Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Dinner winds down and all the underclassmen help clear the plates, including me, though I’m surprised I’m eager to return to Joel’s side. Something about him makes me feel…not judged. Free to speak my mind and not hold back. Not conversationally…or physically. Should my body be responding so potently to a thirty-two-year-old man?
Is a man what I’ve been holding out for all along?
“Hi,” I say, resting my hand on Joel’s shoulders from behind, memorizing the ripple that passes through his muscular back. I like the dramatic effect I have on him. It makes me feel…significant. “Some of the parents and their daughters are heading out to see a movie, but it looks like a sad one. I avoid those like the plague.”
He looks back at me over his shoulder. “I remember.”
Of course he does. “Do you want to go for a walk to the lake with me, instead?”
His nostrils flare slightly and God, he looks dubious. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Haylo. I think I should go back to my hotel and turn in for the night.”
I was expecting that response—and I don’t let it deter me. “Okay.” I glance toward the group of sorority sisters and parents gathering in the entryway, chewing on my bottom lip. “Maybe I will try and brave the movie after all. How bad could it be? I’m sure one of the single dads will sit with me—”
Joel stands so abruptly, he nearly knocks over his chair. “A walk sounds good.”
I clasp my hands together beneath my chin, beaming up at him. “Really?”
He opens his mouth, but no sound comes out, as if he’s distracted by my smile. “Do you want to put on a jacket or something?” The man scrutinizes my body, sounding desperate. “Maybe some baggy sweatpants?”
“It’s not even cold out, silly.”
“Right.” He swallows hard, looking like a man on the way to the gallows. “Let’s go.”
We leave out the back door of the sorority house, taking the street that leads to the lake. We’ve only made it halfway down the block when I slip my hand into Joel’s larger, warmer one, swinging our arms playfully until he relents and cracks a smile. That flash of teeth and the brief appearance of crow’s feet at the edges of his eyes almost stops me in my tracks. Goodness gracious, he’s sexy. In a mature, self-assured way that apparently really appeals to me. He’s too old to play games. He’d know exactly what to do with me.
“I hope you don’t make a habit of walking to this lake alone at night, young lady.”
For some reason the use of young lady in that stern tone makes me clench inside my panties. “Um. I take morning walks sometimes, but don’t worry. I have an industrial-sized can of pepper spray and a whistle.”
“You still shouldn’t go alone.”
“Are you going to lecture me for the whole walk, Daddy?”
His steps falters, something primal flaring in his eyes. “Don’t call me that.”
“But its parents’ weekend.” I pout at him, bringing our joined grip between my breasts and cradling it there. “You don’t want me to feel left out, do you?”
“Haylo…” He drags his free hand down his face, laughing in clear exasperation. “What the hell am I going to do with you?”
“You’re going to walk with me by the lake.” I tug him along behind me, glancing over my shoulder and catching his rapt gaze on my bottom, his chest rising and falling on a shudder. “We’re going to get to know each other better.”
“How are we going to do that?”
“Chatting, of course. Unless you have something else in mind?”
We reach the end of the street and Joel draws even beside me on the most direct walking trail, which is lit only by the moon above. Within a few minutes, we’ve reached the hill overlooking the lake and I lead him to the solitary green, iron bench where I often sit and listen to music or an audiobook when I need a change of scenery. Or a quiet reprieve from sorority life. In the daylight, the view is amazing. The nighttime view is definitely a lot more romantic, though. Moonlight shines on the still water. Crickets chirp. Stars twinkle in the purplish black night sky.
Joel sits on the bench, visibly braced for my antics.
As well he should be, because instead of taking a seat to his left, I park myself high on his thigh, turned sideways with my arms looped around his neck. Already I can feel his erection against the outside of my right thigh and it’s everything I can do not to purr like a kitten when he stabilizes my lower back with an arm, as if he can’t help but make me comfortable, despite his obvious discomfort.
“Haylo—”
“Do pilots eat the in-flight meals, as well? I always wondered that.”