Going Too Far – Rosemary Beach Read Online Abbi Glines

Categories Genre: New Adult Tags Authors: Abbi Glines Advertisement1

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I shook my head. “No one.”

Mrs. Jo moved past us and toward the door. “It’s my birthday. One never knows what will appear at the door.”

She swung it open without checking through the peephole first. Something she was normally very vigilant about.

Dean stood there with a vase full of the brightest pink roses I had ever seen.

Mrs. Jo squealed like a young girl and reached for them. After that, a series of events began to quickly take place.

Clara gripped my arm so tightly that her nails dug into my skin as she chanted, “Oh my God,” over and over.

Damar stood in silent shock, and Jim slapped his hand over his mouth after shouting, “Holy hell!”

I stood where I was, saying nothing. Except wincing from the pain that was being inflicted on my arm at the moment. However, I didn’t say anything to her about it. The pain was keeping me centered. Because Dean was standing there with flowers for Mrs. Jo, and they must have cost a fortune. It was sweet. It was kind. It was thoughtful. He wasn’t supposed to be any of those things. Dean Finlay was arrogant, self-absorbed, and used to getting whatever he wanted. This, this … gesture was not what I’d expected of him.

“Come in, come in. Meet everyone. Well, except Brielle. You know her,” Mrs. Jo told him, seemingly oblivious to the starstruck people in the room. “We have plenty of cake. Brielle made a lovely one. Last year’s looked like a penis, so we are very impressed with how far her cake-decorating ability has come in one year.”

I closed my eyes, wishing she hadn’t brought that up. When I opened them back up, Dean was looking at me with amusement in his eyes. Damn penis cake was never going away.

“I’ve never had a penis cake,” he said to me.

“It was meant to be a rose, but it was a Pinterest fail,” I said, feeling my cheeks grow warm.

“I’m going to need an explanation,” Damar said finally. “Dean Finlay is in this apartment. Not only does Mrs. Jo know him, but so do you?” he asked, looking at me.

Mrs. Jo walked toward the kitchen to set the roses in the center of her table, ignoring the questions. So, everyone’s gaze swung to me.

“I, uh, well …” I looked at Dean.

I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to tell them he owned the building and was currently living in the penthouse. Was that a secret? He’d been very visible the day of the fire, but he’d gone back into hiding, it seemed.

“I own the building.” He held out his hand to Damar.

Damar shook his hand as he stared at him in awe. “Damar Helter. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Finlay,” he said.

“Just Dean,” he replied.

Then, he moved on to Jim, who I was worried wasn’t going to be able to speak. He seemed too nervous, but he managed to introduce himself.

Clara could wait no longer and was up and over to Dean in seconds. Her back was to me, but I already knew she was flashing him her man magnet smile. I would also get a tongue-lashing for not telling her about his living in the penthouse sooner. Especially since it was clear I knew him already.

I didn’t want to watch Clara lure in Dean. She’d do it easily enough. I had faith in her abilities. So, I turned and headed into the kitchen with Mrs. Jo. She was fussing with her roses and smiling brightly. When she saw me, she beamed brighter.

“Did you give Dean a party hat?” she asked, as if that were something he would actually put on his head.

“He’s Dean Finlay,” I said, as if that explained everything.

Mrs. Jo shrugged. “Doesn’t mean he wants to be left out.”

I wasn’t going to argue this with her. I just let it go.

Making myself busy with getting the party plates and the plastic forks I had brought, I almost didn’t think about Clara in the other room, flirting with Dean. Almost.

He was definitely her type. She liked them rich and older. Dean would be her holy grail. The thought made my stomach twist, and I didn’t want to feel anything at all when it came to him. I heard Clara laugh. It was her sexy come and get me laugh. She was my best friend, but the sound made me roll my eyes.

Yep, I needed to go on that date with Gavin. If I could get another man in my head, that would be great.

Mrs. Jo took a party hat from the bag and walked back to the living room with it. The idea of Dean wearing the hat made me smile, even as Clara laughed again. I didn’t think Dean was particularly funny. Why was she laughing so much?

I turned to walk to the fridge to get out the sweet tea I knew was in there. Dean was standing in the doorway, watching me. I was surprised he was alone and that Clara wasn’t hanging on his arm. The party hat sat proudly on his head, and this time, I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. Clara’s laughter now made sense.


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