"So you two are officially boyfriend and girlfriend?"
We weren't officially anything, but that didn't change the situation.
"Titles aren't really the issue here, are they?" I moved off the bed and opened my bedroom door. "I need to get ready for school. You can see yourself out."
"Mars, wait. At least let me fix you breakfast."
I slapped down my conscience before she could object. "There's a catch. You take Muffy out first." I grinned wide, knowing this would be a true test of Jesse's strength and patience.
"Any doggy 'doo-doo' guidelines I should follow?"
"Just hold tight and enjoy your flight. There are pickup bags next to her leash in the laundry room." I almost felt remorseful, pushing him into the hallway.
"It's only a dog. How hard can it be?" Two seconds later, Muffy barked and Jesse yelped. "Leash hell! Where's her saddle?"
Still savoring the taste of my last piece of bacon, I gathered our dishes and placed them in the sink. "I better get going. I can't be late for my Calculus final." Jesse moved behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"You sure I can't talk you into playing hooky?"
Holding me like this, he could talk me into anything without a problem. I turned and shook my pink bracelet.
"I wish. Only a couple more hours and I'm done with finals."
"Okay you win, but I'll take you and wait while until you're done. I've nothing to do today but spend time with you."
"What happened to coming on too strong? And what if someone finds out?"
Jesse's smile held its own warning. "I'm a work in progress. Don't worry. No one will find out. I move like smoke. Sneaky and silent."
"Smoke? Really? That's reaching, even for you." We stepped out into the warm morning sun blanketing the front porch. "Where's your car?"
"Around the corner. I didn't think it was a good idea for your dad to find a strange car parked in front of the house."
That gave me an idea. Pulling Jesse across the front lawn to the side of the house, I explained my father wouldn't know anything if I drove. He agreed until he saw my car.
"You're joking. Pink?" He stood planted on the grass, immoveable as granite. "No way. I'm not that comfortable with my feminine side." He grabbed my arm. "We're taking my car."
We rounded the corner and I tripped over my feet. Parked against the curb was a bright red Ferrari.
"Jesse, please tell me that's not yours."
He opened the passenger door. "Hurry up, or you're going to be late."
The car roared to life like a tiger waiting to pounce on its prey. To the side of the steering column I noticed a button marked "Hover."
"This hovers?"
Jesse glanced at me, a wicked wink eclipsing one eye. "I told you some rules are meant to be broken."
Déjà vu. Students froze into statues when we pulled in front of the school, necks straining to see inside the sleek, red rocket.
"I'll be back to get you in a couple of hours. Good luck on your test." Jesse took my face in his fingers, his mouth holding mine in a deep lip lock, curling my toes inside my shoes. When a second kiss loomed, I pressed my hand to his mouth.
"'Sneaky,' remember? I can't take the risk. Besides I've got to think about math, not you."
My Calculus test proved nothing but a mental strain. My thoughts weren't remotely close to anything academic. My brain and heart waged war. Why did Jesse show up? I was perfectly happy letting myself fall for Jordan before he waltzed, or climbed into my life and kissed me. Damn! Both Mason brothers' lips should be registered as lethal weapons. Once either of their mouths touched mine, I became an emotional, not to mention, hormonal mess.
The buzzer rang and I scanned my bracelet, saving my answers before sending to the teacher's computer for final grading. I'd barely stepped out of the classroom before Alex and Brittany dragged my body to the nearest alcove by. Alex's eyes were wild.
"Ferrari? Who the hell brought you to school?"
Brittany stood only remotely calmer. "Marli, what's going on? He's not Jordan."
"Would you two keep your voices down? You're right, he's not Jordan. He's his twin brother, Jesse."
Both sets of brows disappeared, eyes wide with shock—an appropriate response, given the bomb I'd dropped.
Alex's eyes shifted from side to side. "I saw him kiss you."
"Yes..." The corners of my mouth curled at the hot little memory flashback. I grabbed Brittany's arm when she teetered.
"No! Marli, you could get in serious trouble. What if someone demanded a DNA swab?"
"You mean a virgin popsicle?" Alex teased. "I'd like to see what color mine would turn."
The Program randomly tested candidates' DNA using special sticks that changed colors when sucked, should a candidate violate the chastity clause in their contract. The spit test also revealed whose DNA you shared.
"I can't get in trouble for kissing someone." Trouble, however, brewed inside me emotionally and I feared physically, if not checked. Still, this was my life and my so-called "love life" stayed my business. Not my friends'.
The anger rising surprised me. "You know what? Nobody owns me yet. I can do whatever I want." Breaking through their body fortress, I marched out the front doors. They both trotted behind and I turned a half step backward. "By the way, thanks a lot, Alex, for opening your big mouth. Worry about your own life and stay out of mine."
My mood lightened as soon as I spied the red chariot tucked under the trees at the end of the parking lot. I jumped into waiting arms, slamming our bodies against the side of the car. Jesse smiled wide at my reaction.
"Hello to you, too. I take it things went well?"
"Only missed one—a miracle considering you were all I could think about."
"I like the sound of that."
Surely an audience watched, but I didn't care. Jesse opened the car door for me and I slid inside, wanting nothing more than to disappear with him.
"We better go," he warned. "I'm sure that little performance didn't go unnoticed."
The Ferrari slowly made its way down my street. A serene scene, locked in a past time when life wasn't complicated and the government didn't intrude. Simple things like falling in love with the boy next door remained a choice you made for yourself, not one made for you.
"Mars? What are you thinking about?"
"How messed up my life is. I'm so confused. I've always known what's expected, but I used to know what I wanted. Now, I'm not sure I know the difference."
His voice quieted. "I know I should stay away. You're assigned to Jordan." He focused somewhere beyond the windshield. "As much as I want to be with you Marli, I won't hurt Jordan."
"Who says I'd choose you?"
He laughed. "Touché."
I squeezed his hand. "Can you stay a little longer? We could make sundaes."
Oddly, he pulled his hand from mine. "Oh now it's okay for me to stay? Don't you need to get ready for your date with the octopus?"
"Don't remind me, but there's still time."
Jesse's leather seat squeaked when he leaned closer and eased his arm behind my shoulders. "Do you have candy sprinkles? I like candy sprinkles."
I stilled when he twirled his fingers in my hair. "I wish you wouldn't do that."
He unraveled a long curl over my collarbone. "What? Touch your hair or make you feel like this?"
I swung the car door open. "Both."
We'd barely finished our ice cream when Dad's truck pulled into the driveway. Panic welled up as I imagined his reaction to the red sports car parked at the curb.
"Uh-oh, my dad's home early."
Jesse looked baffled. "So?"
I rolled my eyes. "So?" He doesn't know you're here. Crap—he doesn't know you."
"He will soon enough. Besides, I've something I want to ask him."
I whirled around, fear of the unknown taking the air out of my lungs. "What?"
No time for an answer because the front door slammed, rattling all the wind
ows in the house.
"MARLI DAVIS! FERRARI?" Rick bellowed. "Now who's here? And girl, please tell me what I heard today is not true."
"Dad!" I rushed him when he walked into the kitchen, kissing his cheek with a big, guilty smile plastered on my face.
Jesse extended his hand, a gesture I might have thought twice about, but who was I to judge? "Jesse Mason, sir. I'm Jordan's brother."
Warily, my father shook Jesse's hand. "Why are you here, if I might ask?"
"My band is performing in Cleveland, so I thought I'd check in on Marli. For Jordan."
"Liar," Rick accused. Jesse's cheeks flushed immediately and he pushed his hands deep in his pockets, stepping back.
"Dad!"
Rick's cheeks puffed, his faced reddened. He placed his medical bag on the counter and moved between Jesse and me, his hands firmly pressed on his hips. His head dipped slightly, eyes sharp and locked on mine, the creases in his forehead rolled into deep furrows—all signs I walked a dangerous line.
Using great restraint to keep his anger subdued, Dad continued. "I said Sam couldn't come here anymore, but he's the least of my worries. I heard 'episode two' of your ever revolving love life, Mars." His eyes flashed between Jesse and me, his thumb hooking Jesse's direction. "Is it true? Were you two kissing in his car? Who's on your lip agenda tomorrow, Marli? Honestly, what's up with you?"
My eyes narrowed. All the suppressed frustrations pushed to the surface and I took a half step back. "For your information, Dad, and anyone else's for that matter," a pointed glance at Jesse, "whom I kiss is my business. If I want to kiss Jesse, I will. And I'll kiss Jordan if I want, too. In fact, I might march across the street and place a big wet one on Mr. Baxter."
Jesse's mouth tightened and Dad's flew open.
"Marli Elizabeth Davis!"
Dad shrilling my middle name, used rarely and generally not for positive reasons, meant I'd probably be grounded the rest of my life. Jesse's head lowered. Embarrassed at placing him in the middle of a domestic warzone, I pulled back my bubbling anger.
"I'll be fine with Sam. After tonight, I'm not seeing him anymore."
Dad's stance widened, his arms crossed. "You mean you're finally breaking it off with him?"
"Yes. It's only right with Jordan in the picture now." Jesse's face fell and I instantly regretted being so callous.
"Jordan? You're back to Jordan, now? Done with Jesse already? Make up your mind, Marli."
My nose burned and I knew tears would appear next, but I couldn't let Dad think he gained the upper hand in our argument, especially in front of Jesse. "Stop! My life, remember?"
I stormed upstairs, slammed the door to my room, and scrubbed my fists over my wet cheeks in frustration. A familiar melody chimed on my receptor and Jordan's handsome face appeared on the screen, a grin sliding up one corner of his mouth. My big fat cheating heart dropped to my shoes.
I slid to the floor against the door and answered in a small voice. "Hi."
"Hi yourself. Is everything all right? You sound kind of down for a Friday night. Hopefully it's because you miss me."
Jordan came the last three weekends to visit, but this weekend he stayed at Cornell to cram for finals. The only studying we managed was the human anatomy. It also made sense now why Jesse showed up today. He knew Jordan would be stuck in New York.
"Of course I miss you. I wish my dad would let me come there and spend a weekend."
"I think we both know why he doesn't; not to mention, I'd never get my homework done. So my lonely girl, what are your plans for the weekend?"
"Tonight is Senior Ball. Before we met, I promised Sam I'd go with him."
Jordan covered the phone, but I heard the explicit oath. He grew silent and I checked the video transmission. His thumb and forefinger pinched his nose.
"Jordan?"
"Give me a minute, Marli."
While his heart calmed, mine beat frantically. If he took the news about a date with Sam this badly, I couldn't fathom what his reaction would be if he knew Jesse waited downstairs.
"Marli, I don't have a good feeling about this. I worry about you being alone with Sam."
"I'll be okay. Brit and Alex will be there, along with practically the whole senior class. I already warned Sam to behave, and I'm sure Dad will enforce my midnight curfew. He's not happy I'm going with Sam, either."
"Why not?"
"He heard the rumors from his nurse about what happened. I'm surprised he's letting me out of the house."
"I wish I was there. I'd take you. Can you call when you get home, please?"
"Sure. And for the record, I wish you were my date instead of Sam, too."
"Marli, have fun, but be careful. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you. Not now. I care too much."
Something in his statement stirred a funky ripple in my abdomen. I liked Jordan more than I wanted to admit, even with Jesse tugging on the other half of my heart.
I wiggled and tugged the corset-like contraption Alex talked me into buying, snapping and tucking everything into place. My breasts overflowed and I flushed red when I saw my reflection, quickly pulling on the dress to cover the black lace.
Dark blue satin hugged every curve and the deep slit up one side of the skirt, exposed my good leg clear to my hip. When I glanced in the mirror at all the skin the dress did not cover, I feared tonight might turn into another wrestling match with Sam.
I couldn't get the zipper up all the way and needed Dad's help. May as well deal with the shock factor now. Holding the dress against my chest, I cracked the door.
"Dad? Could you help me? I can't get—"
Jesse appeared at the top of the stairs, my breath catching when I saw the look in his eyes.
"Wow," he choked, averting his gaze to the floor. "Your dad took Muffy for a walk. I think he needed to vent some frustration."
The grandfather clock in the living room chimed the seven o'clock hour. "Great. Sam will be here any minute. Can you finish zipping my dress?"
Jesse followed me into my bedroom, leaving the door open in case anyone came upstairs. I gazed pensively at him in the mirror, standing behind me. He zipped the dress, placed a tender kiss on the back of my neck, and stared back at my reflection in the mirror.
"You're beautiful." Jesse turned me in his arms, his expression worrisome. "Marli, are you going to be safe with Sam?" His eyes dropped, unfortunately to my cleavage, heaving with my heavy breaths. "I mean, this dress..."
"Hey, eyes up here." I locked my arms around his waist. "Jesse, what I said earlier about Jordan, I'm sorry."
His thumb brushed my cheek. "Don't worry about it. I've a tendency to push limits, and you're definitely 'off limits.'" A mischievous grin curled the edges of his mouth. "Not that that could stop me."
I wanted to drown in his kisses like before, but the doorbell interrupted my steamy reverie. "I guess I better get this over with."
The back door slammed.
"MARLI!" Dad shouted up the stairwell then muttered a stream of profanities. Taking a deep breath and aware Rick salivated planning Sam's demise, I clutched Jesse's hand. However, seeing me come down the stairs in a strapless, body hugging dress with Jesse might take matters a treacherous direction.
"You better wait here," I whispered, feeling the gentle hug of his hand.
"Are you sure you'll be all right?"
"No, but I'm the only one that can do this. I have to break Sam's heart tonight. I just hope I can do it and come home dressed." His expression blackened and his grip tightened. "Jess, I'm joking." But I wasn't. Suddenly, I realized Jesse wouldn't be here when I returned. "You'll be gone when I get back. I don't know how I feel about that."
"Well, that's promising. You haven't ruled me out all together." He tapped my cell receptor. "I programmed in my number."
I gave him an unbelieving glower. "Jess…"
"What? I just want you to call when you get home so I know you survived. Delete it after if you're so worried."
&nb
sp; We both knew I wouldn't, which meant delivering a sobering reminder of the boundary line we kept crossing. "Jordan asked me to call him, too."
It worked. Jesse let my hand fall. "Jordan? When did you talk to him?"
"He called while I was getting ready. He's not thrilled I'm going with Sam either."
"At least we agree on one thing. Did you tell him I'm here?"
My gaze dropped. "No."
Jesse tipped my face upward. A smug grin tugged his lips, undoubtedly pleased I kept this snippet from Jordan. "Why not?"
"I'm not sure, exactly." Dad's berating of Sam escalated. "I need to rescue Sam."
Rick caged poor Sam against the wall. "You have Marli back in this house by midnight Samuel Jenkins, or I'll have the police out looking for you! Understand? And keep your damn hands off—"
"Dad!" I moved between them. "Enough," I mouthed.
Jesse appeared around the corner from the dining room and Sam's brow furrowed. I explained he was Jordan's twin, hopefully deflecting any further reaction. When Dad evaluated my dress, I decided we needed to leave before he murdered one of us.
We paused on the porch and Sam's eyes roved the length of my body, his gaze fixed on my bulging chest. "You look smokin' babe."
8
LAST DANCE
Sam guided me onto the dance floor, brushing through a wind of hushed whispers from the gossiping mouths we passed. His fingers splayed across my lower back, pressing me close.
"Marli, relax, please?"
Relax? My mind spun a million different directions. I'd left Jesse at Rick's mercy. Who knew what could happen once he had a Mason boy alone? And what if Jordan found out Jesse had come to Maple Heights to find me?
I checked off the faces of classmates dancing close by, some turning away when caught staring, others using the opportunity to pass judgment through steely glares. A thought passed without warning. Could any of them be spies for The Program?
Rumors of "plants" paid to follow candidates my counselor dismissed to other paranoid applicants who'd broken the rules of conduct and ran scared. But what if the stories were true? What if one of these supposed friends passing judgment would, or already had, contacted The Program about my behavior?
Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut Page 9