Chapter 6

Raven POV

It took me a few minutes to process what it was he said, and when I turned to face Jacob, my gaze meeting his, I became tongue-tied again. I couldn’t have formed a word if my life depended on it, so I just nodded. Is this what they mean by love at first sight? That can’t be possible, but what else would explain this? I may not have been the girl that all the guys flocked to talk to, but I have never had a hard time talking to them like this. All I seemed to be able to do was stare and get lost in my head overthinking things. I don’t know how long I sat there zoned out, but the next time I pulled my attention away from Jacob, we were at the table alone. “Where…” I started to say, twisting from left to right looking for the other two.

“They said something about feeling out of place or something like that and left. I’ll admit I was a little distracted, so I really don’t know for sure what was said.” Jacob answered before I could even finish my question. I felt the tingles come back as he took my hand that was sitting on the table and said. “I know you don’t know me, and it should be the number one rule of every girl at a party to never go off alone with a guy, but do you think I could convince you to go sit on the end of the dock with me?” He points over to the dock area that is behind us. I turn, looking over the area and start to think about it when he whispers in my ear. “It’s far enough away that people won’t be listening to our conversation but close enough that if I, not that I’m planning to, do something that you don’t like, you will be able to get everyone’s attention.”

I had to hold in the gasp that tried to escape as a warm, tingly shiver ran down my spine. I couldn’t believe that just the sound of his voice could evoke such a response. How can just a voice conjure up all these naughty thoughts? Thoughts that until I saw Jacob I had never even had. He was right. I didn’t know him, so why was I drawn to him like this? All I want to do is be alone with him. Should I take the chance? I did tell Sara that I would have some fun. I don’t have to do anything crazy, but it might be nice to just talk to someone who sparks these kinds of feelings. I can do this.

When I turned back to face him, he was so close that our lips were almost touching. It would be so easy to just give in and cover the last bit of space between us. Wait, I just want to talk, right? Before I could act on that urge, I was trying to talk myself out of giving in when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“Are you OK, Raven?” Holding back the growl of frustration- yes, I said growl- that I suddenly wanted to let out, I turned to see Trish and Duke standing beside the picnic table. Trish had a knowing smirk on her face that kind of irritated me at the moment. It was one of those looks people get when something has happened, and they think they are the reason. “Sara wanted Duke and I to make sure you got home OK. She and Kevin are talking things out.”

“Talking is that what you think they are doing?” Duke says with a chuckle.

If Kevin uses at least half a brain cell, that is exactly what he will be doing.” Trish said as she shot an unimpressed look at Duke before turning back to me to continue. “She said to tell you yes, she knows that you are going to be mad at her, but for her own peace of mind she wants to hear him out. So whenever you are ready to go home, just let us know.”

“I can take her home,” Jacob says, taking my hand in his again. “That is if Raven is OK with that.” I’m back to being speechless again and just nod in agreement. “I need you to use your words, Princess.”

I blink a few times, trying to get my brain to process what he had just said. “Yes…” say, still nodding. “… I’m OK with that,” I answered almost as if I was on autopilot. Right now, I think there would be a lot of things that I would be OK with Jacob doing to me. Stop, I can’t go there. What the hell is this guy doing to me? My brain keeps shutting down every time he speaks or touches me. This is the kind of thing that causes bad decisions to be made.

I pulled myself back to the conversation in time to hear Jacob arranging for Duke and Trish to take Zane and Ben back to their hotel. I hadn’t really paid much attention to what they were talking about between my mind wandering and my brain still stuck on the fact that he called me Princess. No one had ever called me that, but then there had never been anyone that affected me like this either.

“Raven, call me when you get home. I know that Jacob is a good guy and I trust him to treat you right, but he is a guy after all.” Trish says, patting me on the shoulder as Duke put his arm around her and the two of them walked away.

Finally finding my voice and what was left of my functioning brain cells, I turned my focus back to Jacob. “Is that offer to go and talk down at the dock still available?”

“Anything you want, Princess.” He said as he stood and reached for my hand. He never let go of it the entire time. All I could think was that I must look like a complete idiot right now. Here I am walking off with a complete stranger with a goofy grin plastered on my face. This is the scene in all the horror movies where you scream at the character not to go. I just hope I’m not a lamb being led to the slaughter by a wolf in sheep’s clothing.