Alex changed the subject to my science project with Evan. We discussed that until we pulled up to my house. He must have already asked Evan about it, because he knew exactly what we were working on and how much we had left to do. He offered to help us. I took him up on it, 'cause science wasn’t my thing, and I could use all the help I could get.

He put the car in park and turned off the engine. I wanted to invite him in, but I knew Max would still be up, lounging in the living room, probably watching some sporting event, and I didn't want the three of us sitting there together. It would have been too awkward, and Max would’ve found a way to embarrass me.

"So, tomorrow then?" I asked.

"Yeah, is four okay?"

"I work until two on Saturdays, so that'll be great." I reached for the handle of the door. He quickly grabbed my hand and pulled my body closer to his.

"Where do you think you're going?" He smiled. "I still have ten more minutes with you."

Ten minutes?
What did he want to do with those ten minutes? He ran his finger down my cheek and rested it at the corner of my bottom lip, then took my chin and gently pulled my mouth to his. Before I knew it, his lips were on mine. They were warm and soft, and he was so tender.

I closed my eyes and sighed against his mouth. He didn't try to deepen the kiss; he just continued to move his lips against mine as he slipped his hand up my neck, tangling his fingers in my hair. I inched closer to him, pressing my lips against his.

I had never kissed a boy before, and technically, I still hadn't, since Alex was a man, but even having nothing to compare it to, I knew he was a good kisser. The tingling in my stomach that radiated down between my thighs proved as much.

After a few more moments, he stopped moving, but didn't take his lips away from mine. I opened my eyes and caught him looking at me.

"Did I do something wrong?" I whispered against his lips.

"No," he whispered back, and then gently kissed me one last time before pulling away. He seemed stunned, but I couldn't figure out why. There was no way that kiss meant anything to him. He’d probably done it hundreds of times with lots of girls.

"I better go in before Max comes out and starts banging on the window or something," I mumbled.

Alex came around and met me as I stepped out of the car. He took my hand and walked me to the porch.

"Thanks for dinner. I had a really good time."

"Me too." He quickly pulled me toward him and wrapped his arms around me. I looked up into his emerald eyes; they seemed so intense now. He looked as if he was struggling, but I had no experience with men, so I had no idea what could be wrong.

"Good night, Alex," I whispered.

He lowered his face to mine and slowly found my mouth again, but this time it was different. He urgently moved against my lips, causing me to part them so he could slip his tongue inside my mouth.

Wow, that was sexy!

His tongue was warm and slow as he rubbed it against mine. My knees quivered, and that strange feeling I’d experienced between my thighs when he kissed me in the car grew more extreme. My panties were wet.

That's new.

Just when I thought I needed to come up for air, Alex pulled away and gently kissed me one last time.

"Good night, Jocelyn Andrews." He smiled at me, those freakin' white teeth gleaming, and now my panties were really wet. "Sweet dreams."

* * * * *

The next day, Alex picked me up at precisely 4:00 p.m. I was beginning to see he was extremely punctual.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we pulled into a wooded area.

"This lake"—he pointed to a flash of blue beyond the trees as we got out of the car—"is just behind my house. It's part of our property, and we used to swim here all the time while we were growing up."

"It's very pretty." I smiled as he took my hand and led me to the dock. I liked when he touched me.

"When the weather gets nicer," he said, "I can take you here. We could have a picnic and spend the day together."

My stomach jumped when I realized he was talking about still spending time with me in the future.

"That sounds nice." I smiled. "I'd love to."

We sat on the edge of the dock and faced one another. I couldn’t believe I was with him. Things like this just didn’t happen to me.

"Are those your boats too?"