Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“That’s the idea.” The money would pay off her brother’s tuition, and when the summer was over, her free hours would belong to her alone. There’d never been a time in her adult life when she’d had the luxury of sitting down, taking a breath and saying, What do I want to do now?
“The first rule of thumb is if you wear sexy, you’ll feel sexy. So what do you have beneath those jeans?”
“Underwear, of course.”
“White, I suppose?” She didn’t wait for Brianne to answer. “High-cut and basic? I won’t even ask about the bra.” She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me.” She grabbed Brianne’s hand. “Come on.”
An hour later, Brianne had splurged on the kind of lacy, racy undergarments she had never before given a thought to wearing. She’d even left a set on beneath her clothing when she’d walked out of the store. Practice, she’d decided.
And the idea had worked. With the silk brushing her skin as she walked and the knowledge that she wore sheer, sexy panties and a matching bra, Brianne noticed she felt more feminine and attractive. Her stride quickened and she lifted her head, glancing around as she walked. Men met her gaze. One leered, his lascivious stare lingering long enough to make her uncomfortable.
But long after they’d left Bloomingdale’s behind—bathing suits and a couple of sexy, on-sale outfits bagged and ready to go—Brianne held her shoulders back a bit more, her confidence boosted. All things she could thank Jake for calling her attention to. Not that she’d tell him. The man’s ego was healthy enough. But she had to admit, freedom felt good.
“Have time to grab an iced latte?” Kellie asked.
Brianne’s throat was parched from the heat and all the walking they’d done. “Sounds great.”
“Good.” Kellie nodded approvingly, and they walked in silence the few blocks to the nearest Starbucks. In the doorway, Kellie grabbed Brianne’s hand and turned toward her. “Clothing and underwear were the hard part. Now we can sit down and talk about sex.”
Brianne started to cough, but instead forced a casual shrug. What the heck? she thought. It had been so long since she’d had any, she could probably use all the advice she could get. Her sexual history was minimal. A lukewarm relationship in college squeezed in between her classes and work, and a couple of other guys who’d given up when they realized her brother and her jobs had to come first—and that was it. None of those men had left a lasting or lingering impression. None had eased the loneliness.
But the idea of sex with Jake aroused every nerve ending in her body. Her nipples puckered beneath the new silk, a warm heaviness settled in the pit of her stomach and desire dampened her panties. Though no one could look and know what she was feeling, she knew. The intimate, illicit longings were unfamiliar to a woman used to being consumed with work and worries. Being consumed with Jake was a novelty she intended to enjoy.
She shivered in the air-conditioning, but the tremor had nothing to do with the recycled air. Shaking off the sensation, Brianne placed their order while Kellie found a table by the window where they could look out on the nearly empty streets of New York. As it wasn’t yet lunchtime, most smart people were inside, away from the oppressive outdoor temperatures instead of enduring the heat rising off the pavement.
No sooner had Brianne carried the drinks to the table and settled herself into a chair than Kellie pulled a box of condoms out of her purse.
Brianne glanced down and swept them under the table. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you cover all your bases. I know you’ve had little time for anything lately since you work all day and night—”
“You manage to fit in plenty of extracurricular activity,” Brianne said wryly.
“What can I say? I’m resourceful.” Kellie grinned. “Not to mention, I don’t work nine-to-five during the day. I’m serious. You can’t be too careful these days.”
Brianne shook her head. “Of course I know that.” She glanced down at the box in her hand, shaking them. “There’s a lot of those suckers in there,” she muttered.
Her friend glanced at her too innocently over her iced coffee. “So, use them.”
Brianne’s skin prickled at the thought, a renewed awareness and memories of Jake’s kiss and searing touch arousing her all over again. And he was so good at that, she thought, mentally transported back to last night.
“Hello?” Kellie waved a napkin in front of Brianne’s face. “I take it you plan to? Use the condoms, I mean.”
Brianne blinked, focusing on her friend. “Are you sure you don’t want them for yourself?” A smile tugged at her lips.
Kellie laughed. “Don’t need them. I’ve got my own collection at home. They’re latex and the best protection on the market. Plus they’re made for extra sensitivity and have lubrication. Believe me, you want to give one a shot.” She wiggled her eyebrows enticingly.