Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
He frowned at the thought. Her reaction disturbed him. Back when they’d dated, she’d been a touchy-feely kind of girl, uninhibited and outgoing, and she openly expressed physical affection. She’d accepted his touches just as easily.
Now, she seemed more cautious and guarded. Granted, it had been years since they’d seen one another, but something had subdued that carefree spirit of hers. And he didn’t like it one bit.
Hudson stood as they reached the table and pulled out a chair for Skye while smirking at Tripp. “Seems as though I was right, wasn’t I?” he said, obviously referring to his guess that Skye was no longer married.
“Seems like you have a knack for being right about a lot of things,” Tripp said in a wry tone.
Hudson grinned. “That’s because I’m older and wiser than you.”
“You’ll get no argument from me, old timer,” he shot back.
Skye, now looking amused at their easy-going ribbing, glanced back at Hudson. “What were you right about?”
“You being a stunningly beautiful woman,” his friend said without missing a beat, making Skye blush at his compliment before he met Tripp’s gaze. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your guest?”
“Hudson, this is Skye,” Tripp said, as she settled into the vacant chair his friend had pulled out for her. “Skye, this is my business partner.”
That engaged her interest, and her eyes widened in curiosity. “What kind of business?”
So, she clearly hadn’t stalked his social media like he had hers. “We own a family practice together, along with another doctor, Brett,” Tripp explained. “I’m in pediatrics. Hudson specializes in internal medicine, and Brett is an obstetrician.”
“That’s impressive,” she replied, and extended her hand toward Hudson. “It’s nice to meet you.”
His friend took her hand, holding it in his for longer than was necessary, in Tripp’s opinion. “The pleasure is all mine,” Hudson said in that smooth, suave way of his.
Tripp rolled his eyes, doing his best to conceal his annoyance. Or was it pure possessiveness that was making him feel irritated with Hudson’s flirtations? “Don’t you need to be somewhere?” Tripp asked, doing his best not to grind his teeth and chip a molar.
“Not that I can recall,” Hudson drawled. He finally released Skye’s hand, the gleam in his eyes telling Tripp his friend had been goading him on purpose and enjoying Tripp’s territorial reaction.
For an aggravating moment Tripp thought Hudson was going to stay and be the annoying third wheel.
“But I can take a hint,” he said and Tripp relaxed. “I wouldn’t want to share Skye with anyone, either.” Hudson gave her a charming wink. “Have a good evening, and I hope I have the pleasure of seeing you again soon.”
Skye smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“Have a good weekend, Tripp,” Hudson said, then headed out for the evening.
When he was gone, Skye glanced at Tripp, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “He’s quite the charmer.”
Tripp groaned as he slid into the chair right next to Skye’s. “Don’t ever tell him that. It’ll go to his head and he already has an inflated ego.” He was teasing, of course. Tripp had a great relationship with both Hudson and Brett, who were like brothers to him. Hence, how easy it was to push each other’s buttons.
He’d deliberately chosen the seat right beside Skye’s, instead of across from her, so they could talk without yelling over the noise in the bar. But sitting side by side, he realized it put them in very close proximity, and the onslaught of memories was almost instantaneous.
When he inhaled, he caught her light floral scent that made him want to bury his nose against her neck and breathe her in. Their thighs brushed, resulting in an arousal that was thankfully hidden by the table above his lap. And he could clearly see her beautiful face, her delicate features, and those lush, pink lips that made him remember hot, intimate moments that caused his stomach to also heat with anticipation. Then there was her glorious mane of blonde hair that beckoned for him to tangle his fingers through the silken strands, and pull just hard enough to make her gasp and moan.
The blouse she wore was loose, but there was no mistaking the soft fullness of her breasts beneath, or the modest peek of lace he glimpsed at her cleavage. Everything about Skye was sexy, in an understated way. Elegant and classy . . . until he had her in the bedroom, where she used to drop every inhibition and enjoyed all the dirty, filthy ways he seduced her.
He lifted his gaze back to hers, the mutual awareness in her eyes startling him. As did the way her tongue absently licked across her bottom lip and a faint pink tinge rose in her cheeks.
Then again, maybe her reaction to him ogling her shouldn’t surprise him. From the moment they’d first met, they’d been physically in tune to each other’s needs, their thoughts, feelings, and lust also aligned. All it took was one look, one touch, one whispered word, and they were desperate to find a secluded place to tear each other’s clothes off. Clearly, their mutual desire hadn’t changed.