Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
She moaned against my lips, and I wondered if we’d get caught if I fucked her right here in the dark against the side of The Broken Spoke—although frankly, I wasn’t even sure I’d last long enough to get caught. I was about to come in my pants.
The song came to an end, and I heard whistles and applause from inside the bar. Returning to my senses, I set her down and took a step back. Both of us were breathing hard.
“God,” she panted, wiping her mouth. “You can be such an asshole, but you sure know how to kiss.”
I grimaced, even as my chest filled with pride.
Adjusting her skirt, she leaned back against the wall. “So what happens now? You going to apologize again? Promise to stay away from me?”
“I should.”
She glared at me, her eyes catching the moonlight. “Don’t bother.”
“What is this, Veronica?” I blurted. “What are we doing?”
“Hell if I know! I know what we would be doing if you’d just relax and have some fun. What are you so afraid of?”
I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t put it into words.
“The kids are gone for a week, Austin. The tension between us is driving us both crazy. If you weren’t such a chicken, we could get it out of our systems!”
“I’m not a chicken!” I told her. “It’s not just about the kids.”
“Then what? Are you worried about me? Are you afraid I might think you’re my boyfriend if I let you get to third base? Please.” She held up one hand. “The last thing I’m looking for is another relationship.”
Her words were tempting me to kiss her again. To take her home and run for third base—fuck that, I wanted to score. But something was holding me back.
“It’s not right,” I said stubbornly.
She tilted her head. Then she moved close enough to stand chest to chest with me, placing her hand over the bulge in my jeans. “That feel wrong to you?”
I couldn’t lie, so I said nothing. Always my default.
Her lips tipped up, and she shook her head. “Next time you kiss me, Austin, do it because you want to, not because you don’t want me kissing somebody else.” She dropped her hand. “Or don’t do it at all.”
Then she turned on her heel and walked away.
When we left the bar, she rode home in the back seat, stiff and silent. I didn’t say anything either, and Xander gave up trying to make conversation and turned up the radio.
At home, Veronica jumped out of the car quickly. “Thanks for taking me, I had fun,” she said without any emotion whatsoever. Then she slammed the door and marched up the driveway toward the garage.
“What the hell happened with you guys tonight?” Xander asked as we watched her go up the stairs to her apartment, illuminated by Xander’s headlights.
I exhaled and rubbed the back of my neck. “I fucked up.”
“Before or after you borrowed her lipstick?” Xander reached over and swiped at my neck.
I knocked his hand away and rubbed at the spot. “This stuff is like industrial marine varnish. It doesn’t come off.”
“You know what your problem is? You’ve got no finesse.”
“My problem is that she works for me, asshole,” I snapped. “What kind of dad screws the babysitter?”
“Don’t make it into that,” Xander shot back. “It’s not like she’s a teenage innocent and you’re a pervy old man. The kids aren’t even around.”
“What happens if things go badly?”
Xander laughed. “You mean what if you’re a two-pump chump?”
“Fuck off! I’m being serious, Xander.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I mean, what happens if I sleep with her and then it’s awkward, and we’re stuck having to practically live together for the rest of the summer? Or what if things go wrong and she leaves?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“And not only is messing around with her a risk in terms of the job, but she’s just getting out of a terrible relationship. That guy was a real dick to her.”
“That’s why she needs you. Show her that not all guys are like that.”
“What if she’s not thinking straight? What if she’s just lonely and vulnerable and I’m the jerk that took advantage of her?”
Xander sighed. “Look, I don’t know her that well, but she doesn’t strike me as fragile.”
“She hides it well,” I said, remembering things she’d told me about her past.
My brother was quiet for a minute, staring out at the garage. “I don’t know, dude. Maybe I’m not reading the signals right. But from where I’m sitting, she’s into you, you’re into her, and you both seem like you could use a good time with someone you trust. That’s all.”
Xander had hit on something—Veronica trusted me. Maybe that was the problem. I didn’t want to ruin it.
Leaning across me, he opened the glove box and pulled out a condom. “But for god’s sake, be careful this time.”