“I do, but I like to jog too.”
He frowned. “You shouldn’t go jogging alone until this situation is resolved. I’ll go to the gym with you.”
I didn’t know how I felt about having a full-time babysitter, but I knew Rhett was only looking out for me and I didn’t think it would take the psycho-stalker too long to take the hint. “I guess that means I can’t go out with my girlfriends either, huh?”
He winced. “I know that sucks, but it won’t be forever, right?”
“Right.”
“So, about the sleeping arrangements?”
I pretended to consider my options. “Well, you’re not a blanket hog and you don’t snore. You get bonus points for that.”
He chuckled. “Good to know.”
“I’m always cold at night and your body is like a furnace. I like that too.” Yes, we’d spooned most of the night.
“Happy to oblige.” He rolled me over on my back, pinning my arms over my head as I giggled. “I guess there’s just one more thing we need to decide.” He bit his lip as his eyes zeroed in on my mouth. “Sex. On or off the table?”
I could be in deep trouble if we were living together, cooking together, eating together, shopping together, working out together, sleeping together, and having sex. That would be like a real relationship. And I’d never really had one of those. There’d been one guy in college, who liked to hang out in my dorm, but since I only had a single bed I always made him leave after we did the deed.
“How ‘bout we just play that one by ear.”
He dipped his head, licking my neck. He knew all my spots, and I knew he wasn’t above exploiting them to get what he wanted. The sexy bastard.
ChapterFour
Rhett
I kept telling myself having fun with Briar was a bad idea, but we’d spent the entire day together and I couldn’t help myself. She loved to tease me and could make me laugh like no one else. Being with her was seriously addictive.
We had passed by my house to pick up some of my stuff, gone grocery shopping, since Briar promised to make my favorite seafood pasta for dinner, and once I was satisfied we weren’t being followed, I dropped her off at Gia’s house so I could do a little birthday shopping. She didn’t know that, of course. I’d told her I was going to the office.
Just as I was headed into my favorite jewelry store, Drew called. I’d left a message for him earlier about arranging a birthday dinner for Briar, where I planned to pop the question in front of her friends and family. She’d cuss me out after the fact, for doing it in front of an audience, but I thought it would make things seem more legit if I laid it on thick.
Briar wasn’t the kind of girl who was swayed by romantic gestures. Another one of her quirks that I found amusing, so I knew she’d hate the public display of affection I had in store for her. I saw it as retribution for all the times she’d ghosted me.
“Drew, my man.” I was in a good mood, like a man in love, which I thought was convenient since I’d have to sell this to my best friend. “How’ve you been, buddy?”
“Uh, good.” He chuckled. “We just went out for beers a couple of days ago, remember?”
“That’s right, we did.” I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel. “So, I want to do something special for your sister’s birthday tomorrow night. You guys in?” Drew and Briar were tight, so I knew there was no way he’d let her down.
“Wait a second. You’re hosting a birthday party for my sister? Since when?”
This was the part of the plan I didn’t like. I’d never lied to my best friend before. But Briar was adamant she didn’t want her family to worry about her, so I couldn’t tell Drew the truth. Betraying Briar’s confidence wasn’t an option.
“So, you know your sister and I have always had this love-hate relationship.” I promised myself I’d lie as little as possible to sell this relationship, and given the way I felt about Briar, I didn’t think it would be a stretch for the people who knew us well to believe I’d fallen in love with her.
“Usually more hate than love, but okay.”
“Not lately.”
“What?”
I swallowed when the lines between fact and fiction got blurred in my mind. “We’ve been seeing each other.” Technically only last night and today, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Wait, what? Last I heard she was dating some guy named Dave.”
