Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“Hi, everyone,” I say, waving at both couples. “It’s great to see you again, Felicity.”
“And you too,” she answers with a smile. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see you and the chief together. As soon as Millie told me you were moving to the Cove permanently and needed a job, I knew fate was involved. Putting a sweet, beautiful girl like you close to Tyler was a stroke of genius. I know horn tooting is frowned upon, but in this case, I’m going to do it anyway. You make a beautiful couple.”
My eyes widen as her words sink in. I knew Millie was playing matchmaker after I met Tyler, but I had no idea Felicity was her cohort. My eyes dart to Tyler, hoping he isn’t upset the ladies were working on getting us together, but he’s grinning at Felicity like she just handed him a gift.
“I knew it,” he says, chuckling. “When Ashley showed up for work that first day, I realized neither of you had bothered to mention she was gorgeous.”
Sigh. Every time he says something positive about my appearance, I melt a little inside. I’ve never felt as attractive or as desired as I do with him. Not even close.
“But I didn’t start to truly suspect until about two weeks ago,” he continues.
“What gave us away?” Felicity asks.
“It was the policy manual. Everything else from that early is on a shelf or in a drawer—even important stuff about the town charter. The day Ashley started, I went looking for the manual to see if there was anything in there about interoffice dating. Lo and behold, it was sitting right next to my printer. I didn’t pick up on that at first, but a few weeks ago, it struck me as being entirely too easy to find. You knew I’d look, didn’t you?”
Felicity grins. “I figured I’d help you along by leaving the manual out where you could get it without having to search. You’re a good man, Tyler. I knew you’d check to make sure it wasn’t against the rules.”
“With Ashley’s qualifications and the fact that no policy against dating existed, it was a no-brainer to set it up so you’d see each other every day,” Millie points out.
“Proximity is one of the most important factors of a successful match,” Felicity declares.
“It’s true. Our club has found that to be essential. So far, it’s worked out for us every time,” Millie boasts.
This is the first time I’m hearing about them matchmaking as some kind of hobby. “Your club?” I ask.
Felicity shoots Millie an exasperated look. “Ixnay on details,” she tells her. “The first rule of our club is that we’re not supposed to talk about it.”
“So it’s like Fight Club,” Tyler jokes.
“It’s most definitely not like that,” Millie answers. “But Felicity is correct—we’re not supposed to talk about it unless we come to you for help, at which point you’re sworn to secrecy.”
“For real?” I ask, surprised they’re so secretive about whatever they’ve got going on.
“We never joke about matchmaking, dear. It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, but it’s worth the effort. Just look at you and Tyler. It’s worked like a charm.”
“I won’t argue with that,” Tyler agrees, looking down and smiling at me.
Right away, heat starts building inside me, and the look in his eyes tells me it’s the same for him. It’s been two weeks since we made love for the first time. You’d think in that time at least a little bit of the frantic need would’ve worn off, but quite the opposite has happened. I honestly had no idea a person could have—or want to have—as much sex as we do. If there’s a chance for us to get naked—or just naked enough—we do. Honestly, if it were possible, we’d have more. I’ve never felt anything like this.
“I see your friends have held a spot for you. That means it’s time to take your bedroom eyes and move on, children,” Millie says, her tone dry.
Embarrassed, I duck my head against Tyler’s shoulder, which is moving up and down with silent laughter. “Abe, Mr. Falls, ladies. We’ll see you around.”
“Bye,” I say softly, still blushing.
Once we’re out of earshot, I let out a mortified groan. “God, I feel like such a ho.”
Tyler throws back his head and laughs. “Babe, you’re not a ho.”
“I just thought about sex in front of the Andovers and the Fallses,” I whisper.
“Right in front of them like they’d be watching? I’m up for a lot of stuff, but that’s not on the menu.”
I shudder. “Don’t even joke about that.”
As embarrassed as I am that Millie caught me making goo-goo eyes at Tyler, it’s not like I can help it. Until him, I never knew it was possible to feel so passionate. I’ve been desperate to come before, but always at my own hand. The two guys I was with before—one in high school, one just after college—couldn’t get the job done. The foreplay could turn me on, but they were incapable of getting me over the line. To be fair, I was largely responsible for that, because I couldn’t get out of my head. Getting over the finish line was impossible with all the mental gymnastics I was constantly doing.