Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“That’s fiction for entertainment purposes only,” she said, her cheeks going pink. “I’m too cynical for it now, but Phoebe isn’t, and she deserves it.”
She thought she was cynical. “The stray in our shed just had puppies. Maybe Todd could bring her one and soften her up. Phoebe loves puppies. Would that be romantic enough?”
“I suppose it would be a good start. But only a start. He’s going to have to up his game to make up for his previous failures. We’re talking Jumbotrons and Lucy-style flash mobs.”
“Maybe I can sway him in the right direction.” I grinned and picked up my bottle. “So, what do you deserve?”
She looked startled. “You might be the first man to ever ask me that question, if that helps answer yours. I guess at this point in my life, I don’t need flowers and puppies or soul mates and magic. I’d much rather have honesty pools, orgasms and comfortable shoes.”
I shouldn’t have taken a drink after asking that question, because her answer had me choking on it.
“Do you need the Heimlich now?” she asked solicitously, leaning closer to pat me on the back. “Sorry about that. Chick—did I mention he’s flying here in a few weeks for a visit? Anyway, he doesn’t have a filter or believe in TMI, and I think it’s rubbing off on me.”
I waved her off, my mind racing. Chick was coming here? “I’m good. At this point in my life, I like a woman who knows what she wants.”
She made a face. “Well then, you’re out of luck, buddy. Because other than you, I have no idea what I want. I only know what I need to do. Get the house ready. Finish my book. Join this race.”
“Other than you.”
I could see the moment she realized what she’d let slip. And when she decided not to take it back.
Maybe I hadn’t been looking at this from the right angle. She might not be ready to meet me where I was, but we did have something in common. We both desired each other. Denying it would be a waste of energy when it could be another link in the chain instead. The next part of my plan. Friendly neighbor with a bonus, if not full benefits.
“You want me, August?”
14
AUGUST
Cynics shouldn’t blush when someone asked them a simple question, I thought, feeling my cheeks burn. They also didn’t try to change the subject and run away, but here I was, saying, “I should get back.”
I didn’t get up. The only thing I was able to move at the moment was my mouth. “Bernie might need me again, and I think I’m going to take Phoebe’s night shifts, by the way. At least this next one. If I can handle it and don’t set anything on fire, I might be able to cover them until she gets back and still get your billing work done during the day.”
And now I was rambling.
Wade put his hand on my leg to stop me from going anywhere. As if I could, with my hands clutching the bottom edge of my stool in a white-knuckled grip. They stayed there as his fingers gathered my skirt up just enough that they could slip beneath it, his touch deliciously rough on the bare skin of my knee.
“You don’t want to leave yet,” he said knowingly, holding me captive with his eyes as well as his touch. “You came in here like a sunny day, with your sexy blue skirt and confident smile. There’s no need to get nervous now, just because I asked you a question.”
Was I nervous? Why was I nervous? And was it suddenly hotter in this office? “You only like my skirt because it’s proof that I actually own normal clothing.”
He gathered more of the fabric in his big hands, revealing the skin of my thighs to his gaze.
“I like you in this skirt.” He licked his lower lip and scraped it with his teeth. “The way it sways and clings when you move, teasing at what’s underneath. I bet all those responders are lingering over their food, just to watch you walk by.”
“Not to burst this bubble, but it’s your sister they’re watching. And you’ve seen what’s underneath it. Well, a lot of it.” He’d touched even more of it the other night. “Maybe it slipped your mind.”
He got to his feet and nudged my knees apart to step into my space, my skirt still loosely bunched in his fists. “Nothing about you slips my mind. Even when you’re trying to distract me with that quick tongue of yours. Let me remind you what we were talking about. You said you didn’t know what you wanted. Other than me,” he repeated.
I might have a quick tongue, but his mood changes were making me dizzy. He’d been a stranger for days, a friend and instructor over lunch, and now he was looming over me like the living embodiment of sex. He’d done the same thing the other night. Acted like he couldn’t resist me in the pool and then slept beside me without a hint of arousal. Was it any wonder I was a little confused?