Book Two: ShamelessYou should probably get dressed.Those five words are all it takes to snap me out of the thick sexual fog that has descended. They're like a sharp slap across my face as I blink back to awareness and realize I'm still sprawled naked on the counter in Mason's pole barn while he stares dispassionately at me. Heat floods my cheeks as I attempt to kick my brain into gear and scamper off the long stretch of linoleum.As my bare feet hit the concrete, I avert my eyes and drop down to grab my panties before hauling them up my legs. Snapping up my bra, I chance a peek at Mason. He's turned away so that the wide expanse of his bare back faces me.Is he so repentant that he can't even meet my eyes?That's all it takes for fury to explode inside me.I pick up the shorts and tank before covering myself. Once I've slipped my sandals on my feet, I glance around for my purse before nabbing it from the counter. It's only when I'm fully dressed that I clear my throat.If Mason

Book Two: Shameless"Would you mind getting the door?" Anne asks, grabbing an oversized platter piled high with thick wedges of watermelon.I pad to the slider that leads to the patio and yank it open. Dad is already outside, manning the grill. Even though it's early in the afternoon, there are already fifty people in attendance for the annual Claremont Cougars barbeque that will officially kick off the season.Unconsciously, I scan the yard. The pool is packed with shirtless guys. Since they train all year round, most are in excellent shape. It's certainly no hardship to stare at them. I should be basking in man candy heaven.Instead, my attention is continually snagged by the brooding man standing with a small group of coaches. He's barely glanced my way since arriving an hour ago.It's been just about a week since the incident at his garage.He slinks into Psychology before the start of class and hightails it out the moment our professor wraps up his lecture. After the disas

Book Two: ShamelessThe knock on the apartment door sends my belly into freefall. I flatten my palm against my lower abdomen, hoping that will settle everything that riots dangerously within. It's as if there's a horde of angry butterflies attempting to wing their way to life inside me.It's ridiculous how nervous I am about this date. It's not like I haven't been on dozens of them throughout the years. But for some reason, going out with Mason feels like a big deal. I have the sneaking suspicion it's because I like him.Really like him.Once I reach the tiny entryway, I inhale one last deep breath before grabbing the handle and yanking the door open. I find Mason standing on the other side of the threshold in the hallway. He's wearing a navy polo and dark wash jeans. Normally, in class, he wears T-shirts. Once, at the garage, I found him bare chested. I'd be lying through my teeth if I didn't admit that I prefer him without a shirt, but he looks seriously handsome dressed li

Book Two: ShamelessI glance at the text from Dad before pushing into the locker room and winding my way through the space. My footsteps echo off the cinderblock walls as I head to the back where the offices are located. Practice doesn't start for another hour, so the place is more like a ghost town than football central with guys in various states of undress.When I reach the open door, I poke my head into the small room crammed with old tapes, playbooks, photographs, and trophies, only to find it empty. Dad said he'd be here, watching game film. With a frown, I glance at my watch. I have ten minutes before I need to hustle to my next class.Just as I'm about to fire off a text, a deep voice says, "Sneaking into the guys' locker room again, huh?"Startled, I swing around, and find Mason. As soon as our gazes collide, his lips quirk at the corners.My hand flies to my chest as my heart thunders a painful beat. "You scared the crap out of me!"A chuckle escapes from him as he flas

Book Two: ShamelessFrom the corner of my eye, I watch Poppy as she lounges on the counter in the garage as I work under the hood of a Ford Mustang GT. The carburetor has been running a little rough, and I'm hoping that if I give it a good cleaning, it'll take care of the problem. If not, the old one will need to be replaced.Instead of concentrating on the car, I glance at the girl who forced her way into my life. I can't go more than a few minutes without her normally smiling face popping into my head.She's been unusually quiet since walking through the door almost an hour ago.Now that I think about it, she's been preoccupied for the past couple of days. I'm not sure what it means.Maybe nothing.Maybe something.It's the maybe something that concerns me.Even though alt rock plays in the background, her silence feels deafening. I've tried several times to start up a conversation.Each one has stalled.Normally, the girl is a veritable chatterbox. Talking about her day before