Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (popular e readers .TXT) 📕

news. I don’t feel like I would win. I’d just ruin my life.”

Shayla had a thought. “But…there are two of us now. There must be others.”

Heather sighed. “Maybe. And then what? Even if there were ten. How many does it take? We both know from the news that ten or twenty or thirty isn’t enough. It’s a huge risk. I’m not sure I feel strong enough to stand up for myself. That might make me a total bitch.”

Shayla shook her head. “You’re not a bitch. I hear you. It’s not like I disagree. But it bothers me on a different level now that I know I’m not alone. If there are two of us, there are more. And what about the next woman? What if he really hurts someone.”

Heather cringed. “You’re right. Ugh. Now what?”

Shayla thought about Jake and what he might be able to do.

Jake. Shit. She hadn’t texted him to tell him she’d be late. She reached for her purse and pulled her phone out. “Sorry. I just realized I need to let my, uh…this guy friend, know where I am.”

Heather giggled. “Guy friend?”

Shayla chuckled as she shot off a text.

Hey. Sorry. I’m having a drink with a coworker. Interesting story. I’ll be home later.

Jake responded immediately.

K. Be careful.

Shayla put her phone away and turned back to Heather who was smirking. “Everything okay with your, uh, this guy friend?” she teased.

Heather laughed. “Yeah. I started to call him my boyfriend and then realized he’s not really. Not yet anyway. I don’t know what he is yet.”

“But he’s expecting you.” She wiggled her brows. “I’m glad you’re moving on. I haven’t exactly managed that yet. Men make me nervous and I’d rather not be alone with them.”

“I’m so sorry. That really sucks. Not all guys are such assholes. I promise. You just haven’t met good ones.”

“That’s for sure.”

“Anyway, Jake is a computer geek. He’s been digging into Hawke a bit. Trying to find some dirt on him.”

Heather’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s nice of him.”

“He’s a bit overprotective. I’m actually staying with him too. He’s worried about Hawke coming to my condo.”

“I totally get that. I was scared for months. His damn texts can be brutal. I felt genuinely threatened at times.”

Shayla nodded. “I’ve known Jake for a while, but we just hadn’t quite hooked up yet. When he found out about this shitshow, he came to me worried.”

“I’m glad you have someone in your court.”

“Me too. Now, if I could just get him to sleep with me…” Her voice trailed off before she realized she’d said that out loud. “Shit. Sorry. TMI.”

Heather chuckled. “Interesting problem.”

“Tell me about it. He’s being all chivalrous and shit. Saying he really likes me so he doesn’t want to be a douche and sleep with me on the first date.”

“And you’ve been staying with him for how long?” Heather asked.

“Since Saturday.”

“I’d say you are past the first date then.”

Shayla giggled. “We have a very strange seven-day agreement. I’ve tried my damndest to get him to budge, even traipsing around his house in almost no clothes. He hasn’t budged.”

Heather laughed again. “Sounds like fun though. I’m not sure I’d ever have the balls to flirt like that, especially half-naked. I’d be mortified.”

“Yeah. I’m not a particularly shy person. Plus, I’ve wanted Jake’s hands on me for a while. I’m a little over the chivalry. I’d rather move on to the good parts now.”

“Maybe try totally naked next time,” Heather suggested, still laughing.

“It’s not a bad idea…”

Heather sobered. “Well, this conversation went better than I thought. I’ve wanted to confront you for a while. I couldn’t think what to say and I was nervous. Thank you for listening, and I’m sorry the same thing happened to you. Let’s exchange numbers. If anything else develops, let me know. I’m not eager to go to HR, but I won’t leave a gal hanging if you decide to do it.”

“Thank you. I’m in no hurry and I won’t do anything without talking to you first. I promise.” Shayla smiled. “I’ll call you next time my friends and I go out. You can join us if you want.”

“Thanks. That’d be fun.”

They both slid off their barstools, dropped a few twenties on the table, and headed for the exit.

“Thanks again,” Heather said as they parted ways to find their cars.

“You too. I’ll call or text soon.” Shayla felt much lighter as she headed to Jake’s house. She was not alone.

Chapter 10

Jake was sitting on the couch, feet on the coffee table, enjoying a beer when Shayla walked in. He wiggled his brows at her. “Sexy uniform, sweetheart.”

She rolled her eyes as she dropped her purse on the end table and kicked off her shoes. “These are the ugliest uniforms on earth, and you know it.” She plucked at the front of her blouse and then tugged at the skirt.

He had to admit the skirts were a bit long for his idea of sexy, but not for a woman he was dating to be wearing to work. “Eye of the beholder.” He winked. “Maybe it’s the woman in the uniform.”

“Well, I’m going to take it off, and then I have information.”

“I do too. Shall I pour you a glass of wine while you change?”

“That would be amazing. I’m off tomorrow. I could use a drink.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, handing it to him. “Three calls. Four texts. I didn’t listen or look,” she announced.

Jake sighed as he took the cell from her. “And you shouldn’t. No reason to subject yourself to his gaslighting. As long as you don’t mind me keeping tabs on the asshole. I can make sure he doesn’t say anything different or alarming each day.”

“And I appreciate it.”

He shoved to standing as she continued through the living room, dragging her suitcase. “Oh, hey,” he called after her, waiting for her to look over her shoulder. “When you say you’re going to take that off, I hope you mean to put on a