Chapter Two

Jake

It felt like I’d been kicked in the gut. Hard, with hobnailed boots. A thunderbolt from the gods, some people called it. Where had she come from? And why hadn’t I known about her before tonight? Had I just wasted four years of my life chasing the wrong women?

Our eyes had locked, and my world had fallen away. The woman was gorgeous, in that sexy, mysterious way. A hint of innocence with a body designed for sex. The kind of girl a guy couldn’t forget.

Swallowing hard, I grabbed my friend Kyle and nodded towards the redhead in the little red riding hood outfit.

“Who is she,” I asked.

Kyle, who knew everyone. Especially of the female persuasion, narrowed his forehead in concentration. “The blond is Jeanie Parkinson,” he said with an appreciative smile.

“I know that,” I said. “The redhead, what do you know about her.”

He shrugged, “Sadie, something or other. Joined Mi Alpha Alpha last year. Not really the sorority type, she joined because of some family thing. Her mother was a past president. Leaning towards a teaching degree. Possibly biology. From Nebraska, I think. No known boyfriend, maybe some farmer she left at home? But here, nothing. Sorry, like I said. I don’t know her.”

I laughed at him. The boy was a walking encyclopedia when it came to girls.

“Hurry,” I said as I pushed him forward.

He shot me a questioning frown and shook his head. “Hey, we’re the last in line. You can spend all the time you want with her.”

The line had slowed down as the people in front started getting backed up. I couldn’t take my eyes off the girl taking tickets. We’d made it about halfway when Jeanie said something to her friend and left her, headed straight for me.

I stepped out from the line and let her approach, she smiled sweetly and said, “Jake Dawson, as I live and breathe.” I had to laugh, she had that whole Marilyn Munro act down pat. Any other night and we might have had some fun. But tonight. All I could see was that redhead.

“Who’s your friend?” I asked, looking past her at the young woman. She was staring at something back inside the house. Her face in profile. Delicious, sweet, perfect slightly upturned nose, high cheekbones. Everything about her was pulling at me like an electrical current that refused to let go.

“Introduce me,” I added without taking my eyes off the girl.

Jeanie studied me for a moment then looked back at her friend. She laughed for some reason, thought for a moment, then slowly shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Not tonight.”

My heart slammed to a halt for a second. What was going on? Was Jeanie acting as a blocker for her friend? Was that why she had come over here? To keep me away from Little Miss Red Riding Hood?

I turned to Jeanie and smiled as I nodded. “If that’s the way you want it. But, I am warning you. It won’t stop me.”

She threw her head back and laughed then put her hand on my arm and leaned in to say. “I should hope not.” Then without another word, she turned and pulled Kyle away, so they could talk in private.

I frowned for a second as I watched them go, then like a magical spell had ahold of me, I turned back to look at Red. The girl was staring at me as if she had just had her worst nightmare. White face, large eyes, and fingers that shook as she fumbled with the tickets in her hand.

What was that all about I wondered as I looked over my shoulder, wondering if something else might have caused that look of distress in her eyes.

Nope, nothing.

Turning back, I saw that she had turned away a little. Enough to pretend I wasn’t there, but not so much that she couldn’t see me from the corner of her eye. Smiling to myself, I knew what that meant, she was interested but didn’t want me to know it. If she had been afraid, she would have never turned away.

The line had disappeared, leaving just me and Miss Red. With a feeling of renewed confidence, I made my way towards her. I had almost gotten there when she turned towards me. Our eyes locked and I forgot every cheesy line I had ever known. All I could do was stare down at perfection.

She searched my eyes, waiting, wondering. Somehow, I got my mind back on track and smiled. The best smile I had.

“So, you aren’t by any chance looking for a wolf tonight. Are you?” I asked her.

She froze for a second. “Why? Are you offering?”

I tried to remain cool. “Some of us were born to play the part.”

She tried not to smile. “The woodsman was the hero of the story.”

I laughed, “Yes, but he isn’t near as interesting as the wolf. You look like you need a wolf, not a hero.”

She blanched for a moment then tilted her head slightly. “So, you think you know what I need?”

My insides turned over, this woman wasn’t going to make it easy.

“Perhaps,” I answered. “But at some point in her life, every woman secretly wants a wolf.”

The girl paused for a moment then leaned back to look me over. “Why the tuxedo. Not exactly a costume?”

I smiled. “A modern-day wolf. We come in many different disguises, just like the story.”

She laughed and took a sip of her drink. Those luscious lips brushed the rim of her cup and my insides tightened up.

“I’m Jake,” I told her. “Jake Dawson.”

“I know,” she replied with a bit of a coy smile.

An awkwardness threated to descend over us when she didn’t give me her name. So, I said, “I could call you Red if you want. I mean you are perfect for the part. But, I would much prefer to know your real name. it will make the evening go so much smoother.”

Her cheeks blushed pink for some reason but then she nodded. “Sadie, Sadie Winters.”

My mind relaxed. Sadie Winters. A sweet name for a sexy woman. No matter what happened here tonight. I had her name.

“Nice to meet you Sadie Winters.”

Holding out my hand, I waited for her to take it. At last, she hesitantly placed hers in mine. A shock of pure energy traveled up my arm. She felt it too as her eyes grew big and the pulse pounded in her neck.

“You have very big hands,” she said looking down where hers was buried in mine.

“All the better to touch you with, my dear,” I said in a playful growl as I reached up and gently placed a strand of hair behind her ear.

She looked up at me, both frightened and excited. Her eyes searched mine. As if looking for some long lost secret. Desperately wanting to find something that would reassure her.

I felt a warm comfort flow over me, this girl was special. One look and she had me eating out of the palm of her hand.

“You know they killed the wolf at the end of the story,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“A lie spread by idiot woodsman to make themselves look better,” I told her while staring into her eyes. “In truth, the wolf escaped. And Red spent the rest of her life dreaming about him. And what might have been.”

She laughed. But there was something behind her eyes. I don’t know what it might have been but for some reason, I felt as if this woman had a ton of layers. As if there were secrets I was supposed to know but could never discover.

She continued to study me for a long moment. Turning, she placed the tickets into a small tin box, then checked to see where Jeanie was. Her friend waved a hand letting her know she’d be there in a moment.

Sadie looked up at me and sighed heavily.

“Come on,” she said as she started to pull me into the house. “Let’s get this over with.” Looking back over her shoulder she gave me a small smile.

My heart dropped a couple of feet. Was she saying what I thought she was saying? And if so, how had I gotten into heaven without dying?