Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
As soon as she’s gone, Emmy has her downing a shot of vodka. Cassia grabs Paige’s glass of water to get rid of the taste. This right here is why I try to fly under the radar when I’m with my girls.
Mina gets that look on her face, the one that always leads us right into trouble. She stands and surveys the table of her fellow authors. She gives a wicked grin before saying, “I have a proposition. I dare the four of you to lose your v-cards this week.”
Since she and Paige have already had their cards stamped, she focuses on Cassia, Emmy, Clover, and me.
I think again about Brock’s kiss in the gondola. I was sure he was going to kiss me again when he took me back to my cabin after our date. But instead, he brushed a strand of hair from my face and said, “The next time I kiss you, I plan to have you underneath me.”
Cassia’s face turns bright red, probably the exact same shade as mine. I should have just ordered the damn rose.
Paige cackles, and I narrow my eyes at her. She’s enjoying this too much. They both are. “Oh my gosh, yes, that’s brilliant, Mina! This is a perfect thing for this retreat. Y’all lose your v-cards and then you can report back to us. I’m sure we'll be at the bar.”
Emmy chokes for a second then recovers. She squirms in her chair, looking just as uncomfortable as the rest of us. Her hair falls across her eyes, but when she blows it away, it comes out sounding like she blew a raspberry.
Mina claps her hands together with delight. She and Paige are evil. That’s all there is to it. “And that, my friends, is the sound of relief you’ll feel when you get rid of your cherries.”
Cassia shakes her head. “No, thank you.”
I can’t help thinking that Brock would be fun in the sack. Probably a lot of fun. But I’m not sure I’m brave enough to get naked with him. He would see things. Things like my big hips and well, OK, he’s already seen my massive ass. No sense in adding another humiliating moment with him to the list. “Yeah, this doesn’t sound like a good idea to me either.”
Clover is quick to agree with her as she takes a shot. “The last thing I want is some one-night stand to remember the day I lost my virginity.”
But once Mina gets a thought in her head, it’s hard to distract her from it. “This retreat is the perfect opportunity for all of you, but especially you,” she says, pointing a finger at Emmy. “Stop looking at me like you don’t know who I mean. The guy who fixed your porch light.”
“Cabin door,” Emmy groans.
I think for a moment of rescuing her but then they’ll just have questions about my love life. I haven’t told any of them about Brock except for her. That will quickly turn into an interrogation. I mean, we are romance writers.
Mina laughs. “Door, light, sink, who cares? Same difference.”
Paige snorts. “I’m sure he could fix your plumbing too.”
Cassia slides Paige’s wine glass out of her reach. Someone probably should have cut her off before now. I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t have a heck of a hangover tomorrow.
Mina continues on, “My point is, the guy is hot, and you like him. He’s here and so are you. You’ll never see him again, so do the math.”
“Who is that?” Paige gestures toward a curvy brunette approaching our table.
Brock mentioned her on our date. He said that Cleary is best friends with his sister Piper. He must have let it slip that the romance authors are in town on a retreat. I can’t help wondering what else he said about me to his sister.
As long as I’m careful in what I say and how I say it, they won’t suspect a thing. Using my best casual tone, I explain, “She works for the sheriff. I think her name is Cleary.”
There. That sounded normal. None of them are paying attention to me. They’re all focused on Cleary who’s stopped at our table. She’s a fan of our books and wants to get some signed copies.
Paige invites her to join us and the rest of the night passes in a blur of giggles, girl talk, and more alcohol. I half expected Cleary to mention something about Brock, but she never does.
As I trudge back to my cabin, I have to make my way through the light dusting of snow. I could get used to seeing this white stuff on the ground everywhere. It rarely snows in Charleston.
Sighing, I can’t help but think about Mina’s dare. I mean yeah, I wrote my last love scene with one hand in my panties while I pictured Brock. But that doesn’t mean I want to lose my virginity to him.