Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Yes. I wanted to suddenly scream out, but I knew I had no right to object to Clare going out with anyone. “Of course not, but how do you know I’m not interested in her?”
Clare’s head snapped as she gave me a surprised look. For an instant I thought I saw her eyes sparkle with…hope? No way.
“Are you?” Luke asked as the elevator came to a stop on the ground floor. Clare’s brows raised slightly as she and Luke waited for my response.
“Of course not,” I said with a laugh. “She’s not my type.”
A look of what I assumed was hurt swept over her face before she turned and started out of the elevator. I internally cursed myself for the stupid comment.
“Then, here is my number, Clare Monroe. I know a great little Italian place we can have dinner at this evening if you’re free,” he said as he came to a stop next to her.
Clare stared down at the business card Luke held out for her. I silently willed her not to take it. When she reached for it, I felt a strange pinch in my chest.
I heard Clare thank Luke as she chatted with him while we walked through the lobby of my building. Once we were outside, I turned back to Clare, only to find her looking up at Luke sweetly as she smiled and said, “I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t make me wait in anticipation,” Luke replied as he headed in the opposite direction.
When Clare finally turned to look at me, her smile faded. “What?”
“Are you seriously going to call him?”
She shrugged and started to walk. I quickly stepped in line and walked next to her.
“Are we walking or are you going to drive?”
“Are you changing the subject?”
Clare stopped walking. “Why do you care if I’m going to call him or not?”
“You just met him, Clare!”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “And the woman who left your place this morning? When did you meet her?”
“That’s different.”
A bitter laugh escaped her mouth. “How is it different, Wes?”
“It just is. He could be a serial killer or something.”
She shrugged. “I don’t see how it’s different that you are able to pick up a stranger and fuck her, but I can’t go to dinner with someone I just met and exchanged words with.”
When she said the word fuck, I flinched. “That is not the same thing.”
Letting out a disbelieving laugh, she said, “Again, how is it different?”
“It just is.”
“Wes, it’s your neighbor, he was a gentleman and he simply asked me out to dinner. Why is that such a big deal?”
“Because it’s you, goddamn it, Clare.”
Her eyes went wide, and her mouth opened into a small O. Fuck if I didn’t have the urge to kiss that mouth and wipe the shocked look off her face. Realizing what I had said and how Clare had most likely taken it, I cleared my throat.
“You’re my sister-in-law’s best friend. I feel…protective. I mean, I owe it to Rory to keep you safe.”
A look of disappointment flashed over her face before she looked away. “Right. Well, you don’t have to worry, Wes. I have no plans on calling him. Unlike the women you’re attracted to, I don’t sleep around, and he clearly was like you.”
Turning on her heels she started down the street. I closed my eyes and cursed. Then, to make matters worse, she reminded me that we weren’t done as she called out, “Are you coming or not, Wes?”
“Yeah, I’m coming.”
Clare
He Still Loves Her
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
How could I have let myself believe for one second that Wes Ward would be interested in me. But for one brief moment, I swore I had seen something other than annoyance in his green eyes.
“Stupid,” I whispered as I picked up a gold plate that said happy anniversary on it.
“I agree.”
Letting out a small cry of surprise, I spun around to see Wes.
He frowned. “What is wrong with you?”
“You scared me.”
“How?” Wes asked. Without waiting for me to reply, he went on. “My parents aren’t going to want all these stupid decorations. They’ll simply want all of us together celebrating their love. I don’t know why we have to have decorations.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “You just don’t want to be here.”
“You’re right. I don’t.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry if shopping for your parents’ anniversary party interfered with your fuck fest.”
“My fuck fest? That would be if I had more than one woman in my bed.”
Snarling my lip up at him, I said, “Gross. Manwhore.”
Wes laughed. “I’ve never had a threesome in my life and don’t plan on it.”
I hated to admit how that made me relieved somehow.
“I think we should keep the decorations simple,” I said as I picked up another gold-colored decoration. “These anniversary decorations look so cheesy.”
“Agreed,” Wes said, holding up a gold plastic champagne glass.