Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
And in every single instance, he’s delicious.
But in this casually confident pose, with his hat on backward and professing his fake love for me in front of my asshole nemesis—the man has never looked this good.
He licks his lips, watching me for a reaction. I can’t react the way I want to because that will get me arrested. Indecent exposure is a real thing.
“Our two years of marriage are something I’ll always remember,” I say, looking up at him and batting my lashes.
He grins. “They were the best two years of my life.”
“Well, I was a pretty great wife.”
He chuckles. The sound licks at my libido, stroking it higher and hotter.
“And you were a good husband too,” I say, my heart pounding. I should stop. I shouldn’t make this worse for myself. But I can’t because having this banter with Jess is too easy and too much fun. “We had so many amazing times together. You always made sure I was happy.”
“You better fucking believe I did. I made sure you were happy and satisfied every night.”
I gulp.
My face is red. Heat ripples from my cheeks as I absorb the heat in his gaze. If I ever wondered if Jess would be a great lover, I don’t now. Only a man who has absolute confidence in his skills would be this overt about them.
Oh, the things I wish I knew for certain.
His grin turns mischievous, and his gaze hoods. A shiver snakes up my spine, leaving a trail of goose bumps on my skin. He glances at my arms and then back at me.
“Looks like I still have an effect on you,” he says, his tone cocky.
I make a point of looking him and up and down, letting my gaze drag across his long, lean body. “Your mouth has always turned me on.”
His jaw clenches, and he takes a step toward me.
I have no idea what I’m doing, and something in the recesses of my brain is trying to throw out roadblocks to stop me from crossing the line that I’m toeing. But logic is no match to a perfect specimen looking at me like he wants to use his mouth in ways I can only imagine. In ways I do imagine. In ways I will imagine as soon as I get home.
“Remind me why we got divorced again?” Jess asks, his voice rough.
“Yes, I’m curious too,” Chuck says.
And, just like that, I snap back to reality. Chuck’s intrusion into this surprising conversation is like a bucket of cold water.
“What happened between you?” Chuck asks.
I look up at Jess, trying not to panic.
I don’t know what happened between us. This is the first time I’ve been afforded the opportunity to make my situation even worse. I’m not prepared. Luckily for me, Jess takes my hand like he does it every day and laces his fingers through mine.
His palm scratches my skin. The size of his hand easily encompasses mine. He holds it firmly, yet sweetly—in a way that’s protective yet careful. This is yet another thing I’ll remember after this moment is over.
“That’s private,” Jess says. “You need to mind your own business.”
“Chuck, isn’t your wife over there?” Kerissa asks, jamming her thumb toward the lady in the corner.
He glances over his shoulder. “Yes. She is. I suppose I should get back to her.”
Jess moves me so that I’m closer to him. For the performance, mostly, I rest my head on his arm. Might as well play it up while I can.
“Hey, Chuck, before you go,” Jess says, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “I want to make one thing clear.”
Chuck’s gaze flips to mine before resting on Jess again. “Sure. What’s that?”
“Pippa and I might be divorced, but she’s still my girl. Now that you know that, I’m going to take it as a personal insult if you ever approach her again like you were when I walked up here tonight. Got it?”
A bead of sweat dots Chuck’s forehead.
“Good. You can go now,” Jess says, effectively dismissing my antagonist.
Chuck sucks in a hasty breath and then scurries off toward his wife.
I don’t realize I’m not breathing until Chuck is across the patio.
Jess pulls out my chair and holds it as I sit. To my surprise, he sits next to me.
“Can I ask what the hell that was all about?” he asks. “Not that I mind that we were married, Dream Girl.”
I give him a look that makes him chuckle.
“You two are entirely adorable,” Kerissa says, her arms crossed over her chest. “And if I didn’t know better, I’d think there was something going on between you.”
My cheeks heat.
“I’m getting closer,” Jess says, bumping my shoulder with his. “I’ve asked her out a million times. Somehow, we jumped over dating and marriage and went right to divorce, but I can work my way back.”