Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
I stand there shocked and unsure what I did wrong.
Did he not like it?
’Cause I did.
And I want more.
But obviously, he doesn’t.
Dean looked at me tonight just like he did the day he kissed me. That has to be the reason that moment is playing on repeat in my head as Missy drives us home. Not that I don’t think of it often anyway. Like he said, your first kiss is a special thing. You never forget the first guy you kissed, and to this day, I can still taste his lips. He used to chew that Big League Chew bubble gum, the shredded kind that was designed to make you feel like you were a baseball player, and he tasted just like that.
I’m not sure what I’m feeling…or even how to handle these feelings and thoughts. I want him, badly, but can I sleep with him and stay friends? I’ve always been attracted to him, always felt this tether to him, but I never felt like he wanted me in the way I lusted after him. Tonight was different, though. It felt like he wanted me and I’m down for it, but will that cost us our friendship? Then again, he apparently doesn’t do relationships.
Without looking away from the sparkling black sky, I ask, “So, Dean hooks up a lot?”
Missy snorts. “He hasn’t ever had a relationship. Sadie thinks he’s broken.”
“Broken?”
She nods as she turns onto her road. “Yeah, he remembers how bad it was for his dad when they lost his mom, so he doesn’t want that kind of pain. Hell, when his other granny died, his Mom’s dad went a wee bit crazy. I don’t think Dean is made to love anyone but Skyye.”
“Understandable,” I say softly, remembering how broken the whole family was when they lost Juniper, who was killed in an accident coming home from Knoxville. It was a dark time for all of us, honestly.
“For sure,” she agrees as she pulls into the driveway of her sweet little home. “Love that for him, but he needs to settle down. Skyye notices he isn’t with anyone.”
“She doesn’t care,” I insist as we get out. “He doesn’t need anyone to be a good dad to her.” Missy gives me a look, and I hold up my hand. “I don’t mean that how it came out.”
Her eyes narrow a bit, but then she shrugs. “Fine, but he’s so good. Someone would be lucky to be with him.”
She’s not wrong.
“He told me he hasn’t found the one.”
She rolls her eyes. “He hasn’t even tried,” she says as she reaches for the door. Then she pauses. She looks over her shoulder at me. “So, you spent the whole night with him?”
I roll my lips, a little nervous to answer. “Yeah.”
She eyes me, and I swear it’s all over my face that I had the best night ever. “Did you try anything?”
I gawk at her. “No! We drank and danced.”
And exchanged very heated looks, but no one needs to know that part.
She swallows, and I almost feel like she wants to say more, but the door opens and Nyle looks between us. “What the hell, Missy?” I sigh deeply as he continues. “You just left, and I find out it’s to go out with your sister? I don’t like this.” His eyes move to mine. “You’re a bad influence.”
Call me an asshole, but I laugh. Hard. “Okay, Nyle,” I say as I pat his chest and walk past him.
He pushes my hand away. “I don’t like this,” he repeats. “If you are going to bring my wife home at all hours of the night, I don’t know if you can live with us.”
“Nyle!” Missy complains, and I keep laughing.
“I’m serious. This isn’t healthy for Skyye.”
“The only thing unhealthy is your need to control my sister’s life,” I snap as I narrow my eyes to slits. “But I’ll tell you this, no one will ask me to leave but Missy.”
“This is my home too.”
I glare, but Missy steps between us. “That’s enough. She is my sister, and she is welcome here. You don’t like it, you can leave.”
Before anyone can say anything else, Skyye’s door opens and she yawns loudly. She looks around the room, and I try to fix my face. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I say, slipping out from behind Missy and going toward her. “Can I cuddle with you?”
She reaches for my hand, and I take it, my sweet niece threading her fingers with mine. “Yeah, come on.”
I don’t look back or even say a word. I shut Skyye’s door before taking off my pants and getting into bed with her. There is a huge body pillow between us, and we both cuddle into it as her sleepy blue eyes meet mine. “Did you have fun?”
I smile as I move her hair out of her lashes. “A blast. Your dad was there.”