LIFE LESSON FIVE...

Being bad was exciting! Maybe she should feel guilty? She couldn't dredge up the emotion, especially not when she felt so free.

She liked Jack Moore and not because of his traditional good looks, fabulous body, brown hair and warm brown eyes. Although a jock—which she equated with primitive barbaric cavemen beating their chests—Jack came across as a big ole' teddy bear; not what she envisioned. It was a good lesson in not judging a book by its cover.

"You know what I can't figure out is why such a hot girl like you doesn't have a boyfriend?" he asked, his eyes eating her up as quickly as he slurped on his milkshake. That look warmed her belly because no one ever looked at her this way.

Except for Nikolas at church, her evil inner-self reminded. After three weeks of lost sleep because of him, she refused to think further on Nikolas.

She swallowed and forced her thoughts off the blond church hottie. Contemplating, Jack's comment and his wide-eyed, eat her up stare, she feared she waded into waters deep enough to drown her. Excitement poured through her at the prospect!

No one in her own age bracket undressed her with their eyes and according to Daddy all the old folks in the church were perverts. She still wasn't sure she believed him. Lately, she'd begun to think his perception skewed and he needed a new filter.

Ridiculous really for someone as spectacular as Jack to think someone as gawky as her even passably hot. Madison wouldn't tell him the truth, that no boy had ever shown any interest in her. He might think she fished for compliments.

Either way, she liked the way he stared at her. And she liked that he thought her hot. Inside she preened, but played his comment cool—or hoped she did—with a small smile and casual shrug. "My daddy doesn't allow me to date," she said as she slathered a French fry with ketchup.

"Too bad."

Yeah, too bad, because she thought getting to know Jack Moore would lead to a whole lot of fun.

And a whole lot of bad, Madison Wescott, her sanctimonious inner voice chided.

Madison watched him watch her, his eyes following the fry from the plate to her mouth. She licked ketchup off her finger and his eyes grew shiny with some emotion her naïve mind couldn't process. Jack reached across the table and took her hand. A hot flush slithered through her body and she stared at his hand laid over hers.

He turned her hand over, palm side up and touched the tips of each fingertip. Tongue-tied, her other palm grew sweaty. Madison couldn't decide if she liked this new feeling or if it ranked right up there with puking. Nikolas breached her mind, how flushed and jittery she had grown from his simple touch. Nikolas's much simpler than Jack's, and, yet, her reaction to his way more potent. So potent she couldn't get him out of her mind even three weeks later.

"Do you think you could talk your daddy into letting me see you again?" He created lazy circles across her palm.

Doubtful. Instead of answering with the truth, she attempted a casual one-shoulder shrug she'd seen Momma pull off a million times and said, "Maybe it'd be more fun if he doesn't know about us."

Oh, good Lord, she would be in a load of trouble when Daddy discovered her sinful behavior. She had no doubt he'd discover her actions.

At least you'll be guilty of it this time, the devilish inner-voice murmured.

Jack Moore grinned. He obviously liked being bad too.

He walked her out to his pickup truck. Proving chivalry wasn't dead he opened the passenger door for her. He halted her by slapping his hand on the doorframe, barring her entrance into the cab. She met his eyes and caught more of that puzzling shiny-eyed glaze. He stared at her mouth for a long time before asking, "Would you object if I kissed you, Madison?"

Not trusting her voice, she shook her head hard. Nerves ripped through her nervous system and she forgot to breathe as she watched his head lower. His mouth struck hers and she stared at him, his eyes closed, and his forehead furrowed as if in deep pain.

His hand dropped from the door and cupped her neck, while his other hand landed on her hip, pulling her closer. She was in danger of her heart ramming out of her chest. She flinched in surprise when his tongue licked her lips and the thumb at her neck, relocated to her chin and tugged downward, parting her mouth.

Madison sucked in a hard shocked breath when his tongue touched hers. She knew about French kissing, she wasn't that big a dweeb, but she hadn't expected him to try it on her.

Madison jerked out of Jack Moore's embrace. Breathing hard, she touched her lips and stared at him.

"I'm sorry if I went too fast." He released her as if she burst into flames, took a couple of steps away from her and raked a hand through his hair. "You just…enthrall me with your beauty and innocence. The combination is attractive." No idea what to say, she stared at him mute, with diverse emotions chugging through her. Finally, he cleared his throat and asked, "Can I see you again?"

Definitely!

Time to play coy like Momma, she decided and executed what she hoped came across as one of Momma's sultry smiles and said, "If you're lucky."



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