Ask Jake (Book One of the Whisper Series)

Eleven: Cougar

The cool air sobers me while I stop to button my coat. It's quiet out here, and kind of pretty. They've set up twinkle lights that glow against the white of the snow. The trellises still have ivy growing on them, and lights are entwined throughout.

"Hello again."

I jump, realizing I'm not alone. I turn and see the bass player leaning against the wall, looking at me.

"Hi." I finish buttoning my coat and look around again. "Getting some air?"

"Yeah, well, it was getting a little...crowded, in there," he says.

His accent is smooth and sexy.

Without looking at him, I nod and walk toward the twinkle lights. "Yeah, I needed some space, too."

"Your boyfriend, is he going to come looking for you?" he asks, not moving from his spot on the wall.

I turn my gaze to him and notice that steam is coming off his body. He must be hot from being on stage and he's not wearing a coat.

"It's in the twenties tonight. Aren't you freezing?" I ask.

He moves his back off the wall and turns toward me, leaning on his shoulder. "I'll answer your question after you answer mine." His authoritative tone tingles the base of my spine. Then, he runs his hands through his hair and asks with pronounced dedication, "Is your boyfriend going to come looking for you?"

The smooth sound of his voice captures me. I'm not sure if it's Adam's latest touch, or this guy, but either way, I feel slightly more awakened.

Wanting to give in to his authority but not willing to give in, I walk around looking at the lights. He looks like the type of guy that gets into trouble with other girls' boyfriends.

"Well?" he asks.

"Well, maybe it's none of my concern if you freeze. I withdrawal my question..."

"Great, so when he comes out here," he pauses and walks toward me, "and kicks my ass for talking to you, will you talk to me, then?" The closer he gets to me and out of the shadows, the better he looks.

Right then the back door opens and we both jump and look over. The drummer from his band searches for a second before spotting us. "Uh, uh, hey dude," he says, looking at him, then me, then him again. "We're wrapping it up, man..."

"Whatever, you don't need me," says the young man before me, brushing off his friend.

The other guy makes an uncomfortable shift on his feet, looks at each of us again, stutters something, and shuts the door.

"What's your name?" I ask him, folding my arms, feeling the cold air.

"A name is a fairly personal thing, wouldn't you say? I'm not sure I want you to know that much about me." He turns his head sideways. The slight grin on his face says he's playing my game and he might be better at it than me.

"He's not my boyfriend," I say, looking at him. "That guy he came in with, that is his boyfriend."

A smile cross his face and it hurts me a little, "Oh, I see, Gillian Kelly."

"How do you know my name?" I jump.

"I paid the bartender twenty dollars to tell me your name last night. They all know you and that friend of yours." He's smug and closing the distance between us.

I close my arms tighter and start to walk away before turning back, "That is kind of stalkerish, don't you think?"

He laughs a little, making me look at him. "Perhaps a little, but last night I had no way of calling out to you and I really wanted to. That is all. Also, I kind of felt like we had a least a little connection going on. Am I completly mad?"