Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
It wasn’t like I hated being around my family. I loved them. But my two brothers were so damn happy. Both were married and with kids of their own. I knew what I was feeling was jealousy and I needed to get over it. They were happy, so that made me happy.
Then you had Clare. God, the woman got under my skin. She was headstrong. Opinionated. Had a dirty mouth and was always trying to bust my balls. The only thing she had going for her was that she was beautiful and had a body that any man would want. When she started quizzing me about why I moved back to Boston and wouldn’t let up, I wanted to shove a piece of sourdough bread into her mouth.
“My sister is here! Later, Willis!” Lynn shouted back at me as she opened the door to leave.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Glad I wasn’t the only one who had gotten the name wrong.
“Bye, Lynn!” I called out to her as I turned back to look at the harbor.
“Where did you find that one?”
I spun around to see Clare.
Holy shit. Had I just conjured her up by thinking about her?
She was wearing jeans that hugged her curves, rubber snow boots, a light blue sweater that made her eyes pop, and a white beanie hat. It couldn’t contain her curly light brown hair though.
Christ. She’s beautiful.
“What are you doing here and how in the hell did you get in?” I asked in a bored tone, praying I hadn’t been eye fucking her just then.
She stared at me then rolled her eyes. “Your latest booty call let me in. Guess she thought I was your next plaything.”
I shot her a dirty look.
“You forgot, didn’t you?”
I lifted the cup of coffee to my mouth and took a drink.
With her arms folded across her chest, she snarled her lip at me. “God, you really are absorbed in your own little world, aren’t you?”
Shrugging, I moved past her and back into my place. “Why don’t you remind me why you’re here at the crack ass of dawn on a Sunday morning, Clare. I’m sure it’s not just to bust my balls.”
Clare followed me through my living room and into the galley-style kitchen. I lifted the coffee pot and held it her way. “Want some?”
Sighing, she said, “I tell you this all the time, Wes, I don’t drink coffee. Or wait, is it Willis?”
I frowned. “What kind of person doesn’t drink coffee?”
“This kind,” she said as she motioned to her body, giving me another chance to look her over at her own invitation.
“That’s stupid.”
Her hands slapped against her thighs. “Okay, I don’t have time for this. You promised Angie you would help me go get the supplies for your parents’ anniversary party. Remember?”
My hand pushed into my hair. “Shit. I totally forgot about that.”
Clare tilted her head and regarded me with a look I’d expect my mother to give me. “Too busy picking up random women?”
Smiling, I asked, “Are you jealous?”
“I obviously play for the other team, but she was hot, not gonna lie.”
I wanted to laugh but forced myself to stay neutral, which caused Clare to smirk.
Why hadn’t I ever noticed how luscious Clare’s mouth was.
“Ahh, you are jealous.”
“Hardly. You’re a walking advertisement for sexually transmitted diseases. No, thank you.”
I set my coffee cup down. “That is where you’re wrong, Clare. I always practice safe sex. I’ve never once been with a woman without wearing a condom. Ever. And it will never happen…now or in the future.”
Her jaw hardened and she raised her hands and started to slow clap. “You win the award for safest manwhore in Boston. Good job, Wes. I’m sure the woman you marry—or the next one you have a one-night stand with—will appreciate that immensely.”
I leaned over and bowed. When I stood up, a hand towel was thrown at me. “Not that it matters to you, but the only woman who will ever have me bareback will be the woman I love and want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Something moved across her face, but it was gone as fast as it had appeared.
“If we’re done talking about your airbags, can we please move on? I do have other things I’d like to do today.”
I blinked a few times. “My airbags?”
Clare rolled her eyes. “Yes, Wes.”
“That’s what you call condoms?”
She shrugged. “Party hat? Magic shield? Love is cleaner with a packaged wiener. I could keep going, but I’d like to get going, like I said, I do have a life.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve never met anyone like you before, Clare.”
When she smiled, I felt a strange tightness in my chest. Placing my hand there, I rubbed at the unfamiliar ache. Clare had turned and started opening my cabinets until she found a glass and held it up. “Do you have water or orange juice.”