Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 87629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Because I work at home, there isn’t much difference between weekends and weekdays. After I brew some coffee, I sit down at my laptop to check Lily’s emails and social media.
Then I remember—
I have an appointment this afternoon at the gym. With Michael whatever his name is. He’s going to train me. He’s going to help me get svelte and sexy for Frankie’s wedding.
Ugh. I should cancel. I don’t particularly want to leave the house today. Not when things aren’t right between Jackson and me.
Which is a good reason not to cancel. Why should I let this thing with Jackson keep me from the gym? He’s being an ass.
Yes, he can be an ass, but he would give you the shirt off his back, and you know it. He’s your best friend. And you love him.
All true. He just doesn’t love me back the way I want him to. And now that I’ve kissed him, had sex with him… God, I want him all the more. Even though he’s being a dickhead.
Somehow, my fingers end up taking me to the Lustr site.
I haven’t changed my bio, and of course I have match, match, match, most of which I won’t touch with a ten-foot pole.
Clearly, trying to be someone’s protégé isn’t working.
I think again about where I was headed last night before Frankie texted. I was going back to that bar to try to get into Black Rose.
Thank God Frankie called.
What was I thinking? Although…I can’t say I’m not intrigued by the concept of being tied up. Being helpless and at a man’s mercy.
The thought makes me tingle all over, especially between my legs.
And thinking about that place between my legs…
Jackson was there. Jackson’s face was between my legs. His dick was between my legs.
My God. No wonder he left.
How can our friendship ever be the same?
Maybe it’s time to let Jackson go. I mean, he’ll always be in my life, but he made it very clear that he and I will never happen again, despite how amazing the sex was.
Maybe it wasn’t that amazing for him. Maybe it was just…mediocre.
My God, maybe it was bad.
That can’t be possible. He was into it. I could tell.
Wasn’t he?
“For God’s sake,” I say out loud.
I exit out of Lustr, and I get back to work on proofreading Lily’s latest novel.
And of course that only leaves me more hot and bothered.
Still, it pays the bills, so I continue. After a few hours, I get up and get ready to meet Michael at the gym.
And I realize I have nothing to wear. The few times I go with Frankie, I wear an old college sweatshirt and some baggy sweatpants. I do, at least, have a decent pair of walking shoes. But nothing else.
Okay, no problem. I’ll simply go out, buy some workout clothes that don’t make me look like a middle-aged housewife, and then head to the gym.
Easy peasy.
I’m ready to leave when I get a phone call.
It’s Frankie. In tears. “Penn didn’t come home last night.”
Quickly. Think of something to soothe her quickly. Penn’s an ass, but he’s not a cheater. Right? “He was probably out with the guys. And now he’s couch surfing at one of his friends’ places.”
“I know. Should I call his friends?”
“Oh my God, no, Frank. That’ll make it look like you don’t trust him.”
“I do trust him. I’m just worried.”
“I understand, but that’s what it’ll look like to him.”
She sighs. “You want to have lunch?”
“I have to go shopping for some workout clothes.”
“Perfect. I’ll go with you.”
Frankie’s help would be great. She got our mother’s shopping gene and uncanny ability to know what will look good on my body simply by seeing it on the hanger.
“Okay. I’m working out at three, so if we do stop for lunch, it’ll need to be something light.”
“You’re working out?”
“Yeah, remember Michael from last night? He’s a personal trainer, and he’s giving me a free session at your gym.”
“He works there? Seems I would remember him.”
“I don’t know. Maybe he just started recently or something.”
“Yeah, maybe. He seemed like a nice guy.”
“He was. I think. I mean, how much can you know about a person after just hanging out at a club for a couple of hours?”
“True. Let’s meet at Macy’s. They have great workout clothes.”
“Sounds good.”
I take a quick shower, dress in jeans, my walking shoes, and a Las Vegas T-shirt, and I’m out the door.
And I haven’t given Jackson Paris a thought.
At least not in the last five minutes.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jackson
“I think you have feelings for this woman,” Ben says.
“Of course I have feelings for her. She’s my best friend. She’s been my best friend since we were literally in diapers.”
Ben laughs, taking a slurp of his protein smoothie. “Jack, you are in denial.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Did you or did you not tell me you ended up at her place last night?”