AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Does that work?” Becca wrinkles her nose.
“Let’s just say this one has been around the world,” she jerks her thumb toward Deacon, “without leaving Katah Vista.”
“Tiff.” Deacon puts a hand over his heart. “Don’t sell me short. I’ve been around the world at least twice.”
We all know he’s exaggerating, but for a second I swear Tiff flinches. Then it’s gone and her typical smile is back as she addresses Becca. “Deacon has a medical condition that gives him Blue Balls if he isn’t Balls Deep in a Tight Snatch bringing Death to a Virgin at least five days a week. Was that better?” She blinks innocently at Deacon, whose jaw is hanging open.
“Four drinks. Nice.” I give her a fist bump before she bounces off then turn to look at my burned friend over Becca’s head. “Andthatis why Lennon doesn’t want us playing dirty drinks in front of her. She’s gonna take your title soon.”
Shit! Becca. I risk a look at her, expecting to find a scowl of disgust on her usually happy face, only to find her nose buried in her phone. “What are you doing?”
“Looking up drinks. I’m going to school you both in this game.” If that comment didn’t come from underneath a mop of pink hair, I’d have thought it was straight from one of the guys.
I haven’t seen this competitive side of her, but it makes my chest swell with pride as it sends a jolt of lust straight to my balls.Fuck me.How am I supposed to work side-by-side with someone I admireandwant to sleep with? Again.
Deacon arches an impressed brow and looks at her phone over her shoulder. “This one should be your signature drink.” He points at the screen.
“Pink Pany Dropper. No points for originality, but at least it looks refreshing.”
I choke back a laugh as Deacon worms his way into the seat on the other side of Becca, which turns out to be a good thing since it makes things between her and I lessintimate. Even though we’re using dirty drink names to make ridiculous sentences.
Eventually, our conversation turns to the bike park, and we tell Deacon about our plan to build at least one green run before the summer ends. I had hoped that little teaser wouldn’t get him too excited—there’s still a lot that needs to fall perfectly into place to meet that timeline—but Becca’s amped and he picks up on it. Only I’m not sure it’s purely his excitement that has him hanging on her every word.
Becca isn’t just beautiful in a casual, sporty kind of way, she lives and breathes biking, something most girls around here don’t do. That combination is highly appealing, and I’m pretty sure if she weren’t here with me Deacon would be making a move. Hell, he might do it anyway, thinking my hands are tied since she’s my boss. And I don’t like that one bit.
What’s worse, Deacon isn’t the only guy I’ll have to worry about, he’s just the most forward. Every single guy in town will be drawn to a gorgeous woman who can throw down on a bike, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it unless I want to risk things with Jace, which I absolutely don’t want to do. How is this my life right now?
A few weeks ago, I felt grateful for the experience of meeting and sleeping with each one of them, separately. Now, I’m wondering how much it will hurt Becca to find out I’ve chosen Jace.
Wait a minute. She won’t even know that, because no one does. No one will unless I come out of the closet, which I’ll do if things with Jace keep going the way they are. Until then, Becca’s probably going to think I just don’t wanther, which makes me sort of sick to my stomach.
Maybe being lonely was better, or at least it was less complicated.
Once we’re done eating, Deacon heads off to The Underground, scouting for a hookup no doubt, although he promises to keep an eye out for Ryder since I’m sort of working.
I’ve barely seen my childhood best friend over the last week or so since my personal and professional life have suddenly become complicated, and I feel pretty shitty about that since his life came to a screeching halt about the same time. I make a mental note to check on him as soon as possible to see how he’s doing without his brother as I settle the bill.
Outside, Becca and I make our way to the bus stop—the one she needs to head back to the resort is a different line than the one that goes to my house—and I’m hoping being on separate routes will make this a quick goodbye.
“You know which bus to take back to the resort, right?” I ask her as we take seats on a bench to wait.
“I do, although I was sort of thinking I didn’t have to go there right away.” She bites her lip in the most adorable way, and I have to grip the slats on the seat beneath me to keep from leaning toward her and taking it between my teeth.
Bracing for the worst, I take a cautious breath, which is probably the worst thing I could do.
“You don’t feel the same.” Her chest deflates as her gaze drops to the ground.Shit.
Knowing it’s a risk, I loosen my grip on the bench and stretch my arm out, brushing my fingertips under her chin so she has to lift her head and meet my eyes. “Please don’t think that. It’s just… you’re my boss now, and I want this job as much as you do. I don’t want to cross any lines that shouldn’t be crossed.”At least that’s partly true.
“Didn’t we already do that?” she whispers.
“We could make that argument, but I’m not sure we should. We both have a lot riding on our jobs.” The fact that our mutual boss, Carter, is dating a woman who used to work for him could come back to bite me since it suggests workplace romances are okay, but he is the friggin’ owner of the resort and I’m not. That’s what I’ll say if she calls me on it.
“I guess that makes sense.” Her shoulder rises listlessly. “And since we pretended to be strangers earlier today it would be awkward to try to explain we had a prior…whatever it was.”
I’m both relieved and disappointed she’s agreeing with me. But this is the right thing to do, and since I’ve already made a commitment to Jace it’s the only solution. Still, I can’t let her think that night wasn’t important to me.
“It was incredible, Becca. One of the best nights of my life. Don’t let the conflict we have now taint the memory of what we shared then.”
