Read Time Changes Everything for Free Online

true. Where’s your roommate? You said she would be here.” Jake inspected the small apartment, and avoided staring directly at Amanda. She was like a magnet, tonight, pulling him closer and if he smelled her perfumed body again, he’d pull her in his arms. To hell with just being friends.
    “She and Veronica worked at the parade this morning. They should be finished soon.”
    “Sounds nice.” He hadn’t counted on being alone with Amanda. Crap. He needed people around him to control his emotions – the ones he couldn’t figure out.
    The minute he saw her in Manahatta’s, he’d been sucker punched in the stomach. She wasn’t the little girl he remembered, and this wanting inside of him wasn’t very neighborly. Hell, if he didn’t think too hard about keeping his hands to himself, he’d have her in her bed in two minutes flat.
    But, no. This was Mandy, and she was clear the other day that she didn’t want anything to do with a guy. So, why the hell couldn’t he stop thinking about her, dreaming about her, for crying out loud.
    “I need a little help. You up to it?” Amanda reached into a drawer pulling out a second apron and tossed it to him. 
    “Anything for you.” He tied the apron on. “What can I do?”
    She pointed to a bowl. “I need a strong man to mash the potatoes.”
    “No problem.” He grabbed the masher and diligently mashed the potatoes, while Amanda glided around the kitchen.
    His eyes devoured her. Every move she made was like a dish in itself. She leaned over the sweet potatoes, stirring them, round and round, and she bent to check the turkey in the oven. He almost fell over checking out her ass. In his defense, it was a nice ass. She held back her hair, so it wouldn’t dip into her concoction and hummed a tune he didn’t recognize. The back of her neck glistened like white chocolate waiting to be nibbled. 
    “So, what’s up with you?” Amanda asked. “You mad about something?”
    He looked down.  He’d mashed the potatoes to mush. He set the utensil down, looking around to keep his thoughts at bay. “I’m just surprised you invited me here.”
    “Why would you be surprised? We’re both in New York and we don’t have time to go home until Christmas. We grew up toge –”
    “I mean, I’m a man and you were quite clear the other day that you don’t want a man in your life.” He grabbed a rag from the counter and rung it in his hands. Their talk from the bagel shop still rang in his head. 
    “Jake, you’re not just any man. You’re a good friend.”
    So, he was just a good friend.
    Okay.
    He sighed. Not okay.
    “Well, no matter, I’m a man and I took offense to your comment the other day.” Jake slapped the rag over his shoulder.
    “Look who’s talking. Shouldn’t I take offense to how you treat women? Go on a date, sleep with them, and never call again.” Amanda tore open a bag of marshmallows and threw them on top of the sweet potatoes.
    “I never did that to you.”
    “Right. But you sure did lead me on with that kiss. You said you would come back and then you just left.” Amanda shoved a serving dish his way and nodded to the mashed potatoes.
    Jake grabbed the dish and pointed it at her. “That was seven years ago. And it was different.”
    “Why should I want a man in my life after being treated like that?”
    “Hey, you can’t blame me for that. Anyway, we kissed that night. I didn’t force you, may I remind you. And, we’re talking about today, not seven years ago.” Jake scooped the mash potatoes into the serving dish with swift movements.
    She grabbed the mashed potatoes from him and slammed it against the counter on the opposite side of the kitchen. She stood with her back to him and sighed.  “I don’t want to fight.”
    He walked behind her, placed his hand on her shoulder and moved her hair to the side so he could see her neck. She shivered.  His finger trailed a line from her ear to her shoulder. “There’s lots of things we can