Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Slowly, like he knows I need time to process those three words, he settles back in his seat. The fabric of his shirt shifts, lying flat against his stomach. A slip of skin at his hip where his shirt bunched glistens.
It’s akin to walking inside a donut shop while cutting carbs.
Pure torture.
“What about you?” I say, redirecting the conversation away from my private life. “Who are you seeing these days?”
He stretches his legs out beneath the table. His foot swipes against mine, and I know he notices. He rolls his tongue around his mouth.
“I don’t have time to see anyone,” he says. “I work ten or twelve hours a day and spend the rest of it eating, sleeping, or keeping Banks out of my house.”
I snort. “What’s up with that?”
“Maddox got married last week, and Banks is beside himself.”
“Banks doesn’t like Maddox’s wife?”
“Oh, he likes her fine. We all love Ashley. But she effectively stole Banks’s best friend. Maddox won’t let Banks sleep on his couch anymore or hang out at his house twenty-four seven. It’s a thing, and Banksy is driving me fucking nuts.”
I laugh. “So is Banks homeless now?”
“Hell, no. You know where we live, right?”
“Yeah, I think so. Aren’t you all just before you get into Kismet Beach if you’re coming from Sunnydale?”
He nods. “Mom and Dad bought all the houses along Honeysuckle Lane—one for all six kids. Obviously, Mom has codependency issues.”
We share a smile.
I remember Damaris Carmichael from Greg’s wrestling days. She was always so warm, so sweet—always ready with a smile and a sandwich if anyone in the gym was hungry. Such a contrast to my mother.
“So what brought you back to town?” Jess asks.
“Unless I want to live in a bug-infested condo in an area that requires mace at night, it’s cheaper for me to live here and drive into Lakely every day. The housing prices are astronomical.”
“If you ever buy a reno project, hit me up. I know a guy.”
“Oh, you do, do you?”
He laughs. “I do. He can probably get you a good price too. He has connections.”
“Right,” I say, grinning so hard that my cheeks ache.
“If you throw in a couple of dinner dates, I bet you could knock off a few grand.”
I can’t help it—I burst out laughing. “My presence isn’t worth a couple of grand, Mr. Carmichael.”
“Speak for yourself.”
I shake my head and try to tell myself he’s this flirty with everyone, but I know that’s not true. I’ve witnessed him in many situations over the years, and he always flocks to me. He builds me up, making me feel really good about myself. Sure, he’s respectful of other women in conversations—I’ve watched him from afar enough to know this is true. But with them, he’s not like he is with me.
And there’s an unspoken intimacy—like we share a secret—that feels special.
Maybe we do. Maybe that secret is that we both want each other. I just happen to know that someone else would be better for him than me.
That sucks, but it’s true.
“You’re good for the ego. You know that?” I ask, grinning.
“And you’re bad for mine since you always shut me down.”
“Trust me, you don’t want to date me.”
Jess snorts. “Okay.”
“You don’t. You’re marriage and daddy material. I’m not into that.”
He leans forward, his voice dropping a few levels. “Trust me, Pip, you’d be into that.”
His eyes darken into the deepest green that I’ve ever seen them. A chill races across my skin, leaving goose bumps in its wake.
I’m absolutely certain I’d be into that with him. How could I not be? Hell, I’ve imagined him many nights when it’s just me in bed and I need relief.
But when I can already sense the complications that would arise with Jess, and we’re only friends, that’s enough to keep my head on straight. There’s no sense in wasting our time. Although, any orgasm Jess Carmichael delivers would be spectacular.
But I’ll never be all the things he’d want me to be.
And I’m fine with that.
“Are you afraid you’ll fall in love with me?” he asks.
I giggle. “No. Not even a little bit.”
Kerissa pulls out her chair beside me and sits, looking over her shoulder and scanning the room.
Jess and I smile.
“Banks isn’t back yet,” Jess says.
Her shoulders slump. “Good.”
“Why do you hate him so much?” I ask. “It’s been so long that I don’t even remember.”
Kerissa looks surprised. “He dated my sister. Remember?”
Oh yeah. That’s right.
Kandace was devastated when she and Banks ended things. It wasn’t like they dated for a long time, but the girl acted like a kicked puppy. Everything reminded her of him. She moped for weeks, crying and pouting and acting ridiculous. We spent most of that summer with her, trying to take her mind off it at their mother’s command. It was a messy ordeal, but I barely remember what started it.