Read Online Actually Love - Jessie & Zach by Melanie Shawn - Free Book Online

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    Billy winked at Maxi before lifting his hands once again. Billy was not at all dissuaded by Maxi’s no-dating-boxers ironclad rule, and he was also not the least bit intimidated by Charlie.
    He had to hand it to his friend—he had balls of steel.
    “Zach.”
    Zach froze as he heard the voice that had been haunting his dreams for the last week.
    Turning his head, he looked up, and what he saw caused the rest of the world to melt away. Jessie Sloan was dressed in a red silk button-up shirt and a black pencil skirt. Her honey-blond hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and her gorgeous brown eyes looked down at him from behind black-rimmed glasses. Never before had Zach had a librarian fantasy, but now, seeing Jessie dressed like that, it just got bumped to the top of his ‘hot fantasy’ list.
    There were few times, if any, that Zach could remember being rendered speechless. Seeing Jessie, here, in his gym, dressed like that, had accomplished just that. He felt pulled under the power of her sexy spell and couldn’t form a thought if his life had depended on it.
    “Hello, young lady. Lloyd Gianni. Nice to meet you.” Lloyd stepped between the ropes and down to the floor.
    Jessie smiled brightly as she shook his hand. “Hi. I’m Jessie Sloan.”
    Snapping out of the lust trance he’d fallen under the second he’d laid eyes on Jessie, Zach stood. “Lloyd is my trainer. Jessie is my new roommate.”
    Lloyd turned his head toward Zach and lifted his brows. Zach wasn’t sure if the look on his trainer’s face had to do with the fact that, when Zach had explained his new living situation, he’d really downplayed Jessie’s sexiness factor or because, when he’d spoken just now, he sounded more like me-Tarzan-you-Jane than his normal charming self.
    “So you must be the fake girlfriend.” Billy appeared at his side then smoothly inserted himself just in front of Zach.
    Zach had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Billy didn’t just like to flirt. He made it into an art form, which was probably why, even though Zach suspected that Maxi was actually interested in his idiot of a friend, she would never take him seriously.
    “I’m the roommate ,” Jessie corrected.
    “The hawt roommate.” Billy looked her up and down blatantly and appreciatively.
    Jessie’s face lifted in a small smile as she shook her head like she would if a cute puppy peed on the floor. Billy was charming, and although Zach wasn’t one to judge, word on the street was that he was pretty good-looking. Zach knew from experience that looks, charm, and a little charisma could get you pretty damn far in this world.
    “I’m Billy Marshall.” Billy extended his hand, and when Jessie placed hers in it, he brought it to his lips, giving her knuckles a quick kiss.
    Jessie continued shaking her head and she did roll her eyes.
    Zach couldn’t believe the feeling that rose up inside of him as Billy continued joking around and flirting with Jessie. It was dangerously close to jealousy, which was completely insane for two reasons. One, nothing was going on between Jessie and Zach. Nothing could happen—not now that, as of eight a.m. this morning, they’d both signed on the dotted line and agreed to live together for a year. Two, Zach did not get jealous. Ever. He’d had girls he’d dated for months date his friends after they’d broken up and he’d never felt anything about it. He’d been completely indifferent.
    “If this one tries anything, you let me know.” Billy flashed his signature dimples as he gave Jessie one of his patented ‘Billy Marshall’ winks.
    “Thanks, but I think I can handle myself,” Jessie said with an inner confidence that led Zach to believe that, if anyone ever did try anything funny with her, Jessie absolutely could handle it. “Here you go.” Jessie turned back to Zach, her brown eyes meeting his as she held out a set of keys.
    As happy as Zach was to see Jessie unexpectedly, he didn’t like the feeling