Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I’m not even going to try to reason with you over this,” she grumbles.
“Pick your battles, baby. Look at us killing this relationship stuff.” That causes a huff of laughter to leave her lips.
“Go shower. You stink.”
“You can’t even smell me. Besides, I don’t stink. I smell like a bed of roses.”
“Dead ones,” she fires back.
I’m grinning when I confess, “I smell like rotten ass.”
“Told you.”
“Call your sister, set it up, and I’ll go wash my ass. Unless you want me to wait so you can help?” I toss the line out there to see what she’ll say.
“Hard pass. Rotten ass was not on my bingo card today. I’ll text you.”
“Talk soon.” I end the call, shoving my phone back into my pocket, smiling as I close up the building and head into the house to wash my rotten ass and get ready to spend the evening with my girl.
When I pull up, Courtney is sitting on the front steps. She stands and bounces over to the truck. The passenger door is open before I’m finished putting the truck in Park and taking off my seat belt.
She climbs up into the seat and beams at me. “You can pick me up, and I can open my own doors.” She sticks her tongue out at me, and all I can think about is kissing her, so that’s what I do.
My hand snakes out and slides behind her neck as I pull her into me. “Brat,” I whisper as I press my lips to hers. She opens for me, and I groan when her taste explodes on my tongue. Forcing myself to release her, I drop my hand and sit back in my seat.
Courtney has a dazed look in her eyes, but her smile is still there. “H-Hi,” she breathes.
“Hey. Do you have everything you need?”
“You kissed me.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to.”
“You wanted to,” she mumbles, but her smile grows.
“Buckle up, baby.” I can’t help but chuckle at her. She does as I ask. Reaching over, I place my hand on her bare thigh, thanks to the cutoff jean shorts she’s wearing today, and pull out of the drive.
“How was the rest of your day?” she asks.
“I washed my ass, made some lunch, cleaned up a little, thought about seeing you.” It’s the truth. I don’t plan to hide from her. This is becoming more than I expected. She’s a blast to be around, and if we both get some added benefits to this little arrangement, that’s just icing on top of the cake.
“You thought about me?”
“Yep.”
“What about me?”
“You fishing for compliments, baby?”
“N-No,” she replies.
I squeeze her thigh gently. “I like hanging out with you, and I knew that’s what my plans were for tonight. It was hard not to think about it.”
“Yeah,” she agrees.
“How was inventory?”
She loosens up at my question, and we spend the drive to Harris and Sunflower Park talking about work. I’d rather talk about her, and how the taste of her still lingers on my tongue, but I know better than to push her too far. Courtney needs to ask for what she wants. It’s my job to let her know I want whatever she does.
I’ll take her any way I can get her.
I think I might be addicted to my pretend girlfriend, and all I’ve done is kiss her and hold her naked body against mine while we slept. I know this has trouble written all over it, but I’m too far into this to care.
Chloe and Rodney pull in beside us. I shake Rodney’s hand and kiss Chloe on the cheek before we move to a picnic table under a tree for some shade.
“How about you ladies stay here and reserve our spot, and we’ll go get the food?” I suggest.
“How are you going to carry everything?”
“Babe, this is done in stages. We’re trying it all.” I wink at her, and Chloe laughs.
“I love that idea,” Chloe says.
“Me too.” Rodney rubs his hands together. “We split it all and get to experience more.”
“My man.” I hold my fist out for him, and we bump knuckles. “Any special requests?” I ask Courtney.
Her eyes twinkle with happiness. “I want it all, Merrick.” Her tone is teasing, but I can’t help but think there’s something else that’s beneath her confession.
I lean in and press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I’ll be right back.” Rodney does the same to Chloe, and then we’re off.
“Let’s divide and conquer,” he suggests.
“I like the way you think. I’ll grab two pulled pork sandwiches and two buckets of fries.”
“Extra ketchup.”
“I’m on it,” I assure him. I mean, is there any other way to eat those tiny shoestring french fries? “Vinegar?”
“Hell yes.” He nods. “I’m going to grab two large lemonades and fried pickles. The girls love those. We make them at home all the time.”