Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Sutton smiles at me and starts to turn, but then her eyes move to something behind me. Immediately, the hair prickles on my neck as I see the surprise fill Sutton’s eyes as I’m assuming Reed walked into the room.
“Oh,” Sutton murmurs, and now her eyes are practically sparkling with amusement. “Hey, Reed.”
I don’t turn to face him, instead choosing to look at little Rose again. I try not to stiffen up when Reed’s arms come around my waist from behind, and I force myself not to kick him when I hear the matching amusement in his tone. “Hey, Sutton. Cute kid.”
Swiveling my head to shoot him a glare, I mutter, “I thought you were going to stay in the room.”
“Never said that,” he says with a grin, and then bends to kiss me on the cheek. “I’m headed to my house to play some Call of Duty. I’d stay here and play it while you two gab, but sadly you have neither a TV nor an Xbox. Call me after Sutton leaves and we’ll figure out what to do with the rest of our day. Maybe we’ll go buy you a TV later.”
I want to tell him to go to hell for embarrassing me in front of Sutton, but then I realize, I’m actually not embarrassed. I can tell by the look on Sutton’s face she’s happy to see Reed here in my house, and I can tell by the way I focus on the lingering warmth on my cheek where he just kissed me that I’m happy he’s here too.
“Get out of here,” I grumble at him, but I do turn to give him a playful swat on his chest before he leaves. “And I’m not buying a TV.”
“Later, Sutton,” Reed says, then shoots me a wink. “You’re so buying a TV so I have something to do after I wear you out.”
My jaw drops as I have no response to that. The room is silent as Sutton and I watch Reed walk out my door, almost strutting like only a man can do who just had some amazing oral wake-up sex.
“No wonder it took you so long to answer the door,” Sutton breathes out appreciatively.
I groan and turn to face her. “I’m so sorry about that. He got carried away this morning…and well, then so did I.”
Sutton makes a dismissive wave of her hand and starts to make the coffee. “Girl, please. I’m just happy someone’s getting laid. It’s been way too long since Alex and I had sex.”
I lean a hip against the counter as I watch Sutton move around my kitchen as if she was born there. “Let’s see…if memory serves me from a rotation I did in obstetrics, you have to wait a month after childbirth?”
“Four to six weeks,” Sutton says with a grimace. “Damn better believe we’re going to try at the four-week mark, though.”
I laugh and then push off the counter. I head to the cupboard with my mugs and pull two down.
“So…you and Reed, huh?” Sutton asks slyly.
With a sigh of complete acceptance that we are apparently a thing, I admit, “Yeah, me and Reed.”
“He’s such a good guy, Josie,” Sutton practically gushes. “He’s only been with the team a few years, and he’s an amazing hockey player, but Alex really likes him a lot. I mean, as a person. Said he’s just got really good values.”
“He’s a great guy,” I affirm, but she hears that “thing” in my voice.
“But,” she prompts.
“But I don’t know what we’re doing. We started out as friends. Buddies. Hell, he’d been banging his blond Barbie chicks while we were friends. And then, boom, now he’s banging me.”
Sutton snickers as I pass her the creamer from the fridge. She sets it by the pot that’s starting to brew and turns to face me. “Just go with it. Enjoy it. There are worse ways to start a relationship, you know.”
A sudden wave of jubilation—a lightness of heart—sweeps through me. She’s so right. What could possibly be wrong about starting out as friends and going to lovers? It makes the basis of what we have stronger, and if I think about it, it established a mutual trust between us. How many casual flings fizzle out because you find out while the sex might be good, the person isn’t so great?
Well, not that I’d know about that. I’ve never been into casual sex, and my last relationship was supposed to be for the long term, but still…I know that’s solid reasoning, and I am a logical person if anything.
I grin back at Sutton and nod firmly. “You’re right. I’m going to enjoy it and just go with the flow. Why not?”
“That’s my girl,” Sutton exclaims with a tiny pump of her fist.
Yes, I’m feeling very good about this.
Chapter 13
Reed
I see Josie walking across the darkened parking lot toward me. Well, toward her car. Her head is tucked down and she looks tired. When she finally looks up and locks her eyes on me, the exhaustion melts away and I’m rewarded with a happy, welcoming smile from her.