Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
There’s a heavy pause in the cottage, like we were all just slapped with the realization that this ends very, very soon. A darkness passes across Rhys’s eyes. Gavin’s mouth is a ruler. And Briar gives a little sigh.
But the clock only spins forward. “Time’s a ticking,” I say, trying to keep the mood light.
“It is,” Briar says, then gestures to the table.
We sit and I grab a sheet of paper from a notebook that the property manager left here and a pen. “What’s that for?” Gavin asks.
“It’s paper,” I say. “You use it to write things down. Like words and stuff.”
“No shit. But what are you doing?”
“Making a new list of rules since you’re the addendum.”
Gavin’s quiet for a beat, then nods, his expression somber. “Right. Of course.”
Ah, shit. I realize what’s going on. He’s not giving me a hard time for fun. He’s the guy who’s never negotiated sharing a woman before. That’s why he didn’t kiss her a few minutes ago. This is new terrain for him. I ease up on the teasing, patting his shoulder. “Hey, this’ll help. It’ll be good to get everything out in the open. Okay?”
“Yeah. Sure. That’s how it’s done, right?” It’s said earnestly, and I’m proud of him too—for being vulnerable and asking that kind of question.
“Communication is key,” I say, then look to the blue-eyed beauty across from me, eager to learn what’s on her mind. No, make that downright antsy. I want to know everything about her. Everything she wants. So we can give it to her. “What do you have in mind, baby?”
She’s like a new woman. This is not the Briar who sorted wooden spoons when I called her on faking it. “Well, first,” she begins, “it ends on Wednesday when the three of you leave. Like we talked about.”
My chest twinges. A dull ache. Maybe that’s from the run. “Right, done,” I say, staying businesslike. Don’t want to think about the end right now. Then I add a rule of my own. “We need to be safe and communicate. Like we’ve done so far.”
“Like you and I did the first night,” she adds.
Gavin’s brow knits again.
Shit. I’ve been a bad friend. A bad leader. I give him an apologetic look. “Briar and I hung out the first night. Before you got here.”
I brace myself for any fallout.
Gavin chuckles. “Yeah, I figured that already.”
I blink. “You did?”
He flaps a hand at me. “Dude. You got her a sex toy. Yeah, I fucking figured.”
Rhys cracks up, dropping his face into his palm. “You’re so obvious, Bouchard.”
“I guess that was a dead giveaway,” Briar deadpans.
I hold out my hands in surrender. “I suppose it was,” I say, then move things along. “Boundaries is another guideline. If someone doesn’t want something, he or she will say it.” Everyone nods, then Briar adds, “Here’s one of mine. I’m on birth control, but I want to use condoms.”
“Noted,” I say, then I add, “And consent. Like last night when Gavin asked if Briar wanted to be spanked.”
Briar’s eyes sparkle. “I liked that.”
“Good,” Gavin says quietly.
Rhys clears his throat. “Here’s a guideline. If someone wants to be alone with Briar, they don’t need anyone else’s permission. Just hers.”
Doesn’t surprise me that he says that. I just hope the man doesn’t fall in love with her. That’d be a mess.
She doesn’t want anything more, and as easy as it would be to fall for her—the easiest thing in the world since she’s a feisty, strong, badass babe I can’t get out of my head—falling is a bad idea.
“That works for me,” she says, and I write those rules down too.
But there’s something I want as well. I look her in the eyes. “I want you to win the ‘what makes a great boyfriend’ contest. I want you to get that prize money, show that jackass he can’t steal your ideas, and then show all those dudes who read his site how to treat a woman well.” I go for the kill. “Which means I want us to romance you too. Show you how a good boyfriend would do that. That work for you?”
Briar smiles, wide and bright, like it comes from the center of her soul. “Lucky me. I have three boyfriends this week to teach me.”
Her response makes my heart beat fast again. Makes my skin go all warm. Makes me want to just tell her she’s kind of amazing. Ah, hell. I can’t just worry about my friends. I’ve got to look out for myself, too, since I’d better not fall in love with her either.
I really better not. Especially when she says to the other guys, “Does that work for you two? To romance me with Hollis?”
Rhys doesn’t bother to hide a smile. The man is too far gone. “Yes.”
Gavin gives a nod. “Same.”