Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Robbie reached over and clapped the older man on the shoulder. “Your adult children wouldn’t continue to come back for this psychotic-ass competition if they didn’t love and appreciate you.”
“Thanks,” Doug said dryly.
“You’re welcome, man. All true.”
“I think we all need another drink,” Elton announced.
“There’s nothing left,” Doug said, coming to his feet. “I’ll make a run into town.”
Elton sighed, thought for a beat. “Maybe we should just have a drink in town? There’s the pub, a wine bar . . . or that divey karaoke place off Main.”
“Karaoke?” Doug’s eyes lit up. “Is there a prize for the best singer?”
“Nope. It’s done for pure enjoyment.”
Robbie put an arm around Doug’s shoulders and ushered him off the porch. “Come on. The lack of competition will be good for you.”
An hour later, it became obvious that Doug would not have won, either way.
Unless they were crowning the most enthusiastic bad singer.
In which case, Skylar’s dad was the champ.
But sitting in the dive bar, listening to a local sing “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” while getting better acquainted with the people who loved the woman he loved, Robbie definitely felt like he’d won.
Almost.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Skylar was already fast asleep when Robbie finally managed to drag Elton and Doug home. Standing in the doorway of her bedroom with the doorknob in his hand, he found himself savoring the moment. Coming home to Skylar. Having the freedom to walk into her room and see her in a hoodie and flannel shorts, snuggled up with a pillow, her dark hair pluming in various directions, lips slightly parted. She’d left the lamp on for him, but he turned it off right away and started undressing, shoes first, socks, his jeans and T-shirt.
Getting into bed with her felt like the right thing to do. The invitation had been given, hadn’t it? Still, sleeping in the same bed was couple shit and she might never want that with him. After this week ended, they might be nothing more than friends. If that was the result, he wouldn’t be able to live a happy life knowing what it felt like to hold her while she slept. For now, they were still technically friends.
Friends who went up in smoke when they kissed.
Friends who’d gone down on each other.
If she decided against them, he’d be in love with a woman who didn’t love him back.
Winded in the face of that reality, Robbie got down on the floor and started to make himself at home on the pallet, wincing when Skylar started to rustle around in the bedding. Had he woken her?
Damn, her ass looked juicy in those shorts.
Sadly, those squeezable buns were out of sight a moment later because she turned over onto her back, stretching, revealing her stomach. The low flannel waistband. And yeah, he didn’t get hard over the thought of a whipped cream bikini these days, but he was definitely tenting his boxers over a girl in full-on pajamas.
She’s not even awake, pervert. Go to bed.
“Robbie?” Skylar yawned.
“Hey,” he blurted, coming up on his knees and walking to the edge of the pallet, his stupid pulse racing at the unexpected luck to talk to her. “Hey, Rocket.”
She turned on her side, propped herself up on an elbow, and he tried not to sigh like a lovelorn poet as she blinked the grogginess away. “What time is it?”
“Just after eleven thirty.” Try to stop him from smoothing her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. It couldn’t be done. She looked way too soft. “Did you know your father has a secret karaoke fetish? We couldn’t get him off the mic until last call. He was singing ‘Yellow Submarine’ to a bunch of empty tables.”
Skylar’s mouth dropped open. “You have to be talking about someone else’s dad.”
“I’m afraid not—and I’m pretty sure it’s hereditary.”
“Not Elton doing karaoke,” she gasped.
“His poison of choice is ‘It Makes Me Ill’ by NSYNC. And it did. Make me ill.”
She pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh, her eyes shining in the near darkness. “What about you? Did you sing?”
“Nah.” He paused, let his head fall forward. “All right, maybe one.”
“Which one?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m going to find out.”
“Fine. Find out tomorrow. But I’ll have a better chance of you letting me kiss you good night if you don’t find out until then.”
Maybe he was a lovelorn poet, because he’d never seen anything prettier than the moonlight on her blushing cheeks. Then Skylar whispered, “You have a pretty good chance already,” and his cock went fully erect. His blood rushed south so fast he could only kneel there and attempt to regain his equilibrium while she scooted over to the far side of the bed. “Please share the bed with me. You deserve better than the floor after enduring dive bar karaoke.”
“Jesus. You’re not wrong . . .” Robbie’s laugh was quiet and incredulous. “I’m lying, I actually enjoyed every second of it.”