Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
“Avery, I’m exhausted. I have cheese dip in my hair from falling asleep at dinner. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed early. Maybe, if you’re lucky, I’ll be rejuvenated for the weekend.”
“But DJ Johnny won’t be at Allure this weekend, and Bo Daniels will be back in Alabama to play football against other teams or something. You have to come tonight!”
Somehow, earlier today, after the kiss with Luke from Copywriting, she left work to check out some sale at Saks and ended up meeting part of the University of Alabama football team. Evidently, they played against the University of Miami this past weekend and then got stuck here when all the flights were grounded due to weather. She’s convinced herself I need a boning from Bo Daniels to keep as a souvenir of his visit. I’ve got a different Beau on my mind, though, and as confusing as the names might sound, there’s no confusion in the old hoochie-coochie whatsoever.
“Ave, I’m going to hold your hand while I say this, but no,” I say just as the elevator dings its arrival on our floor.
“I swear, it’s like you’re trying to avoid men or something. You need to open your eyes, girl. The Miami dating pool is smokin’, and there’re plenty of fish in our hot-as-fuck sea.” She sighs and steps forward to tap me on the vagina, and I crumple forward as she spins on her heels and heads out the now-open elevator doors. “Seriously. Is your beaver broken?”
“Avery!” I shout, following her into the hall, intent on coldcocking her right back. But the hall isn’t empty.
“Hey,” Beau says, a giant smile on his face. “What’s going on?”
His best friend Henry stands beside him, his eyes unabashedly scanning Avery. I don’t know if he’s actually interested or not, but her outfit is hard not to look at. I had to pull the gold mesh back over her nipples at least three times during dinner.
“June’s being boring,” Avery says matter-of-factly, smashing the elevator call button no fewer than fifteen times. Apparently, she’s given up on talking me into going out—thank everything—and fully focused on getting her ass in the club.
“June? Boring?” Beau questions with a smile I want to kiss right off his lips as he runs a hand through his slightly sweaty hair before slipping a baseball cap over it.
Damn, he looks good in a hat. I’m talking, downright delectable.
I shrug and cross my arms over my chest to cover my suddenly excited nips. This tank top is a lot more sheer than I remember. “Guilty.”
“Beau’s boring too,” Henry teases with a big grin. Out of all of Beau’s closest friends, Henry is the biggest player and the wildest of the bunch. He’s an adrenaline junkie from way back—which is probably why his company is called exactly that. And truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him leave a club or bar without a random girl on his arm. Which makes sense. He has a James Dean kind of bad-boy dangerous vibe to him. Women flock his way almost as much as they flock to Beau.
“We just ran six miles. I’m fucking tired,” Beau retorts. “There’s a difference.”
Henry ignores him and smiles at my best friend. “The bastard said he’d rather shower and lie low than go out because he has to get to the office early tomorrow.” His voice is mocking, and Avery’s face is delighted.
“Beau and June, sitting in a tree,” she sings, “L-A-M-E-O-L-D!”
Beau guffaws. “Lame old?”
Avery nods, high-fiving Henry as he holds up a hand for her to smack. “Yep. She’s lame. You’re old.” The elevator dings. “And I’m outta here.”
Henry blocks the doors from closing. “Where you heading, Avery?”
“Allure.”
“Funnily enough, that’s exactly where I’m heading too.” He flashes a wink over his shoulder as he steps onto the elevator with her. “Later,” he says to both Beau and me.
“Henry, are you flirting with me?” Avery questions with a hand to her hip, and he just laughs.
“Avery, honey, you’re not really my style.”
“Excuse me?” A scoff escapes her lungs. “I’m everyone’s style.”
Beau and I stand there together as the doors close in front of them, blocking out their flirty but harmless banter that I’ve witnessed a hundred times, and an awkward silence envelops us as soon as they’re on their way.
He shakes his black T-shirt away from his body. “Well…I’m gonna head in to shower. Six miles is a lot harder than it used to be.”
I snort. “Yeah, well, it’s about five point nine miles more than I can do, so good for you.”
Beau’s smile settles into his almost-dimple, and I settle myself deep inside it in turn. He really is the sexiest man alive. Hot, sweaty, casual, dressy, or anything in between—he’s freaking perfect.
“Night, neighbor.”
I push into our door and meet his eyes one final time. I feel the brown all the way to the bottom of my soul. “Night.”