Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Cleo looked up and her eyes went wide. “Oh. Hi.”
“Enjoying the party?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I bit back a grin. “Excellent.”
“Babe,” said Tore, buttoning up his shirt. “This is the brother I told you about.”
Lars lifted a hand in greeting. “Hey.”
“Nice to meet you.” Cleo gave him a smile before turning her attentions back to her new friend. “You missed a button. Let me get it.”
“Sneaking off at parties to make out,” I chided. “What are we, eighteen?”
Cleo dealt me a look. “You’re just jealous, Susie.”
“That’s true. I really am.”
Lars patted me on the knee. “There, there.”
“The chaise you put in the new office is very comfortable,” said Cleo.
“The fabric was okay?” I asked. “No rug burn?”
“Smooth as silk.”
I gave her a thumbs-up. “Good to know.”
“We have to go.” Cleo led a now-blushing Tore toward the front door. And the smile on the woman. “But I’ll be back tomorrow to help you clean up.”
“Right,” said Tore. “You were going to show me that thing at your place. Which I’m really looking forward to. But we will definitely be back, Susie.”
“It’s fine.” Lars waved them off. “We’ve got it. Go have fun.”
Tore grinned. “Thanks, brother.”
“Ah, young love,” I said as they disappeared off into the night. It had been months and months since I’d gone to bed with anyone. Not that I couldn’t provide for myself. But it was nice to feel another person’s touch now and then. And there sitting beside me was Lars, all big and strong. His hands, in particular, appealed to me. Those clever calloused fingers would be capable of all sorts of amazing things. Just the thought made me clench. Which reminded me: “Thanks for following me on TikTok and Instagram.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Though I noticed you only liked the picture of me holding the biodegradable vibrator.”
“I liked your smile in that one. It was...what’s the right word?”
“Salacious?”
“That’ll do.” His low laughter gave me feelings in my underpants.
And then I went and did it. I opened my mouth and asked, “Did you ever consider us becoming friends with benefits?”
Given the intensity in Lars’s gaze, he either loved or hated the idea. A question soon answered when he spit out the word, “No.”
“Huh. That wasn’t half-hearted at all.”
A look of alarm crossed his face.
“It was just an innocent question, Lars. No need to get so upset. I was only thinking that it might have been a way for us to perhaps manage the hormonal effects of the divorce certificate. Just do it once to get it out of our system, you know?”
He grunted.
“No one has come forward and claimed responsibility for the thing. And neither of us has any more of a clue than we did when we found it. Maybe it’s time to start managing the situation instead of looking for answers.”
His cheekbones stood out in stark relief. The man was seriously feeling things. “Susie, you and I getting involved would only make things more complicated.”
“Okay. I see now that it was a truly terrible notion and I’m going to stop talking about it.” The truth was, I never should have asked in the first place. It was my own damn fault if my delicate little feelings got hurt. The heart was a fool and the vagina far worse. I finished off my drink and got to my feet. “Why don’t you gather the dirty glasses and so on while I start on the kitchen?”
“Sure,” he said, and certainly seemed relieved by the change in topic. “I didn’t mean to insult you or anything. You know I find you attractive. But...”
“You’re worried about upsetting your best friend.”
“No. I mean, it’s not ideal, but...you and me—we don’t make sense.” He stopped and frowned up at me. “Shit, Susie. The look on your face. I’ve hurt you.”
“Eh. You didn’t mean to. That counts for something.”
His expression became pained.
I pasted on my brightest smile. “Think it might be best if we gave each other some space for a week. Let things settle. Given the existence of the certificate, all of this time together has really been a lot, you know?”
His hands flexed open and closed at his side. “If that’s what you want.”
“I think it is,” I said. “It’s late. I might just go to bed. Thank you for offering to help, but it’s okay. I’ll clean this mess up in the morning.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
But it was safe to say, even if I knew what I wanted, chances were, I couldn’t have it. Not when it came to him. Such was life.
* * *
“Wait a minute.” Cleo followed me down the steps to one of the lower levels of Pike Place Market. “You were going to set me up with the man you have a crush on? Susie, are you serious?”
“No. That was his brilliant idea. Which I did not entertain even a little.”