AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Tell me something real about yourself.”
“I’ve been telling you things about me for the past hour,” she replies.
“No, Olivia. You’ve been holding me on a fishing line just enough to keep me hooked, but not enough to reel me in. Tell me something real.”
She freezes and her eyes fly open with something like shock, but she manages to mask her expression in an instant. She’s good.
“You tell me somethingrealabout yourself first, then I’ll do the same,” she says.
“Fine. I have nothing to hide.” I think for a moment and then grin. “I’ve never slept with a woman.” Her mouth drops open, but after a few moments, she sends me a withering look.
“If you honestly think I’ll believe that, you’re about the stupidest man I’ve ever met.”
“It’s a fact.”
“Really?” Her words drip with scorn. “You come over and tell me you want to take me over to your — what? bachelor pad? — but you’ve never done that before?”
Man, I’m enjoying myself, and I can’t help but smile. My buddy Matt is definitely going to have to get another ride, because one way or the other I’m taking Olivia home with me.
“I’ve certainly donethatbefore. I’ve just neversleptwith a woman.”
Her glare turns to confusion. And I’m not going to help her figure out what I said. I want to see how smart she really is.
“Ah, so you’re a dine-and-dash sort of guy?” she finally asks.
“No. I always treat my women with the utmost respect. We do what we do together for the same reason — to feel good.”
“That’s so admirable. But you screw them and then immediately leave. I bet you have all sorts of hotel rooms on standby for thesespecialoccasions.”
“I wouldn’t characterize myself quite that way, but I do like a good night’s sleep. Alone,” I say before leaning closer. “And yet I have a feeling you might change my mind about that.”
There’s no need to talk about my last long-term relationship. I never slept over at her place, and she never slept over at mine, but that was mostly due to work schedules, and I must’ve known then that something wasn’t quite right.
Olivia’s silent for several heartbeats before she throws me a smile and leans toward me, our faces now only a couple of inches apart.
“I guarantee you if we were in bed together, even if you managed to stick around for a whole night, you’d have a good time, but not much sleep,” she says in a throaty purr that goes straight to my groin and leaves me aching in a way I haven’t ached since high school.
“Prove it.”
ChapterSix
Olivia
I take long, deep breaths in front of the restroom mirror. I’m in a battle to get my heart to quit racing. Those two words, those exact words he’d spoken to me seventeen years earlier, were too much for me to handle. I was unable to speak so I lurched from the table and ran.
“What’s wrong? What happened? Are you okay? Let me get you a washcloth.”
My friend Piper rushes through the door and is talking a mile a minute and not giving me a chance to answer. But I can’t answer yet anyway. I’m too frazzled. Piper hands me a cool cloth, and I press it to my forehead.
“Okay, I’m giving you exactly sixty seconds to pull yourself together and tell me what in the hell is going on. If I need to go kick that guy’s ass, I’m your girl. I’m officially a brown belt in karate now.”
The fact that Piper’s deadly serious yanks my mood around. For a moment I stare at her in surprise. Then I break into a broad smile and begin laughing uncontrollably.
“I’m starting to get really worried now, Livie. Seriously. If you don’t stop laughing and talk to me, I’m going to have to call the paramedics,” Piper says, folding her arms across her chest and impatiently tapping her foot. “Or maybe the guys who will fit you with a straitjacket.”
“I’m so... so sorry Piper. You’re the best friend any girl could ever have, and I love you so much. Thank you,” I say between fits of laughter.
“Yeah, yeah, you’re my bestie too,” Piper snaps. “Now, tell me what’s going on. I mean it, Livie. I’m serious!”
