Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“No.” Connor liked my hair just as it was. “This is as far as I’m going with my appearance. What I need to know now is what the hell to do when I get there.”
“You’re asking me for help in seducing a man?” David asked.
I frowned at my reflection in the mirror. This whole thing was pathetic. I ought to be too ashamed to go through with it. “You’re straight. He’s straight-ish. What would make you want to be with a man?”
David batted his lashes. “Honey, if you didn’t, nothing would.”
I huffed. “I never tried to—”
“I know you never tried to turn me, but if all the time I’ve spent with you hasn’t made me the least bit curious…”
“I’m not your type.”
David slid his gaze up and down my body. “Nope, not nearly curvy enough.”
We both laughed, then David said, “You told me he wasn’t straight.”
“He’s not, but… I don’t know. This is crazy, isn’t it?”
David didn’t answer my question. “Go return his stuff. If nothing happens, call me, and we’ll do eighties night to take your mind off it.”
“No, I’ll just come back here and—”
“Wallow in pity? Nope. Call me. I’m serious.”
“All right.”
David held out his hand for a fist bump, and I obliged him. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m getting out of here.”
11
Connor
Ilooked through the peephole in my apartment door. Jeremy. Shit. I couldn’t open the door.
Are you really going to pretend you’re not home?
Um…
Are you afraid of a poet? You’re a Marine.
I’m afraid of losing myself.
By being who you are?
No. Jeremy’s not like other men.
True.
He knocked again.
Open the damn door.
I stood there, hand on the knob, frozen. Something thunked against the wood. I looked through the peephole again and saw him walking away. Jesus Christ—skintight black jeans and boots that were doing something strange to me. Was he going out? Dressed like that, he had to be. Was he planning to get laid?
I imagined him lying back, another man above him. Hell no. I yanked the door open, shoving aside the bag of cleaning supplies he must’ve tossed on the mat. “Jeremy!”
He stopped, turned. “Yes?”
“You got plans tonight?”
“N-yes.”
Oh God. I’d hoped I was wrong.
He shook his head. “They’re not really important.”
Thank God. “Do you want to come in?”
“Yes.” The word was barely audible, but he walked into my apartment and I picked up the supplies he’d returned.
I closed the door behind him, and for a long moment, we just stood there, staring at each other. “Thanks,” I finally managed, setting the bag by the coat closet.
“You left those,” he said.
I was glad he didn’t add “when you ran away.”
“I was going to call about it.” I wasn’t. I was going to send Sabrina.
“That’s okay. I was… out, so I… um… thought I’d drop it by. Sabrina told me where you lived.”
Of course he’d called her instead of me. He probably figured I wouldn’t answer. He wasn’t wrong.
“You didn’t have to open the door,” he said. “It’s okay if you don’t want me here.”
“I do want you here. That’s the problem.” I ran a hand through my hair. What the hell was I doing?
“Is it? A problem, I mean?”
“It shouldn’t be.” I wanted to explain why I was such a freak, but the words didn’t come. Then I really looked at him—those jeans, those boots—and my brain just… stopped.
“Um… should I go?” he asked.
“No!” My voice came out too loud. I winced, rubbed at my brow. “I’m sorry. Please stay.”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I get that you don’t like what happened at my house.”
I wanted to tell him I’d liked it too much, but the words stuck. “You look… different.”
He laughed softly. "Yes, that’s David’s fault.”
“Your friend who lives next to Rita?” The one I saw with his arm around you at that damn bar.
He nodded. “He wanted me to go out with him tonight. Talked me into this outfit.”
I let myself look again, longer this time. “I like it.”
“Really?” he asked, surprised.
How could he not know how hot he was? “Yes. It’s way hot.”
He took a step closer. “I feel ridiculous, but if you say so…”
“Are you going out with David?” I kept my tone casual. Too casual.
“Not with him with him. He’s straight but likes to drag me to stuff like eighties night.”
I tried to process that. “He uses you to help him pick up girls?”
Jeremy laughed. “Actually, I’ve occasionally used him to pick up boys. David is… unique, to say the least. I guess I am too.”
I shook my head. “You’re very easy to like.”
“Not everyone thinks so.”
“Then they’re idiots.” This time I was the one who stepped closer.
He was watching me—desire and something wary in his eyes.
Say something. Be a man, not a coward. “So you wouldn’t mind missing the chance to go out tonight?”
He shook his head. “I’d rather stay right here.”