Project: Rogue (Project Series Book 2) (12 page)

Jefferies shook his head in disbelief. “Whatever you say Raeann. I’m just trying to help you get back to normal.” He sighed, his eyes rolling. My fist clenched at my side. This asshole.

A throat cleared next to me, and a loud deep, rumble emitted from said throat. Jefferies and I both turned in the direction of the noise. The saliva in my mouth turned to sludge as soon as I realized that the sexy stranger who I had shared fleeting looks with moments ago was now standing beside me looking as if he was about to speak.

“Can I help you?” Jefferies questioned. I couldn’t pick my jaw up off the floor fast enough. The sexy stranger next to me was way bigger than I initially thought and of course made my body feel tingles, and zings it didn’t need to be feeling in all the right places.

“Just wondering what you’re doing with my date…” Sweet baby Jesus in a manger was his voice deep, and dark. The kind of dark that would make a woman like me sin again, and again just to hear.

Jefferies' eyes grew wide in surprise, his mouth popped open and then shut as if he wanted to say something but decided otherwise.

I licked my lips knowing it was time for me to speak up, “Uh yeah, this is…” I trailed off unknowing of his name but not wanting to let everyone else know that.

“Wes, and you’re?” The stranger known as Wes signaled with his hand to Jefferies all while I stood there hoping not to embarrass myself. Never, not even once had I had a man come to my rescue like this man did.

“Jefferies. I’m actually Raeann’s boss, and we were just inviting her to come hang out with us.” Jefferies turned and pointed at the group of our colleagues behind him. Wes then lifted his arm and pulled me into the side of his chest.

I took in a deep breath, his rich scent filtering into my nostrils. He smelt of chocolate, and woods, such a strange combination, but yet intoxicating to the senses. I could practically taste the bittersweet chocolate known as his scent on my tongue.

Normally I would have been bothered by a man’s touch but this man, this man was different. I could feel it in my bones.

“Nah. That’s not what we have planned for tonight now is it babe?” Wes spoke indirectly at me. His eyes were a darker gray than I had previously thought now that I was face to face with him.

I was a bit flabbergasted, and somewhat turned off, but I knew more than anyone that I didn’t want to be hanging out with Jefferies, and my collages from work so I played along, wrapping my arm around his midsection. The warmth of his body, melting away at my hard exterior as it if were a flimsy piece of paper burning in the breeze.

“Right. What Wes said.” I nodded in agreement. I could see Jefferies repulsive comeback, something that would sting and as I braced for it I wondered what he would say about me out loud to this complete stranger that he assumed I knew.

“Well have fun then, it was nice meeting you Wes.” Jefferies smiled, and my stomach fell to my feet. Astonishment smacked me in the face and I refused to move until he was finally out of sight, his steps heavy as he walked away, leaving me with the sexy as hell stranger who now had a name. The stranger who had rescued me from a night of hell.

“You owe me a drink… Or two.” Wes’s gravely voice resonated through me pulling me from my thoughts. Immediately I pulled out from his side, putting much-needed space between us. My tongue was tied in knots. Never in my twenty-six years on this Earth had I been so tongue tied.

“Yes… No…Maybe?” The impatient tick of his jaw told me I needed to find my voice, and do so fast.

I licked my lips and averted my eyes to his chest. “Yeah. Yeah, that sounds great.” My mouth moved, and the words came out but I didn’t control them. I probably sounded like an idiot.

A smile. The real kind pulled at his lips, lifting the sides of his beautiful lips. Lips I just might be okay kissing. Lips I would definitely be interested in getting close too. Lips, I should let kiss my throat…

“After you…” Wes gestured and it was then that I finally noticed his trimmed almost to the scalp hair cut. Kind of like that of those in the military. All it did was add to the ruggedness.

“Uhh… Oh yeah.” I stumbled over my words, taking my first step towards the first open bar stool, all while wondering what the fuck it was that I was doing.

They say it takes a village to write a book and I believe it. From the author who writes said book to the cover artist, to the editor, proofreaders, and beta readers, and then to the readers, and hardcore pimpers. Every single time I write one of these I feel like I leave someone out. Like my words can never express how thankful I truly am to write these novels and be able to give them to all of you.

Therefore, to anyone who has ever read one of my books thank you for your support, no matter it be, good or bad. Even if this is your first J.L. Beck book thank you because without you I wouldn’t be able to do all of this.