Taking A Chance On The Heartbreaker (Taking Chances On Love Book 1) Read online

  “It’s actually my twin nieces’ birthdays soon. You don’t happen to sell tiaras here, do you? Like the ones princesses wear?”

  “Tiaras? Nope, sorry. We sold our last one yesterday along with a matching pair of glass slippers,” she joked. “Twins, huh? How old are they?”

  “Four going on fourteen,” he replied, the corners of his mouth quirking upward. “They have me schooled in all things Disney. I bet you didn’t know Rapunzel’s hair was seventy feet long and it changed colors from blonde—”

  “To brown when she cut it,” Ashlynn cut in triumphantly.

  Jeremy’s eyebrows shot up. “I see you know your princess trivia.”

  “I know a thing or two. But you’re not so bad yourself. Not many grown men could say they have the same expertise as a four year old girl.”

  He chuckled. “Or that of a grown woman. A beautiful one, I might add.”

  Ashlynn’s cheeks immediately flushed. Was Jeremy flirting with her? The sparkle in his blue eyes left her tongue tied. Her heart pounded so loudly in her ears, it was hard to think. “I, uh … let me ring you up.” She busied herself with punching buttons on the cash register, all the while praying her face would cool down. With a sheepish smile, she told him, “That’ll be $69.95.”

  “Well worth every penny,” he said, handing her his credit card. “I’m very glad I came in here today.”

  “M-me, too.” With shaky hands, Ashlynn completed the transaction as quickly as possible. As much as she enjoyed being near Jeremy, she’d already embarrassed herself enough around him. Just when she thought she could escape with her dignity intact, she found herself blushing again. As she handed him the receipt, her hand brushed against his. The warmth of his skin caused a swarm of butterflies to invade her stomach. With her last living brain cell, she managed to squeak out, “I hope your mom likes the gift.”

  “I’m sure she will.” Jeremy held her gaze for an extra beat. He opened his mouth to speak when the bell on the front door jingled. “Looks like you have another customer. I’ll let you go. Thanks again,” he added with a nod.

  Ashlynn felt oxygen returning to her lungs as she watched him leave the store. She shook her head, not quite believing the effect Jeremy had on her. She’d never felt this way about a guy before, a thought that both intrigued and intimated her.

  Zoe rushed to her side, waving her hands frantically in the air. “Who in the world was that? And how do you know him?!”

  “His name’s Jeremy. We grew up together in the same church, but his family moved away years ago. He was such a good guy, really friendly and accepting of everyone. You could say he was a major reason the youth group doubled in size while he was there.” She rolled her eyes in amusement. “All the girls had a crush on him.”

  “You liked him too, didn’t you? I saw how he had you turning all shades of red.”

  Ashlynn cringed, then bit her bottom lip. “Oh, was it that obvious?”

  “Girl, we could have put you outside on the street corner and you would’ve stopped traffic.”

  She groaned. “How embarrassing. Of course I liked him. He was the one guy I always hoped I’d marry whenever I played MASH. I didn’t even mind living in a shack with four kids as long as I ended up with him.”

  Zoe scoffed. “That’s true love right there.”

  “Ha ha. It was a silly crush. I mean, I was twelve and he was seventeen. There was no way anything would have happened back then.”

  “But you guys aren’t teenagers anymore,” Zoe remarked with a cunning look in her eyes. “Did you give him your number?”

  “What? No, he didn’t ask for it.” Ashlynn sighed as she remembered his comment about her teenage appearance. He had to bring up the braces and glasses, didn’t he?

  “Girl, you should’ve just given it to him.” Zoe shook her head incredulously at Ashlynn’s lack of initiative. “I would have asked him out on the spot!”

  “Oh goodness, I was having a hard enough time remembering to breathe. Guys like Jeremy never pay attention to me, much less smile at me.” And what an amazing smile he had. The memory of his upturned lips sent a warm feeling through her whole body. Just thinking about Jeremy made her spirits lift. That is, until the reality of the situation set in. Ashlynn turned to Zoe with wide eyes. “I have no idea where he lives or works. I have no way of contacting him if I wanted to. What if I never see him again?”

  “Calm down, Ash. You have nothing to worry about. I could practically see the molecules and atoms bouncing around all the way from the other side of the room.”

  Ashlynn gawked at Zoe. “The what?”

  “The chemistry between you two.”

  “Uh, I’m pretty sure that was due to all the extra blood flow in my cheeks.”

  “Very funny.” Zoe had the smug look of a Cheshire cat. “Trust me, he’ll be back.”

  “I hope so,” Ashlynn replied with a sigh. She doubted Jeremy saw her as anything more than an awkward adolescent girl. But a glimmer of hope buoyed her heart, lifting her out of the self-pity that had consumed her earlier.

  Surprisingly, for the first time that day, Derrick was the furthest thing on her mind. Seeing Jeremy again had her thinking that not all guys were bad. He was as perfect as they came—gorgeous, considerate, and kind. Who said knights in shining armor didn’t exist anymore?

  Jeremy

  “Hey man, did you eat lunch?”

  The baritone voice calling out to him from behind stirred Jeremy from his daydream. He had been staring at the computer monitor so long, the document on the screen had turned into a blur of black letters. How long had he sitting here? He spun around in his swivel chair and came face-to-face with his coworker, Bobby. The redheaded man standing outside his cubicle patted his bulging stomach hidden underneath a black polo shirt. “Lunch?”

  Bobby gazed at him curiously. “You know, the meal between breakfast and dinner. I finally digested the extra helping of turkey lasagna I had. I’m ready to go pump some iron now.”

  Jeremy checked his watch and blew out a long breath. “It’s one-thirty already.” The entire morning had passed, yet he had accomplished next to nothing. “Where did the time go?”

  “I’m guessing you forgot about lunch,” he remarked in surprise. “Man, how can you pass up free food? That’s one of the reasons I work at this company.” Bobby gestured toward Jeremy’s monitor. “You must be working on something big to forget to eat.”

  “Uh, yeah, something big all right.” Jeremy cleared his throat. He didn’t need his friend from the legal department knowing he’d been slacking on the job. As their company’s top negotiator, he should have been contemplating costs and terms for their next contract. Instead, he’d been lost in thought about a woman. He couldn’t afford to get distracted, especially not by his greatest weakness. A grueling workout was just what he needed to refocus. “Let’s hit the gym.” He stood up and grabbed a protein bar from his desk. “I’ll eat this in the meantime.”

  “You sure? If you want to skip working out today, I’m all for it.”

  He quirked a brow at Bobby’s hopeful tone. “Don’t think you’re getting out of it that easily. Come on, exercise is good for you.”

  Bobby groaned as he followed Jeremy down the hall. “How can something so good feel so bad?”

  “You won’t regret it, Bobby,” Jeremy remarked enthusiastically. There were plenty of things he regretted in life, but taking care of himself wasn’t one of them. He’d learned the importance of working out daily. Sure, the Bible said physical training was of little value compared to godliness, but the discipline he gained through it translated to his spiritual life as well. And God knew he could benefit from a more disciplined lifestyle.

  They headed to the next building to access the company gym. For the next hour, they worked up a sweat using the various machines. For their last exercise, they switched to the bench press with Bobby spotting Jeremy first. After a couple of reps, they switched places.

  “Come on, a little higher, Bobby. You can do it.”

  “I’m trying!” Bobby huffed and puffed as he raised the barbell above his head. The weight wobbled, then fell to one side as he lost his grip.

  “I’ve got you!” Jeremy grabbed the barbell before it crushed Bobby’s neck. He placed it back on the rack with little effort. “Good try. You almost had it.”

  “Oh man! Good thing you have fast reflexes. I almost got flattened into a pancake!” Bobby flailed about dramatically on the bench press. He sat up and wiped his forehead on his sleeve. “I feel like a big bowl of jelly, wiggly and wobbly.”

  Jeremy chuckled and gestured at Bobby’s reflection in the mirror beside them. “Pureed tomatoes might be more like it.”

  Bobby laughed at the sight of his crimson cheeks. “I’m ready for a break.”

  They grabbed their water bottles and sat down on some chairs lined up against the wall.

  Jeremy leaned back and took a swig of his water. His mind drifted again to the image of a sweet dimpled smile, the one that had occupied his mind all morning. He recalled his shock and pleasure at running into Ashlynn at the jewelry store. The last time he’d seen her, she had been in junior high and barely a shadow of a woman. Their relationship had strictly been a platonic one. With their age gap and his leadership position in the youth group, it would have been completely inappropriate to be anything more than friends.

  Today’s meeting, however, confirmed how much a dozen years had changed the game. His interest in her crossed all the boundaries of being brotherly in nature. He now viewed her through very different eyes, the curious and hungry eyes of a man. She had been cute before, but now she took his breath away. Everything from her beautiful face to her shapely legs vied for his attention. The thought both thrilled and unnerved him.

/>   Bobby waved his hand in front of Jeremy’s face. “Hey, did you hear a word I just said?”

  “Sorry,” he replied with chagrin. “What did you say?”

  “I said I bumped into Tiffany again. She was in the break room when I went to grab a soda.”

  “Tiffany? Is she the one who works in finance? Tall with short red hair?”

  “No, that’s Margo. I’m talking about the new HR Manager. Short with long red hair. Looks just like Amy Adams.”

  Jeremy laughed. “You and your redheads. Have you ever been interested in a girl who didn’t have red hair?”

  “Hey, we gingers need to stick together,” Bobby retorted, pointing to his own bright copper crew cut. “Haven’t you heard of redhead extinction? We’re a dying breed.”

  “You might want to make sure her hair color’s authentic before you make a move. You do know Amy Adams is naturally a blonde, right?”

  Bobby shrieked. “What?!”

  “Sorry, man, it’s true.” Jeremy laughed at the sight of Bobby’s gaping mouth. “My sister just dyed her hair the same shade. Anyways, back to Tiffany. I’m assuming you want to ask her out, assuming she’s a natural ginger?”

  He sighed. “Wanting and doing are two different things. If I knew she’d say yes, I’d have done it yesterday. I’m still feeling out the situation. That’s why I’m asking her to help me out with my self-evaluation.”

  “Ah, using the old Foot-in-the-Door technique.” Jeremy grinned. “Smart move. Get her to agree to something small first, then go for the bigger request.”

  “I’ve got my game down,” Bobby joked with a wink. As soon as he finished his sentence, his eyes locked on the gym door opening across from them. He waved eagerly at the people who entered and murmured, “Speaking of Tiffany …”

  Jeremy turned to see two women in body-hugging workout gear walk in. The redhead pulled her brunette friend toward the row of chairs near the bench press. Her lips turned up when she spotted her fellow ginger. “Hi Bobby, how’s it going?”

  “Hey Tiffany, fancy meeting you here.” Bobby turned to introduce Jeremy. “Have you met Jeremy? He and I work out together every day.”

  “Without fail,” Jeremy remarked, trying to put in a good word for his friend. He extended his hand toward Tiffany. “Welcome Tiffany. I heard from Bobby that you just started. Hope you’re liking it here so far.”

  Tiffany’s friend edged her way closer to shake Jeremy’s hand as well. Her eyes roamed over his body with obvious interest. She licked her red lips and remarked, “You’re Jeremy Adams, aren’t you? I’m Monica. I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re the man who strikes all the big deals. Seems like you’ve got quite a way with words.”

  “Just doing my job,” Jeremy replied with a polite smile. He extracted his hand from Monica’s tight grip. “You ladies interested in the treadmills? Those two just opened up.” He pointed to the opposite wall where several black machines stood. “I’m heading there after I finish my water, but I’d be happy to offer you first dibs.”

  Tiffany spoke up first. “I appreciate it. I’ve got a meeting to catch at four so I’ll take you up on that offer.” She directed her next comment at Bobby. “Let me know when you’re ready to work on your evaluation.”

  Bobby beamed. “Sure thing, thanks.”

  Monica lingered for a moment after Tiffany walked away. She reached out one perfectly manicured hand and trailed her red nails down Jeremy’s bicep. Batting her long lashes, she cooed, “Come on to the treadmill when you’re ready to get your heart racing. You know I’ll give it up for you anytime.”

  Jeremy’s entire body tensed. This wasn’t the first proposition he’d received from a woman, but Monica’s boldness surprised even him. Speechless, he eyed the leggy brunette as she sauntered off, her hips swaying in time to the pop song playing overhead. He allowed himself to relax only when she had reached the other side of the gym.

  Bobby slapped him on the back and exclaimed in a hushed voice, “Are you insane? Monica just offered herself to you on a silver platter! Why didn’t you bite?”

  He took a long chug of water, waiting for the icy cold liquid to cool him off from the inside out. When he finished drinking, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He gave his friend a pointed look. “There’s no reason to bite when you’re not hungry.”

  “Are you blind? She’s totally hot, like Palm Springs in the middle of July hot.”

  Jeremy had to admit Monica was easy on the eyes. She had the right figure for spandex and had no qualms about showing off her assets. Her offer weighed on his mind, but he quickly tore his eyes away from her body. The temptation was strong, but he needed to be stronger. Other qualities now took precedence on his list of must-haves in a woman. “Like I said, I’m not interested.”

  “Wow. I don’t get it, man.” Bobby tipped his water bottle toward Jeremy. “You have a reputation around here for being the most eligible but unavailable bachelor. You can have any girl you want. What are you waiting for?”

  “The right one.”

  Bobby eyed him dubiously. “And how do you know which one is the right one?”

  “Just as well as you know which ones aren’t the right ones,” Jeremy replied with a wry smile.

  “And you’re just going to sit around waiting for her to show up?”

  “For God to make our paths cross? Yeah.” His tone turned serious. “In fact, I think she may have shown up today.”

  “What? Where?”

  “At the jewelry store I was at earlier. I went there to buy a gift for my mom, and there she was.”

  “Just like that?” Bobby shook his head in disbelief. “You saw a girl this morning and knew she’s the one? Was it like love at first sight? An instant connection?”

  “Actually a reconnection. We were friends back when we were kids. We went to the same church, but lost touch when I moved out east. I never expected to see her again. It was a pleasant surprise.”

  “Yeah? So, what’s she like now? Is she all grown up?”

  He nodded. “She’s still down-to-earth though; that much hasn’t changed.” Ashlynn’s quintessential girl next door quality was one he had grown to appreciate in a woman.

  “But she’s got a killer bod now, right?”

  Jeremy cracked a smile. “There’s more to a girl than her body, Bobby. Or the color of her hair for that matter.”

  “Yeah, yeah, talk all you want, but there’s got to be some sizzle or things are gonna fizzle. You know what I mean? I’m all for a nice personality, but you need some physical attraction, too. Remember Roger Rabbit and Jessica? They had some heart thumpin’, eye buggin’ chemistry between them. You need to be sure there’s plenty of that going on.”

  Jeremy scoffed. “Only you could turn a story about a cartoon rabbit and his redheaded wife into something romantic. Relax, man. I hear what you’re saying. I can assure you there was plenty of chemistry going on between me and Ashlynn.” If the number of times she blushed that morning was any indication of her attraction toward him, he didn’t need to be concerned.

  “So, did you get her number?”

  He paused. “Actually, no. I thought about it, but decided not to rush things.” There was something very pure about her that made him want to approach the relationship slowly. Perhaps it was the way she wore her emotions on her sleeve or because they had known each other when they were young. Regardless, he had made enough mistakes in the past when it concerned women. He didn’t want to make any more, especially if it involved someone as sweet and unassuming as Ashlynn. “I’ll connect with her eventually, reestablish our friendship, and see where things go.”

  “Ah, so that’s your game plan? Slow and steady, huh?”

  “You know what they say: slow and steady wins the race,” Jeremy confirmed with a confident grin. “The important thing is I know exactly where to find her.”

  He would definitely be making another trip to the jewelry store in the near future.

  Ashlynn

  Ashlynn counted the string of small wooden squares on her desk. She was trying her hand at making jewelry with wood instead of the crystals she normally used. Holding a small set of pliers in one hand and silver plated links in the other, she wrestled one of the links open.