My Beloved Past

By Anne Marie Citro

In a city of millions, the probability of chance and all of its mathematical outcomes should never have brought Jake and Zara together.

Jake never forgot the beautiful, exotic eyes of his first love. They haunt his dreams and make him look twice at every woman he meets. Then, in a twist of fate, when he jumps to the rescue of the gorgeous jogger he has been admiring for weeks, one look into Zara's eyes brings him back to her, even if it's only all the sweet memories.

It has taken Zara years to finally be happy with who she is, working her dream job as a counselor to special needs teenagers and having fun with her crazy group of friends. However, she has never forgiven herself for that fateful night when she was a teenager. The night that changed the course of so many lives. The night she learned unconditional love isn't always so unconditional. Now, years later, in the clutches of a devil dog's jaw, Zara has only one regret. That he will never know the truth.

She can't change the sins of her past, but can her sexy hero lead her to a new future? Can she finally leave the past where it belongs in the past? Or, will old secrets threaten her new, budding love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Marie Citro
• Release date: Apr 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370646074

Anne Marie Citro

Anne Marie Citro grew born and raised in the greater Toronto area of Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a large, loving family. Anne Marie is married to a very patient man. He is the love of her life. They have four very cool sons, and the girls they brought into their family that have become daughters of her heart. She has been blessed enough to finally have a beautiful granddaughter after four sons. She has her own personal gaggle of girlfriends, who enrich her life on a daily basis and make her laugh. Caesar Friday is her favourite day of the week. Caesars with the girls and date night with her hubby. She works with special-needs teenagers, that have taught her how to appreciate life and see it through gentler eyes. Anne Marie was encouraged by her husband to follow her life long dream to write. She loves the characters that take over imagination and haunts her dreams. She loves the arts and she has tried her hand at painting, wood sculpting, chainsaw carving, wood burning, metal and wire sculptures. Yes, her husband is a very patient man! Anne Marie is an avid reader and enjoys about three books per week. But nothing makes her happier then riding on the back of her husband's Harley and throwing her arms out and feeling the wind race by. Anne Marie and her husband take a few weeks every year to travel to spectacular destination around the world. Anne Marie is excited and can't wait to see what the next chapter holds for her life.

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My Beloved Past

By Anne Marie Citro

Copyright © 2018

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Anne Marie Citro, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.

Editing by C&D Editing

Cover created by: Ravenne Villanueva

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This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. Please do not take offence to the content, as it is fiction.

Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The authors acknowledge the trademarked status in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

This book contains mature content not suitable for readers under the age of 18. This book contains content with strong language, violence, and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are over the age of 18.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Chapter 1: Wonder Woman

Chapter 2: Lying While Falling

Chapter 3: Shattered Kitten

Chapter 4: Sasquatch in Heels

Chapter 5: Trusting Bear

Chapter 6: You’re on My Side

Chapter 7: Love Spaghetti More

Chapter 8: Jason

Chapter 9: Shit List

Chapter 10: Puppeteer

Chapter 11: Once Upon a Time

Chapter 12: Madonna Syndrome

Chapter 13: Six Markers

Chapter 14: Pain of a Heart Attack

Chapter 15: Smuggling Motts Clamato Juice

Chapter 16: Whip It Out

Chapter 17: Hot Bum

Chapter 18: Old Baboon

Chapter 19: Working for The Mob

Chapter 20: Can’t Be Friends

Chapter 21: Perfect Match

Chapter 22: If I Were in Your Shoes

Chapter 23: Probability of Chance

Chapter 24: Loved That Much

Chapter 25: Fight for Survival

Epilogue

Thank You

Acknowledgements

Sneak Peek

Sista’s Series

Under Her Wings

Lyrics Heart & Soul

Thicker Than Blood

Breaking Down My Walls

Dedication

To my sister-in-law, Sandra

For the first time since I started writing, I named a character after someone I know. Sandra, I chose your name because you are an inspiration to me. I admire and respect how you opened your heart and your arms to a daughter not born to you. You made all the difference in her life. She sings your praises as an adult because you never made her feel like she wasn’t one hundred percent yours. You respected her mom; therefore, respecting her right to every part of her family.

We all have opportunities to make someone’s life better, but we often don’t. I have watched you embrace, nurture, and love a little girl whose life you changed, just like the character I named after you.

Unconditional love is rare and beautiful, just like you!

Chapter 1

Wonder Woman

Jake sat at his usual bench in Huron Park, closing the notes he had been studying on his tablet to look at the time. Six forty-five a.m. She would be here any minute now.

Right on cue, the tall brunette veered around the corner and entered the park, jogging like she did every morning.

Today she was wearing the mid-calf black running pants with a diagonal neon pink stripe running from her full hips to her knees. She also had on a pink sports bra that peeked out from under the black, skin-tight tank she wore.

The woman was tall, maybe five-eight or nine. Her long, luscious, deep-brown hair was pulled up into a high ponytail that bounced from side to side with every step she took. Her skin was a flawless bronze. She had high cheekbones, beautifully shaped dark eyebrows, and full, kissable lips.

Jake had recently seen Wonder Woman on Netflix and swore she was Gal Gadot’s identical twin. He would bet his last dollar she had dark brown eyes. Even covered in sweat, she was incredibly sexy. Actually, she was probably more so because that just led his mind to other activities in which she could be sweating.

Jake was waiting for one of his young employees. It was something he had started doing a month ago when he couldn’t sleep. That had been the first day he had seen the gorgeous jogger.

Every day, he saw the same people at the same time walking past him. Before coming to this park, Jake had no idea how habitual people were.

Right on time, an older couple, both probably in their seventies and both with canes, had walked by at six twenty-five a.m. He had to give it to them for trying to keep fit in their golden years. They were followed at six-thirty by an Asian man, who swung his arms back and forth, propelling his next step. Crossing his path at six thirty-three was a middle-aged woman who reminded him of his mom. Her hips looked like they swayed to the music she listened to on her headphones.

Then there were the dog walkers. Jake loved dogs and had a beautiful, big golden lab named Bear that he often brought to the leash-free part of the park.

At six thirty-five, an older woman passed by with two overweight sausage dogs whose bellies surely dragged on the ground. Jake had never seen dachshund hounds with long, scraggly hair. They looked like little woolly mammoths, and sounded like them, too, snorting as they walked. He often chuckled as the trio passed him.

At six-forty was a small blond man, probably of Eastern European descent and approximately thirty years old. He couldn’t be any more than five-foot-four, but his dog was enormous—a black Cane Corso Italian Mastiff that looked like it was on steroids, the ears and tail cropped. As the dog owner walked past each day, Jake could see the dog’s huge testicles. He often wondered if the man had chosen not to neuter the dog because he was over-compensating for his own small wiener. Jake was sure the dog could do some serious damage.

Zara had run her regular ten kilometres and could see the finish line. She hated running, but every morning, she started at five-fifteen, warming up by walking to the park—she lived just behind the park in a basement apartment of a beautiful home. She began and ended her run in the park, using the walk back home to cool down. She wasn’t smart enough at five in the morning to talk herself out it. The mind games people played.

Step by step, she counted down, anxious to be done with the god-awful task.

She never got runner’s euphoria—the state runners claimed they experienced, with a reduced feeling of pain and loss of time. It was supposed to be when your mind separated from your body. Bullshit! Zara thought they were all liars.

She measured time by the songs from her phone’s playlist. If she made it to the finish line by the time Flatliner by Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley started to play, she rewarded herself by line dancing the way Dakota had taught her.

Shaking her body for all it was worth, she was sure she looked like she was having an epileptic seizure. Thank God she ran before most of the world was awake. There was only one person in the park, and he couldn’t see her since he was over by the tennis courts, always on his phone with his baseball cap pointing downwards as he focused, probably on Facebook.

If she pushed the final stretch, she would make it.

Jake heard the theme song from Wonder Woman in his mind as she rounded the corner, just passing the big dog. The dog lunged at the beautiful woman, causing her to falter in her steps. Fucking idiot shouldn’t be allowed to walk a dog he can’t control.

Wonder Woman regained her footing, shaking her head in a pissed-off motion as she continued onward. Meanwhile, the owner was trying to reprimand the dog, when it yanked free of his grip, running after the woman.

Everything moved in slow motion as Jake watched the dog dig his front paws into the ground, not allowing anything to get between him and Wonder Woman.

As Jake flew off the bench, he screamed for the woman to run. The music must have been too loud, though, because she didn’t react.

Jake screamed louder, waving his hands in the air as he ran towards his pickup truck. Finally getting her attention, he pointed behind her as the snarling dog closed in. At the same moment, he could hear the owner screaming, Goliath, stop! Goliath, heel!

Turning, seeing the dog on her heels, Zara screamed, then started sprinting. Her heart jumped into her throat, knowing she couldn’t outrun the devil dog hot on her heels.

LOOK OUT! RUN! Jake continued to scream as he grabbed a shovel out of the bed of the truck, then ran towards the woman.

The dog lunged, his front paws landing on the small of her back and propelling her forward. His weight caused Zara’s right foot to kick into her left, and then she was flying, hearing the snap of the dog’s jaw as she flew out of his reach.

Hands outstretched, instinctually trying to save herself from a face-plant, she met the unforgiving pavement as it scraped off the tender skin on her hands and forearms.

She screamed in pain and fear.

God help her, the dog was going to rip her apart.

Jake watched as Wonder Woman rolled out of reach while the dog snarled, skidding to a halt and turning back to his prey. He was maybe five feet away, shovel raised, when the dog exposed his teeth and attacked.

Zara curled her body inwards, covering her head with her bloody hands. She screamed when the first bite sank into her upper arm, ripping the tender flesh. The pain was excruciating. Then she felt the warmth of her blood as her flesh tore further before the dog let go.

Zara screeched in agonizing pain as she heard the growl of intent before the dog quickly moved his paws up her body to get a better shot at her screaming face.

Tucking her body into a tighter ball, she felt his teeth at the base of her skull. She tightened her shoulder muscles as searing pain again lashed through her body, the dog’s sharp teeth penetrating the muscle to the bone.

Zara finally got runner’s euphoria as her mind separated from her body.

Convinced she was going to die, she had so many regrets. How could a woman at twenty-six years old die with so many things left undone and unsaid?

Jason! She would miss thoughts of Jason the most. I’m sorry, Jason. Please forgive me.

Zara was brought out of her despair by a menacing shout, followed by the whistle of wind, before a bone-crunching sound filtered into her brain. Then there was the sound of a painful howl as bones snapped.

The dog yelped, but he was undeterred by his injuries, turning its ferocious temper to the person who had hit him. It snarled at the newcomer, spittle and blood flying as it shook the pain off. In the blink of an eye, the dog then lunged off Zara, straight for Jake’s arm, latching on as the shovel collided with the dog’s flank.

Through his adrenaline rush, Jake heard the owner screaming to stop. He wasn’t sure if the guy was yelling at him, the dog, or them both. Whatever the case, Jake used inhuman strength as he wielded the shovel, ready for the next blow.

The dog yelped with pain as the shovel connected with its hind leg. Then its body followed the trajectory of the shovel, ripping the skin in Jake’s forearm.

Fuck! Jake screamed, turning to see the dog was trying to get up, but it couldn’t put any weight on its hind leg. It continued yelping in pain as the owner ran to his dog.

Ignoring the hellhound, Jake knelt next to Wonder Woman, who was crying loudly as the blood flowed freely from her wounds, her arms still tightly clasped around her head.

I’m sorry, Jason, Jake heard her chanting. It must have been her boyfriend because he didn’t see a ring. And he knew, as beautiful as she was, she would surely have a man in her life.

Miss, it’s okay. Looking up to confirm the dog’s owner had the dog contained, he then looked back down, realizing he needed to call 9-1-1.

He quickly looked for his phone, but he must have dropped it by the bench. Instead, he grabbed the woman’s phone, attached to an arm band.

What’s your code? he asked quickly, seeing he couldn’t use her phone without one.

The beautiful woman didn’t seem to hear.

Just as he was about to ask again, he heard his name being called and lifted his head. It was his employee, Christopher, running with all his might to get to Jake and the woman.

Call 9-1-1! Jake yelled.

The boy halted, digging his phone out of his front pocket. As soon as he dialed, he proceeded to the horrific scene.

As Jake heard the boy talking to the operator, he grabbed the base of his work shirt and whipped it over his head before ripping it down the centre.

Christopher bent down. What do you need? Jake could hear the panic in the young kid’s voice.

Jake ripped a piece off his shirt, then grabbed the woman’s arm, throwing the kid the other half and telling him, Rip this into strips and hand them to me.

At Jake’s touch, Zara screamed and tried to yank her arm away, terrified the dog had her again. No! Please, no more.

Easy, sweetheart. I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe now. As he said it, he lifted his head and, unbelievably, saw the coward struggling with the beast, trying to sneak away.

Christopher, call 9-1-1 again and ask for the police, he snapped. Tell them the asshole is trying to sneak away. Follow him. Go!

Christopher jumped up, doing his boss’s bidding, as Jake bent back down and started tying a tourniquet. The woman shrieked in pain.

I’m sorry. I don’t want to cause you more pain, but I have to stop the bleeding.

Zara had her eyes scrunched closed in pain, rocking while crying.

You’re going to be fine. I promise. Jake tied off what he could on her forearm, then concentrated on her shoulder and the back of her head. He took the rest of the fabric and pressed it tightly to the other two wounds.

To get government grants to help young entrepreneurs open businesses, it was required they have WHIMIS and first-aid training. Jake took the commitment seriously, knowing workplace accidents happened all the time. He just never imagined his skills would be used on Wonder Woman.

This was not how Jake envisioned meeting her.

The woman’s whimpers were heartbreaking. Where is the damn ambulance? Jake could feel and see her blood sopping through his torn-up T-shirt.

In the distance, he finally heard sirens getting closer by the second. Thankfully, at this time of day, there wouldn’t be any traffic.

A cop car came barrelling down the road first. Not thirty seconds behind it was the ambulance. Jake sighed with relief.

The cop came to a screeching halt a few feet from the couple, jumping out of his car while talking into his radio.

Ambulance is right behind me. What happened? the officer asked.

Without lifting his head, he told him, Dog attack. The owner tried taking off. I sent my employee to follow him.

Okay. I heard the call on my radio. One of our guys is almost there.

At that moment, the woman turned her head slightly and finally opened her eyes.

Time stood still as Jake’s heart leapt. She had the eyes that had haunted his past. The eyes that would always remind him of the famous National Geographic cover of the twelve-year-old Pakistani girl with the captivating green eyes surrounded with indigo. Then there was Wonder Woman’s dark hair and bronzed skin that reminded him of Charlize. Could it be her?

Charlize?

Zara?

Both men spoke at the same time.

Caden? the woman cried out.

Jake’s heart pounded so loudly he nearly missed the paramedic calling the woman’s name. Zara? It wasn’t the girl he had dreamed of forever and lost so many years ago. How could anyone else in the world share such unique-coloured eyes? Jake had been so sure it was her.

The other paramedic gestured to the girl. You know her?

Yeah, she’s one of my wife’s Caesar buddies.

Jake was confused. What was a Caesar buddy?

Concerned for Caden’s friend, the paramedic replied, Damn, yeah, the maid of honour. I remember her from your wedding.

Caden bent down to take her pulse. Don’t worry, doll; we’ll take good care of you. Taking his stethoscope, he raised it to her chest.

Sir, you’re injured. Let me help you, the other paramedic addressed Jake. Let the police officer put pressure on the wounds until Caden gets her vitals.

Brushing him off, Jake said, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Help her.

Caden saw Zara’s colour was pale and her body was shaking, so he gave her a shot for the pain and to deal with the trauma. Zara, honey, I need you to tell me what happened?

Zara was crying, and Jake didn’t think she heard the paramedic, so he started to respond. She was attacked …

Looking up with empathetic eyes, Caden said, Thank you, sir, but I need her to answer. She needs to stay focused to help with the shock. Turning back to one of his wife’s closest friends, he asked, Zara, sweetheart, what happened?

The other paramedic gently guided Jake’s hand off her wounds and took over as the cop grabbed Jake’s good elbow and guided him up to a standing position.

Let them do their job. You can tell me everything that happened, the cop said as he led Jake towards his car, guiding him to sit inside with his legs resting outside.

Jake held the cloth the cop had given him against his bloody arm as he told the officer the entire story. The cop then spoke into his radio, asking if the others had apprehended the dog’s owner. Dispatch relayed they had and were waiting for Animal Control.

Jake breathed a sigh of relief knowing the man and dog would get punished for what they had done to the woman. Zara, not Charlize.

The paramedics had just loaded Zara onto a gurney when the older one approached him with bandages. Sir, we are only five minutes from the hospital. Instead of waiting for another ambulance, we’ve been given clearance to bring you both in. Can you walk to the ambulance and we’ll dress your wound before we take off?

Jake followed the man to the ambulance as the two men lifted the gurney into the vehicle. Caden continued to work on Zara as the other one wrapped Jake’s torn arm with a makeshift bandage.

Patched up for now, Jake jumped into the empty seat the paramedic had gestured to as Caden continued to talk to Zara. The pain medicine must have taken effect because she was no longer hysterical.

Caden, will you call Dakota when we get to the hospital and tell her to call my mom? Zara asked with a shaky voice. And make sure she calls work and tells them I can’t make the meeting with Lincoln’s social worker today. They can reschedule for tomorrow. And I don’t want everyone coming. I’ll be out as soon as they patch me up. Besides, they won’t let them all come into the emergency room, so tell them I’ll just call them later.

Caden chuckled, knowing she couldn’t be in shock anymore, since she was doing what she did best—organizing.

Are you done? It goes without saying, I will make sure your family and the sistas know. But, sweetheart, let’s get through the next couple hours. Then you can organize everything and everyone.

Jake heard Caden’s humour as he teased the woman. He couldn’t believe for that split-second he had thought he had found the girl from his past, only to have it snatched before the memories could all come flooding back.

Charlize …

When they pulled into the hospital, the duo was taken into side-by-side curtained cubicles. The nurses washed and flushed the wounds in preparation for the doctor’s examination.

Caden stayed with Zara while the policeman joined Jake. He pulled out his notepad and asked for Jake’s ID, saying, The owner has been charged with the Occupier’s Liability Act, which refers to an assault resulting in bleeding, bone breakage, sprains, scratches, or bruising.

Listening, Jake reached into his pocket for his wallet, realizing it was missing. Shit, my ID’s in my truck, and my tablet and phone are on a park bench.

Don’t worry; I’ll send another officer to retrieve it. What kind of truck?

It has my logo—Lawn and Order. Shit, I hope no one steals my truck or tablet. I have all my work stuff on it.

Don’t worry, the cop said as he turned and walked out of the cubicle, talking into the radio pinned to his vest.

When was your last tetanus shot? Jake heard the doctor ask Wonder Woman.

Five years ago. She sounded so much better than she had just an hour ago.

The doctor must have been examining her wounds as he spoke because Jake heard her cry out in pain.

Sorry, but I have to examine the depth of the bites. You’re going to go for an X-ray to see if there are any broken bones. The police informed me that they are checking to find out if the dog had its rabies shot. If it hasn’t, we’ll have to give you a rabies injection today, and then you will go to the family doctor in seven days, and again at fourteen days for follow-up injections. We will also have to give you a rabies immune globulin injection.

I hate needles, Zara declared, panic filling her voice. I heard you have to give it in the stomach. Is that true?

The doctor tried not to show his amusement. No, Miss, we haven’t done that since the eighties. Long before you were born. It’s given in the arm. There can be side effects, but let’s not cross that bridge until we must. Hopefully, the owner was responsible and got his shots.

Great. That’s reassuring.

We should know in a few hours. There will be records with the veterinarian, but we still do blood work on the dog to confirm it was effective. In the meantime, we have a plastic surgeon coming in from downtown Toronto to look at your wounds and stitch you up.

You don’t have any surgeons here? Zara asked, completely confused.

Smirking, the doctor said, Apparently, someone important called the hospital to say they were arranging for the top plastic surgeon to be brought in for you. He lifted his eyebrows, wondering who Zara was.

Zara quizzically looked over at Caden.

Lifting his arms up in defeat, Caden said, Ryder answered the phone when I called Francesca. My money is on him, unless one of the girls called Edward. You know how he freaked out when nobody told him about Francesca’s accident. But my money’s still on Ryder.

Zara’s eyes bugged out. Shit! Get on that phone right now and make sure it isn’t Edward. Calm him down. I’ll be fine. I don’t want him coming here. I have too much work to do, and I don’t want him bossing me around like he did Dakota.

Caden pulled out his phone and searched for Edward’s number. Before he raised the phone to his ear, though, Zara continued.

And you need to get back to work, please. Don’t feel like you have to stay with me. My mom will be here soon.

With a snicker, Caden assured her, Doll, you were my last call. My shift ended at seven, so don’t worry about me. Besides, Dakota went to pick up your mom. She was worried about her driving. I’m here for the long haul. He raised his hand, interrupting her as he said hello into the phone, then got up as Edward started screaming.

Jake smiled to himself. Wonder Woman was going to be all right. She seemed to have more than enough people looking after her. Obviously, she was wealthy if they were bringing in a top plastic surgeon. Way out of his league, but he had known that just by the look of her.

The girl brought him back to eleven years ago, when he first met Charlize.

Chapter 2

Lying While Falling

Eleven Years Earlier…

Jake wondered how he had allowed his buddies to drag his tired ass to a bar that played classic rock that somehow rolled into new country. Unbelievable! However, his friends had said the country chicks were hot with their tight jeans and low-slung tanks. They had told him getting laid would lessen his continuously sour mood. He knew no amount of tail would help because he was too damn tired to get it up.

He took a sip of his warming beer, thinking this wasn’t going to help tomorrow, when he had to be up at the crack of dawn to finish a job he hadn’t been able to complete today.

Mr. Taylor was pissed, and that didn’t bode well for him. The condo association Mr. Taylor managed had asked for apricot begonias, and he had planted one hundred fifty salmon-coloured ones. Really? Like there was a big difference between apricot and salmon. Fuck! The conversation was still fresh in his memory.

"I put my neck on the line for you, Jake. There was a lot of reputable companies bidding for this job. You’re twenty years old, for Christ’s sake. I saw something of myself in you, so I gave you a chance. But those goddamn flowers aren’t the right colour, and you have to fix it before noon tomorrow. The committee is doing their final walk-through, and everything has to be perfect, including those flowers. Don’t let me down, son."

Yes, sir, it’ll be perfect.

I hope so.

With that, Mr. Taylor left Jake standing by the bed of flowers that he had just spent two days planting.

Frustrated beyond belief, he had called his mom at work and explained the situation. His mom was his saving grace. She had faked an illness, left work, and spent the day searching all the nurseries within a hundred-kilometre radius for apricot-coloured flowers. God bless her soul, she had found them an hour and twenty minutes away. She had then driven to the condo site and switched out her car for his old pickup truck and went to get them. Meanwhile, Jake had taken out all the plants until he was using the light of his cell phone to see and finish.

Jake had started his own landscaping business the day after he had finished high school. His mom, Leanne, had wanted him to continue his education, but Jake had spent the last four years working part-time for a landscaping company and wanted nothing more than to begin living his dream. He had compromised with her by taking online classes. He just hadn’t known how damn hard it would be juggling a career and college.

Lawn and Order was the name Leanne had come up with after watching a TV show one night. Jake had laughed when she had presented the name. He had been searching for the perfect name, but every one he had come up with was either taken or lame. His mom had hit the jackpot. She was the most amazing person he knew.

Leanne hadn’t had an easy life. After a bad childhood spent with an alcoholic mother, she had married her high school sweetheart after finding out she was pregnant. Jake’s dad, Bruce, hadn’t been ready to be a father and had walked out one day, never to return. Therefore, Leanne had been both mother and father to him.

She had struggled day to day, but Jake had never wanted for anything. She surrounded him with love, was Jake’s hero, and he had promised himself that one day, he would make her life easier—the day his business became successful.

For the first time tonight, Jake heard a song he was familiar with. Thank Christ it was a rock song, Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison. Smiling to himself, the irony of the words wasn’t lost on Jake. It lightened his spirits.

The dance floor cleared, and the bar became jammed with all the country chicks who had stopped line dancing. He smirked as he realized how smart the owner really was. During the country songs, all the chicks were on the floor, while the guys drank beer after beer, watching the girls. Switching to rock, the bar was then flooded as the girls refueled. The owner was a bloody genius! The bills never stopped exchanging hands.

Told ya you’d like it, Jay! Steven, his oldest friend, said. The guys had called him Jay since childhood. He wasn’t even sure how it began. Look at the rocker chicks over there. Steven pointed to four girls across the dance floor who were singing loud and proud. They were obviously loaded.

The blonde chick bent backwards to sing a high note, while the most gorgeous chick he had ever laid eyes on stood there, howling at her friend’s rendition. She had long, curly hair and a body to die for. She was small in the tits department, but her ass was what dreams were made of. Especially wet dreams. She was dressed more conservatively than most of the girls, yet Jake could still see her figure. She wore low-waisted jeans that cupped that fine ass, and a feminine, off-the-shoulder, flowing white blouse that showed off her flat belly.

Dude, you’re going to burn a hole right through her jeans if you keep staring at her ass like that, Collin said with a shoulder nudge.

Still in awe, Jake replied, She looks like an angel created her face and the devil created her body. Damn!

As Collin and Steve laughed at their new version of a not-so-uptight friend, Fat Bottom Girls by Queen came on. The girl who had Jake in a trance grabbed two of the girls closest to her and started dragging them onto the dance floor. Jake couldn’t stop staring.

Zara, feeling eyes upon her, turned as she swung her curvy hips from side to side. There was a group of guys smiling at them. She watched as they ripped at the tall, good-looking one, and then he put his beer down and started down the stairs towards her, his friends in his wake.

Oh, my God, Andi, there’re a bunch of guys heading our way. What do we do?

Calm down. Don’t you dare blow our cover. Act cool. Remember, you’re supposed to be Charlize.

Zara’s heart was pounding as she danced, arms thrown up, shaking her Shakira-certified hips.

She and her friends were underage, drinking in a bar—the legal drinking age was nineteen. If anyone found out that the group was a bunch of fifteen-year-olds, they would get charged with underage drinking. If their dads found out, though, they would be dead before the police could arrest them.

The girls had heard about this bar from their older siblings. It had taken them three weeks to plan this adventure.

Zara had taken her sister, Charlize’s, old driver’s licence out of the garbage when her new one had arrived. It was still valid for six more weeks. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect with three weeks left of summer.

The cute guy from the bar startled her when he bent down and whispered in her ear, This is going to sound like such a pick-up line, but you have the nicest ass my eyes have ever had the pleasure of viewing. Not only that, you have excellent taste in music. May I join you?

Zara laughed, turning to see the other guys talking to her friends. I don’t own the dance floor; you can dance wherever you want.

Jake was speechless when she raised her eyelashes and looked into his eyes. Two minutes ago, he would have sworn there was nothing better than her ass. Her eyes, though, were just as stunning. He had seen eyes like hers before, but he couldn’t figure out where.

While he searched his memory, his dead-tired dick came to life, enthralled by the most beautiful girl he had ever met. Then it hit him like a stone falling off a cliff.

She had the same eyes from the National Geographic magazine his mother had kept. The girl on the cover was from the India, Pakistan, or somewhere like that, and the photographer had snapped the picture of the obviously pissed off young girl. Jake had looked at the picture, wondering what the girl would have looked like if she smiled. Now he knew.

Hello? Zara said as she waved a hand in front of his face. You’re staring.

Jake gave his head a shake as Collin slapped his back. Sorry, ladies, Jay’s had a bad week at work.

Zara was taken aback. The guy worked. He didn’t attend school like she did, or university. He must be older than she had thought.

They were so out of their element.

Steph had convinced them that they all looked older with their made-up faces and high heels. She had assured them that they could pull it off if they all remained sober enough not to get caught.

Regaining his compose, Jake said, Hi, I’m Ja—

Jay, yeah, I heard. Zara laughed at his equal discomfort. I’m Charlize. Nice to meet you.

As their introductions finished, the song came to an end and a new, slower song, Dream Come True by Frozen Ghost, started to play.

Zara looked around, figuring it was time to leave the dance floor. Nice to meet you, Jay.

Reaching out, he grabbed her arm. Please dance with me?

Zara felt like she had been electrocuted as she stared at his hand on her arm.

Jake automatically dropped his hand, also feeling the spark. Sorry, I didn’t mean to grab you. He ran his hands through his long, shaggy hair. I just . . .… would really like to dance with you.

Okay, sure. Zara was beyond flattered that such a mature guy was interested her.

Jake enclosed the beautiful girl in his arms. She felt amazing. His dick went to full-mast. Not wanting her to feel it, he shifted his hips back a bit as he pulled her upper body closer.

So, where you from, Charlize? By the way, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.

Feeling like the biggest liar in the world, she rambled, Well, I was born in Tanzania and moved to Toronto when I was five. My father is originally from Portugal, and my mother is from Australia. I guess I’m from all over. What about you?

If her looks and clothes didn’t prove she was out of his league, the fact that her family travelled confirmed she came from money. Jake had only ever been to Disney World. His mom and he had driven to Florida and rented a small motel room for five days. It might not have been fancy, but it was the most fun they had ever had together. Jake kept a picture of the two of them with Mickey and Minnie tucked in the mirror of his dresser.

Jake laughed at her rambling. I meant, are you from around here?

Zara’s face flushed. Oh, sorry, I can’t believe I’m so stupid.

Her honesty was refreshing.

Looking into her bewitching eyes, Jake said, You’re the farthest thing from stupid. You accepted my invitation to dance, so I think you’re pretty damn smart. And your background is as unique as your name. He smiled at her blush. I was born and raised in Toronto. Canadian through and through. Do you live here?

Umm, yeah, sort of. I live in Mississauga. He was so cute she had a hard time concentrating.

Do you go to school there?

Zara stopped dead in her tracks. Had he figured out she was in high school?

Jake picked up on her body language and tried to backpedal. Sorry, I’m not a stalker. Just curious if you went to the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus.

Relief swept through her entire body. No, no. I’m sorry. I didn’t think you were going to stalk me. I was just surprised you knew I was in university.

A beautiful smile lit up his face. I told you I thought you were smart, so it makes sense that you’re in university.

Yeah, I’m going to Western University in London. Second year, she lied sheepishly. She was going directly to Hell. What do you do, Jay?

Jake would have to remind himself to tell her Jay was his nickname. He was so having sex with her, and