Read Online Thirteen (Love by Numbers Book 4) by E.S. Carter - Free Book Online Page A

‘holding his hand out to me and close enough to lick’ Fox.
    Bugger. Would it be wrong to kiss his hand seeing as I’m on a date?
    I mean, he’s like movie star royalty, what if I never get the chance again? I’m certain Harry would understand. Surely everyone wants to lick him?
    I register a discreet cough somewhere in my foggy brain and gather my senses enough to understand that Jake ‘sex on a stick’ Fox is still standing in front of me with his hand outstretched.
    “I’m a reformed man. I can promise I no longer bite. My hand is safe to shake; scout’s honour.” I look from his hand, back up to his too-handsome-to-be-real face and finally close my gaping mouth.
    “I… umm, I didn’t…well… I thought you’d be a racehorse or maybe an award-winning dog.” I stutter and ramble awkwardly.
    He raises an eyebrow, “You thought I was a dog? Well, I hope I scrub up better in the flesh?” He smirks at me, daring me to call him a dog again.
    Oh fuckity fuck. I insinuated that Jake Fox is a dog. Kill. Me. Now.
    “No, no… what I mean is… Harry said he was… well, I thought…”
    He laughs and drops his hand, “I’m messing with you, besides, I’ve been called worse.” Then he bends down to the side of the barbeque where there’s an outdoor fridge, opens the door and pulls out a couple of beers, offering one to me. “Beer? Or maybe you’d prefer wine with Emma?”
    I subtly wipe my chin for any signs of drool, then quickly reach over to grab a beer. “Thanks, this is good, and I’m sorry about the dog comment, I was just caught unawares for a second.”
    I turn and face Harry, who is smiling at me like the Cheshire Cat, and I can’t help but glare at him for making me look a complete tit.
    “I guess you’ve won. This beats scary gay bikers any day of the week.”
    He just blows on his knuckles and rubs them smugly across his chest.
    “I’m sensing there’s a story there.” Emma laughs. “Maybe you can tell us over the burnt steaks that are about to turn into charcoal in three, two…one.”
    “Oh fuck it!” Jake spins around and frantically starts batting away the smoke that surrounds the grill.
    “Language around CJ.” Emma chastises playfully. “Looks like it’s salad for lunch, I knew I shouldn’t let him be in control of the grill.” She smiles at me and I drag my eyes away from her famous husband who is currently removing slabs of black meat from the barbeque.
    “Jake is an amazing cook. Just not if it’s anything to do with a barbeque, but like most men, he insists on trying to kill everyone with food poisoning once in a while.”
    “I heard that.” Jake coughs out, making Emma roll her eyes.
    “Come and give me a hand in the kitchen? We can leave the boys out here to clean up this mess.”
    “That’s right, run away like rats deserting a sinking ship. Me and CJ here will do all the dirty work.” Harry calls out to our already departing forms.
    We enter the kitchen a few moments later, and I awkwardly stand in the doorway while Emma, who is unbelievably pretty, but in a girl-next-door way, not in a movie star wife way, proceeds to empty the contents of the fridge, throwing everything on the table behind her.
    “Can you start chopping up some vegetables for the salad while I quickly cook up something to go with it?” She asks with her head still in the door of the refrigerator.
    “Uh… sure. Where’d you keep your knives?”
    “Top drawer of the centre island.” She hollers again, not bothering to show me and treating me just like an everyday visitor to her palatial home.
    I’m half way through chopping celery, when I hear a pan sizzle and then feel Emma walk over beside me. She grabs another knife and extra chopping board and begins to tackle the peppers.
    “So, you and H, have you known each other long?”
    Here comes the friendly inquisition.
    “We met a few weeks ago at a school fun day. He fell for my buck teeth, big ears and fluffy tail.” I smile as I