Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Ouch. I draw my leg away from Natasha’s and focus on my son. He’s right. He doesn’t ask me for anything, and now that he’s finally sitting here, having dinner with me… It feels wrong to deny him. I don’t like the idea of a bunch of college kids partying on my property. But Natasha has a point. There’s a middle ground here somewhere. We just have to find it.
“I have a few conditions,” I say.
They both continue eating as I rattle off the house rules.
“No underage drinking,” I tell them. “No overnight guests. No parties.”
Oliver scoffs. “But—”
I raise my hand to let him know I’m not finished.
“You can have a few friends over as long as you get my permission first.”
“We can do that,” Natasha says.
Her smile warms my chest. I allow myself to return the gesture briefly, knowing that my motivations aren’t altogether selfless. I’m not just agreeing to this arrangement to make my son happy. I’m doing what I can to ensure that Natasha won’t be hooking up with any undeserving frat boys while at my lake house.
Having her in my home this summer, all summer, is going to test my willpower. But it’s a challenge I’m willing to accept.
Like it or not, Natasha Bellows has completely taken over my mind. I’ll just have to remain vigilant to ensure that my mind is the only part of me she touches.
CHAPTER THREE
NATASHA
Ollie holds out the bottle of sunblock for me to take. “Can you get my back?”
“Sure.” I squeeze some lotion into my palm and then rub the cool cream over his shoulders and upper back, digging my thumbs into his muscles for good measure.
“Thanks,” he says with a sigh. “I definitely pulled something this morning. Who knew ripping out forty-year-old carpeting would be more rigorous than CrossFit.”
Moving into the lake house has been a steady process over the past week. Ollie and I have torn down wallpaper, ripped out carpeting, and washed and vacuumed every square inch of the house that we can reach. It’s been a ton of work, but I can already see how much nicer the house will look once we’ve painted the walls and polished the hardwood floors.
“Just think about what a slice of paradise this place will be when we’re finished.”
“Not that anyone besides us will get to enjoy it,” he grumbles.
Ollie slips on a pair of sunglasses and reclines in his lounge chair. While the interior of the house might be a DIY disaster, the back deck overlooking Norris Lake is pretty much heaven on earth.
I smooth a fresh layer of sunblock on my chest, making sure to reach behind my thin bikini straps. Ollie and I will both be golden gods by the time we return to campus, and the extra sun exposure is already doing wonders for my complexion as well as my serotonin levels.
I wish my best friend could say the same.
“This sucks,” he mutters. “I should’ve known he’d be a hard ass about us living here.”
“Nothing about this moment sucks. And your dad’s concerns didn’t seem that unreasonable.”
“I can’t believe you’re okay with not being able to throw parties here. I’m supposed to use this summer to get over my ex, and you were supposed to hook up with Toby.” He swishes his glass of iced tea and takes an agitated sip. “How are either of us gonna get laid if we can’t let people sleep over?”
“I know I’m new to all of this, but do people not have sex during the day?”
“That’s not the point.” He rolls his eyes. “We had plans, Nat.”
“In hindsight, this place wouldn’t have been ready for a party this weekend. Also, I never said I was okay with the no-party rule.”
“You’re the one who agreed to it.”
“Did you want to spend the summer here or not?” I throw on my shades and adjust the angle of my mesh lounge chair. “We didn’t have much of a choice, Ollie. It was either agree to his rules or stay in the city. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy.”
Ollie downs his glass of tea and sets it on the small, round patio table between us. “I’m sorry. I just wish my dad hadn’t destroyed our plans.”
“Nothing is destroyed,” I assure him. “Look at this gorgeous view and tell me we can’t have a good time here. We can sunbathe and grill burgers and we can still have small groups of friends over. Plus, we can go swimming anytime we want, even after dark.”
Ollie gazes out at the sparkling waters of Norris Lake and sighs.
“Fine,” he says. “I guess it’s not so bad... But still, Nat. No overnight guests? Forget hot summer nights with Toby. It’s gonna be a lunch-date hook-up kind of summer.”
“Yeah, that part does kind of suck.” I sip my sweet tea so slowly that the condensation drips down my chest. If I’m being honest, ever since I met Dr. Ransom—Ollie’s dad, I remind myself firmly—I haven’t thought about Toby at all. A week ago, I was convinced he was the one I wanted to lose my virginity to.