Emma smiles, shooting me a knowing glance. I was sodistracted by Jason’s pecs, I didn’t even see her approach. “Feeling better about this blind date?”
“I’m feeling better about something.” Like the way I’m totally going to get laid in just a couple days’ time.
Sex is something I’ve never invested a ton of time and energy in, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting—and needing and getting—it on the regular. Men in New York are easy and uncomplicated when all you want from them is one night—no sleepovers allowed. And Jason is just my type, big and tall and not too chatty. Maybe one night in his bed is exactly what I need to get my head on straight.
Ben’s face flashes in my mind, for a mere second, putting the slightest of dampers on my fantasies of Jason and what he can do with those biceps. But I’m not going to let Ben ruin my good time.
Emma laughs before nudging me out of my sex haze. “Back to work, hot stuff, lunch rush will be here before you know it.”
I nudge her right back, but then jump into helping prep a batch of savory pastries, for the first time in a long time looking forward to what’s tocome.
12
I come home from a long day at the bakery and head directly to the bath. I’ve got full body prep to do—exfoliating, shaving, moisturizing—before my date with Jason if I want to be sexy time ready. I dump a whole bottle of lavender bubble bath into the tub in the hopes it will drown out the smell of vanilla, which now seems to be permanently embedded in my skin.
Rifling through my closet postbath, I sigh in frustration. Nothing hanging here is even remotely sexy. Not a single one of these damn dresses is form-fitting, and most of them don’t do much for me in the cleavage department either.
I close the closet door and shut my eyes, visualizing the kind of short, tight dress I want to wear on my date. Something bordering on scandalous, something that leaves little to the imagination and gives lots of hints as to what’s to come.
But when I open the door, I’m greeted with the same selection as before. I grunt in frustration and continue my digging. Finally, I decide to forgo the dresses altogether,pulling on the tightest pair of jeans I can find and pairing them with one of the camisoles that’s meant to be pajamas. It’s lacy and revealing and will let Jason know exactly what I’m expecting from this evening.
I haven’t seen Ben since before my date with Ethan, and given our proximity, I’m assuming that’s entirely purposeful on his part. Given how the other day I saw him peeking out his curtains as I walked up his front path only to hide behind them when I knocked on the door, I don’t really have to assume. I don’t know what the man wants from me. He didn’t want me to hurt Ethan, and I let him down as gently as humanly possible. And the feeling was mutual.
So I’m not sure what the holdout is.
And I’m not sure why I really care.
Other than I kind of miss having my friend around.
Because I thought we were becoming friends. I actually opened up to Ben and told him things. I thought he was on my side.
“Apparently not,” I mutter to myself as I close my front door, noting the empty porch next door.
“Apparently not what?” a familiar voice asks.
I spin around to find my phantom neighbor, waiting for me just outside my gate.
His eyes widen as they first meet mine and then travel south. His gaze rakes me over, from the loose waves of my honey-colored hair to my chest and all the way down. And I feel every inch of it. My face flushes and my breath quickens, and surely none of that is because of a simple look.
Ben clears his throat, yanking his eyes back up to mine. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” I stride past him out the gate, making my way toward the town square, where the concert will be held.
“Hot date?”
“Pretty sure you know the answer to that.”
Ben falls in step next to me. “You seem a little more excited about this one.” If I didn’t know better, I might think there was some kind of green-tinted emotion hiding in those seemingly innocuous words.
“Jason is much more my type than Ethan. This one might actually have some possibilities.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in love.”
I consider pretending for a second, but this wholelovesong and dance with Ben is getting a little tiring. “I believe in lust, Ben. Pure, unadulterated, let’s fuck on the first date lust.”
We reach the wide-open grass, where people are already starting to converge, laying down blankets and setting up chairs.
Ben halts near the outskirts. “Cam, I don’t think Jason is going to…”
