Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
No clue the answer, but I’m curious to know more about why Farren’s here. “So, how did the family take your move to Pittsburgh?”
She waves her hand, looking slightly annoyed. “Supportive, as always. But I finally did have to come clean about breaking up with Derek this past summer.”
“I still don’t understand why you never told them,” I say with a shake of my head. “By all accounts, you’re close to your family. Why keep that a secret?”
It’s one of the first secrets Farren shared with me, because even though I was drunk when we hooked up, I was under the impression she was dating someone back in Calgary.
At least that’s what Rafferty had told me.
She assured me she had broken up with him but had not told anyone in the family because “it wasn’t all that serious to begin with.”
There’s a slight flush to her cheeks as if I’ve caught her in an embarrassing situation. “I am close to my family. So close they like to meddle and keep their expectations of me high. It was easier to keep them out of my love life if they thought I was currently occupied.”
I grin down at her. “Projecting an air of stability.”
Farren looks offended and pouts with irritation. “Why they don’t understand that a woman can be single and be happy is beyond me. Why they don’t understand I can be happy pouring drinks rather than studying in college is also beyond me.”
I hold up a hand in mock surrender. “Hey, don’t project your annoyance at me. I think bartending is a commendable job, and well… I guess it benefited me that you aren’t seeing Derek, right?”
Something dark flickers across her face before it smooths out and I’m rewarded with a dimpled, sexy smile. “It’s definitely been a nice benefit to have the freedom to dally with you.”
I know she means the words in jest, but they sum up the essence of this woman. She wants to be free and without commitment. What we have isn’t anything more than a fling. Just two people with a light fondness toward each other and a whole lot of sexual attraction.
I can’t help the twist of disappointment that comes with that realization. I’ve never been big on casual and meaningless, but that seems to be Farren’s state of existence, which is a problem I’m unlikely to solve. I only know that I like her and she’s so fucking intriguing, I’ll take what I can get.
“Speaking of freedom,” she says, her voice dropping slightly. “Want to meet up later? Your place?”
Her words hit me like a lightning strike, and I briefly consider grabbing her hand and dragging her out of Mario’s. But before I can respond, Rafferty’s voice cuts through the noise.
“Hey, you two!”
We both turn, Farren’s expression shifting into something placid and easygoing. Rafferty strides over, a grin splitting his face. His suit jacket is slung over his shoulder, his tie loose, and his hair slightly tousled.
“We kicked ass tonight,” he says, offering me a fist to bump before bending down to kiss Farren on the cheek. His eyes meet hers and he asks, “How did Tempe and the boys like the game?”
“They were over the moon,” she assures him, and I bite back a chuckle over the satisfaction on Raff’s face. That man is falling hard for the pretty grocery store clerk.
“Good to hear,” he says, holding up a finger to the bartender for a beer.
Rafferty glances between us, his grin widening. “So, let’s have a beer here but then head back to my place for some Xbox. Atlas already said he’s in.”
I hesitate, glancing at Farren. That invitation isn’t a complete shock. The single guys—which has been whittled down to me, Rafferty and Atlas—often hang out at Raff’s house because of his Xbox. It’s typical for us to go there after a beer or two here and we’ll stay up all night, especially since we don’t have anything hockey related tomorrow other than teammate Stone Dumelin’s wedding in the evening.
Farren’s expression is unreadable but even if she was wholly disappointed, I can’t decline the invitation. Rafferty would think something was wrong, and then when his sister doesn’t come home tonight because she’s with me, he might start to put two and two together. And while I have no problem whatsoever in Rafferty finding out I’m interested in his sister, I don’t think he’d like that we’re just banging each other. He especially wouldn’t like the knowledge that’s all Farren wants and I’m just accommodating her.
Most importantly, we could never say anything because Farren wants to keep this on the sly. The mere fact that she never informed her family that she broke up with the man she was living with six months ago is telling.
“Yeah,” I say finally, beaming a smile at Rafferty. “That’s always a good time.”