Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Without thinking, I twine our fingers. “You’re not gonna quit with the sugar, are you?”
He laughs. “You gotta let me make fun of you a little bit.”
“If you promise it’s just a little, little bit.” I pinch the fingers on my free hand together.
Wyatt smirks, his blue eyes going dark. “Ain’t nothin’ little about me, sugar. If the sound of that scares you, you’d better find yourself another fake date.”
Aaaand now I’m picturing just how big Wyatt is. I’ve heard rumors. I mean, the guy is huge everywhere. Makes sense he’d be huge there too.
Need rips through me, sending a bolt of lightning straight to my clit.
“Are you doing this on purpose?” I manage.
“Doing what on purpose?” He’s still smirking.
“Making me blush.”
“You’re pretty when you blush.”
Fuck, now I’m blushing harder. Goddamn him.
“Stop it,” I say in all seriousness.
But Wyatt is never one to be serious. “Stop what?”
“Being so good at this.”
“Sugar, by the end of the night, you ain’t gonna be asking me to stop.”
I laugh. “Be honest. That line ever work?”
“Yep.” His eyes dance. “It workin’ on you?”
“Hell no.”
His accent gets thicker when he’s flirting. I realize mine does too.
Guess you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take the Texas out of the girl.
“How about this? You take my lead tonight. Anything makes you uncomfortable, you just tug on your ear. Like this.” Wyatt plucks at his earlobe. “I like the earrings, by the way. The sparkle suits you.”
“You don’t have to compliment me.” I put my free hand on my face. My skin is hot, almost feverish. “We’re not inside yet.”
I imagine his eyes are burning when he replies, “I know. But I want to compliment you. You really do look beautiful, Sal.”
“Thanks. You really do look handsome, Wy.”
The smirk is back. “I know. Ready?” His eyes flick to the barn.
I’ve been ready to get laid proper-like for what feels like a lifetime.
I’m also so, so not ready to be on this cocky, gorgeous, foul-mouthed man’s arm all night. Seems too dangerous.
Too good to be true.
But that’s the thing: none of this is true. It’s all fake. I’m pretending to flirt with Wyatt in the hopes it reminds me how to have fun and not think so damn much.
If only the decades of friendship Wyatt and I share didn’t make this kinda-sorta date feel so deliciously real. We’re still holding hands, like it’s the most normal thing in the world for us to be touching this way. It feels…right.
Good.
Really good.
“I’m ready,” I say.
And he smiles. It’s not a smirk. Not a silly expression. It’s a real smile, the kind he lets touch his eyes, and my heart swells.
I love the real Wyatt. I need to bring him out more often.
CHAPTER 9
Wyatt
CALL MY BLUFF
I feel like I’m floating as I jog around the hood of my truck in an attempt to open Sally’s door before she does it herself.
Not only does she look stupid gorgeous in her dress and heels, but she also gave me space to talk.
She allowed me to open up just the tiniest bit. Granted, it was only to basically say I didn’t want to open up at all when she asked about Mom. But it still happened. And instead of filling me with terror or regret, sharing even that small piece of myself with Sally felt liberating. I feel physically lighter.
She didn’t judge. She didn’t run. In fact, she clearly wanted to know more. While I’m not prepared to give her more, there’s comfort in knowing she’ll stick around to hear it.
Maybe it really is about baby steps.
Also, Sally lit up like a goddamn firecracker when I held her hand.
That’s all it took. A single touch, one gesture, and you’d think I had given her a fistful of diamonds for how happy she looked.
My palm still pulses with the memory of how warm and soft her hand felt in mine. I didn’t miss the spark of heat that danced across her eyes as she twined our fingers. Even through the windshield, I can see how pink her cheeks still are.
If she looks like this, happy and bewildered and alive, after holding hands for all of five minutes, how fucking beautiful would she be after I laid her down? After I hooked her leg over my shoulder and spread her wide and made her shout my name?
My dick twitches. I silently curse. These trousers are a lot more tailored than I’m used to, which means sporting even a half chub runs the risk of public humiliation.
I pull open Sally’s door at the same time she pushes.
“What’d I say about me taking the lead?”
Wrapping her coat around her, Sally shivers. That a good shiver or a bad one?
“I told you, it’s been a while. Give me a second to remember how this date thing works, all right?”