Total pages in book: 185
Estimated words: 180510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 903(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 602(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 903(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 602(@300wpm)
Jared supposedly manages hedge funds. I’m not sure I buy it based on our brief conversation over dinner, but he’s not lying about his obsession with working out.
A full head of hair, nice abs, and my favorite flavor of breath mints goes a long way when I’m feeling … easy. Jared checks off all three of those boxes. The next morning, he passes up the coffee I offer him and opts to head straight to the gym.
“It was nice meeting you,” he says on the way to my front door as I slide on my robe and practically crawl to the coffee maker.
Nice meeting me? We had sex. Granted, I’m not wanting anything beyond last night, but throw me a bone. Lie to me and say you’ll call me, or message me, or something. Cordial is not the best morning attitude.
I much prefer the awkwardness of fake intentions. A simple “see ya around” is something I can work with even if I know he won’t see me around.
“Yeah.” That’s my reply. I could have said “you too” and matched his level of enthusiasm, but with a caffeine deficiency in my blood, I just don’t have the energy to go the extra mile and give him more than one syllable.
“Oh, excuse me,” Jared mumbles and the expected click of my door shutting never happens.
I don’t make it three steps before I hear the click. By the fourth step, I see an intruder in my entry … and his mom.
“Becca …” I say her name slowly.
“Josie!” She hugs me, and I hold out my mug of coffee so I don’t spill it on her.
“What a surprise.” I give her a tight grin and wide eyes.
“So good to see you, dear. I hate to ask, but do you mind if I use your bathroom? We had breakfast, and I should have used the ladies’ room after my second cup of tea.”
I nod. “Down the hall on the left.”
As soon as the bathroom door shuts, I shoot Colten a scowl. “You’d better have a warrant, Detective. You’re in my house uninvited. And what the hell? You brought your mom without a freakin’ heads-up?”
“Watts…” his head gestures to my door, ignoring my rant “…that’s not the dude from the restaurant.”
“Brilliant observation. Chicago is so lucky to have you as one if its best and brightest on the force. Why are you here?”
“What does he know about you?”
“He knows I’m not married, and I supply the condoms. What more does he need to know?” I sip my steaming coffee when it’s obvious that he’s not going to answer my questions.
Colten’s thick eyebrows inch up his tan forehead. “Giving it away, huh?”
I shrug a shoulder and pad my way back to the kitchen. “I can’t sell it in Illinois. You should know that, Detective.”
“I like when you call me detective.”
“I like when you call before coming to my house with your mom. What part about ‘have her call me’ was most confusing?”
The bathroom door opens, forcing me to find a welcoming smile again.
“You have a lovely place, Josie.”
“Thanks, Becca.” I set my mug of coffee onto the island and readjust my robe’s sash.
“Not a single hunting trophy.” Colten shakes his head slowly. “Not even a bearskin rug.”
I’m ready to mount his head on my wall and skin him for a rug. Instead, I ignore him. “Had I known you were coming, I would have made a point to be showered and dressed.”
“Was that your boyfriend leaving? I haven’t seen or talked to your mom in years to find out what you’ve been up to. Well, I saw your parents at…” Becca pauses for a second like she needs a big breath to continue “…the funeral. But I don’t remember much from that day.”
Colten’s gaze affixes to the window with a hardened expression. I don’t think he likes to think or talk about his father’s funeral or anything about his father for that matter.
I contemplate reminding her that I was at the funeral as well, but I can read the room. It’s not a subject that deserves anymore time. “Jared. That’s the guy you saw leaving my apartment. And our relationship is fairly new, so I don’t know if he’s my boyfriend yet.”
I will never see him again. When the most prominent photo of a guy on a dating app is of him with a towel hanging so low on his waist that half of his closely trimmed pubic hair is visible, it’s a given that he’s only looking for a quick hookup. He was a good way to get Colten out of my head for a night. I thought I’d enjoy a full cup of coffee while thinking of Jared’s warm body and strong pulse.
No such luck.
Colten nods to the sofa for Becca to take a seat like it’s his place. Then he collapses onto the cushion at the opposite end. Okay … I guess they’re staying for a bit. I need a shower to wash Jared from my body. Brush my teeth. Put on actual clothes.