Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I rush to exit the truck. I have the back door open and am reaching for the cupcake holder when Sterling gets me. I thought this was a good plan. I was wrong. I didn’t anticipate that he would crowd me, aligning his body with mine.
“Let me get that.” His lips are next to my ear, and his hot breath causes a shiver to race down my spine.
I open my mouth to tell him that I’ve got it, but words never come. Instead, I nod and slip my hand out from under his, letting him grip the holder. Sterling lifts it from the floorboard and steps back. I duck and move away from him while he closes the door of the truck. Seeing he’s got it under control, I turn on my heel and head for the porch.
Distance.
I need distance.
No way am I giving him a chance to grab my hand again. Not only is the action confusing, but if anyone in his family were to see us, they’d run with it. Sure, they’ve seen us hold hands before—it’s not uncommon—but my reaction isn’t. I know I’m not that good of an actress.
“My girl!” Ryder pushes open the door and holds it open for me.
“She’s not yours.” I hear Sterling growl from behind me.
“Not yours either,” Ryder quips.
I step inside with Sterling hot on my heels. Ryder tosses his arm over my shoulders as we make our way into the kitchen. “Look who I found,” he announces. Everyone waves hello, and I do the same. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I’m sure it’s Kennedy because she’s smiling down at her phone. Her gaze rises to mine, and she nods. Just as I thought.
Sterling places the cupcake holder on the counter and, to my surprise, slides his arm around my waist just as I reach for my phone, knocking it to the floor. Not a big deal, except for the fall activates the app from the book I was listening to. The male narrator is asking the heroine to tell him she loves his cock. Of course, like the good girl that she is, she tells him.
“Oh my God!” I shriek, scrambling for my phone. I drop it twice as Sterling and I try to pick it up. I manage to elbow him, grab the device, and punch the Stop button.
“Fuck,” someone says. My blood is whooshing in my ears from embarrassment, so I couldn’t tell you who.
Knowing that I can’t hide behind the kitchen island forever, I slowly stand and power off my phone, sliding it into my back pocket. It’s then that I look up and find Carol watching me closely.
“Is that the new Lacey Black novel?” she asks.
“Yes.” I nod as well because my words are muffled.
“I finished that one last night. It’s my favorite of the series.” She winks at me.
“Wait, it’s out already? I thought that was next week,” Palmer chimes in.
“Is this what you’re always reading before bed?” Brooks asks his wife.
Palmer shrugs. “Usually. Romance is my favorite genre.”
I can feel my heart rate start to settle, and the heat leaves my face as I watch Brooks reach into his back pocket. He pulls out his wallet and grabs what looks like his credit card, and hands it to Palmer.
“What’s this for?”
“You’re… um… extra attentive those nights. Go crazy. Buy all the books you want.” He smirks as the room erupts in laughter. Even me.
Sterling slides his arm around my waist and kisses my temple. “Not a bad idea,” he mumbles. I don’t ask him to repeat himself because Carol tells us it’s time to eat while she and Palmer talk about the book I was just listening to.
Keeping his hand around my waist, Sterling leads us to the dining room and pulls my chair out for me. All things he’s done before, but again it feels different.
Everything is different, and I don’t know that I can ever go back to convincing myself that I’m not in love with my best friend.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Sterling
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Brooks says.
“Why not?” Palmer asks.
She’s got him on speakerphone. We’re at my parents’, and Palmer, Jade, Kennedy, and my mom all decided that we should go to movie night in the park. Willow Park has this event once a month through the summer months, and my brothers and I loved going as kids. Alyssa and I have been before, but it’s been a couple of years since the last time.
“Because I’m working, and you’re due in a week. What happens if you go into labor?” he asks her.
I can hear the frustration in his voice. My brother has been a worry wart the last week. He’s made sure to call us—his brothers—and tell us to be on standby in case he’s not home and is at work when Palmer goes into labor. It’s a request he didn’t have to make. I think it made him feel as if he was in control, but we all know, even Brooks knows, that there is no controlling when a woman goes into labor. His baby girl will make her appearance when she’s good and ready.