AllFreeNovel
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When we were kids, we didn’t get along. Each time I saw Brooke, my heart rate rose with irritation. Now it rose for a different reason. Heat, desire, and attraction. I wanted to get out of there and take advantage of the time I had with her.
The last week made it clear that if we wanted to pursue our friends-with-benefits arrangement, we needed to take advantage of every spare second I wasn’t working or spending time with Cammie.
Remi asked Gia how her event planning company was going. I’d learned at the meeting that Gia brought a lot of business to the related stores. She used Abby for photography, Max’s extra room for rehearsal dinners, Easton’s store for groom gifts, Lily for flower arrangements, and Sophie for cakes. That discussion didn’t really affect Brooke and me, so we were in our own little bubble.
“Are you having a good time?” Brooke turned on the stool to face me.
I’d never thought I’d describe spending any time with Brooke as good, but it was. “Yeah. I am.”
“You need to head home soon?” Brooke asked, her head tilted slightly.
“My parents have Cammie. She’s sleeping, but I can’t stay out too late. I like to get up early for a run and make her breakfast. Then I walk her to school.”
“I love that.” Emotion simmered in Brooke’s eyes, and I had the overwhelming desire to cup the back of her head and kiss her, but we were surrounded by people.
I raised a brow, wanting to know what she was thinking.
“Who knew single dads could be so sexy?” Brooke said in a low voice so no one around us could hear.
“You want to get out of here?” My voice was low and guttural. She’d said the word sexy, and something had misfired in my brain. I wanted her to myself.
“Yeah,” she said, her eyes round.
She grabbed her purse, which hung on a hook under the bar.
“I’ll walk you out,” I said to Brooke, acting like I was planning on walking her to her car and not taking her home.
Her friends got the hint and said their goodbyes. I shook Easton’s and Max’s hands, promising to stop by again soon. Apparently, the guys hung out on their own without the women sometimes. Not staying in touch with my high school friends, I was interested in making new ones. And the fact that they were business owners made it even better.
I followed Brooke out the door.
“You don’t think they guessed, do you?” Brooke asked when we were outside on the sidewalk.
“No.” I fell into step next to her.
“Good.”
I bumped shoulders with her. “Are you embarrassed by me, Langley?”
Her brow furrowed. “Of course not. I just don’t want everyone to know our business.”
“Same here.” I wanted to keep her to myself for as long as I could.
“Do you live close by?” It struck me then that I had no idea where she lived.
“I walked.”
“Let’s drive so I’ll have my car.”
I led her to my car and got inside. “Where to?”
“Take Dock Street to Greene.”
I was familiar with the area, so I easily followed her directions. It was close by. Just a few streets over from Main Street.
“You own this place?” I asked, pulling into a spot on the street.
“I’m renting. It’s so convenient for the shop. I’d hate to move, even though owning is a better investment.”
