Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
He exhales in frustration. "When I said you were mine, I meant it. So I'm going to let you make your choice right now, but I won't wait forever. You understand that, right?"
"Yeah," I whisper.
"Good. Come on."
Porter opens his door and jumps down, and he meets me at the front of the truck and takes my hand. We stop in front of the door, and I almost laugh. I feel like we're two teenagers on a first date.
"At least come to see my place tomorrow," Porter whispers. His lips brush my ear. "Let me make you dinner."
His voice is teasing, and my breath hitches. I turn in Porter's embrace and press myself against his chest. His strong arms wrap around me, and he holds me tightly.
"I'd like that."
"Good." He bends, his lips landing on mine, and I'm swept away in Porter's kiss. He presses me back against the front door, his hands moving up and down my waist and hips.
When he breaks away, his eyes are dark. "I'm not going to pressure you, Bailey, but the invitation is always open. Get some rest."
"I will."
"Text me when you wake up."
I nod, and he smiles, stealing another quick kiss. Porter heads back to his truck, and I watch him go. He winks once before he jumps in, and pulls out onto the street.
As soon as he's gone, a voice behind me startles me.
"BAILEY!"
Renae is standing in the doorway, her hands on her hips, a sly smile on her face. "Get inside and tell me all about it!"
I giggle and follow her inside.
5
BAILEY
I take a hot shower and a quick nap, which turns into, unsurprisingly, a much longer snooze where I sleep off my workout and long lunchtime hike. Also unsurprisingly, I dream about Porter. In my dream, we didn't stop up there on the top of the trail and Porter wasn't holding himself back.
In my dream, we do a whole lot more.
When I wake up, it's 8 PM. I frown and dig around in my purse for my phone. Porter texted me once while I was asleep.
Porter: Good night baby
Bailey: Sorry, I fell asleep
I pause, my thumbs hovering over the keyboard. I don't know what else to say to him. Should I apologize? Invite him over? Tell him I had a sex dream about him and now my panties are soaked?
I laugh to myself, simply telling him that it was a good nap and that I'm excited for dinner tomorrow.
I have another text, too, and it explains why the house is so quiet so early in the evening.
Renae: Hey, girl. I'm going home with Bryan the yoga instructor after class for drinks and a movie. Hopefully, I won't be back at all tonight ;) He's so fine! Wish me luck!
Bailey: Have fun, and use protection!
My best friend sends back a row of peach emojis and eggplants, and I toss my phone aside, laughing. Renae is the wildest woman I know. She certainly never lets an opportunity slip away, that's for sure.
But now I'm alone in the house. The windows are all open, and the breeze coming through the screen is cool and refreshing. The crickets are singing outside, and I lie back, resting my head on the pillow. For the first time, Renae's house doesn't feel like home.
It's because I'm lonely, I realize with a start. I'm lonely because I want to be with Porter.
That's got to be it. I've spent a lot of time in the house here alone, but normally Renae is home. We're a couple of college students, and we're usually both watching movies or talking, so the house hasn't ever felt big or empty.
But tonight it does. I want Porter.
He wants me, too. But is it just lust? Am I a passing fancy for the older, experienced man? I push those thoughts out of my head. Porter said he didn't want a fling. He said he wanted me, and all of me. And there was no way he was lying. He'd never backed down from anything, from what I could tell.
And he said we're dating, which is crazy. Dating my boxing instructor!
I giggle and swing my legs off the bed. I'm getting hungry, so I throw on a pair of leggings and a loose tank top and head to the kitchen to rummage around the fridge. Renae and I have a pretty simple diet. We mostly eat fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meat plus protein shakes—when she isn’t giving into her takeout addiction, that is.
I cut up some chicken and vegetables and grill them quickly on the stove. I add some oil and soy sauce and mix it all together, and then settle down on the couch to find something mindless to watch on Netflix. It's about 9 PM now, and there's still no reply from Porter, but I assume he's just busy with the renovations of the gym. He told me that he's paid extra for the construction crews to work through the night, hoping to have his new pool done as soon as possible.