Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I felt guilty then and I feel it more so now, listening to her move around in her room, knowing I’m fantasizing about a girl I shouldn’t touch.
I almost kissed her last night in the kitchen. Where would we be now? In my bed?
We shouldn’t talk about relationships anymore. I shouldn’t keep bringing up Andrew.
Andrew.
I fling my blankets off and push to stand, stretch, and then head for the door. We’re supposed to start work soon, and if I’m late, Summer will have my head. She’s fierce, yes, but she’s also a pain in my ass.
I go into the bathroom, and she’s there, brushing her teeth. Her strawberry blonde hair is piled up on her head. Her nightshirt is just as I pictured it a moment ago: too short.
“Get out.”
She glares at me. “I’m almost done, you brute,” she says, the words barely discernible as she speaks around the side of her toothbrush.
“I need to pee.”
“Then pee.”
Fine by me.
I walk over to the toilet and am about to drop my pants when she squeals and darts out into the hall. “I was kidding!”
I kick the door closed with my foot and smile.
I’m done in a matter of seconds. I wash my hands then grab my toothbrush. She gets impatient.
“Are you almost done? I need to spit.”
The doorknob jangles and she pushes her way back inside.
I love this cottage. For years, it’s fit me perfectly. This sink has always done its job, but now with two people standing in front of it, hip to hip, it seems too small. I guess I could move. I should move, but then Summer’s leg wouldn’t brush mine. Our arms wouldn’t touch.
She leans over, runs the water, rinses her mouth. When she comes up, she smiles and shows off her teeth, as if she’s a kid proving she’s done. I expect her to leave, but she gets out a cosmetic bag filled with creams and mascaras and whatever else she seems to think she needs. I’m staring at her right now, fresh out of bed, and she’s stunning.
I finish brushing my teeth, and then I ask, “How long are you going to leave your bras and underwear hanging in the upstairs hallway?”
She rubs moisturizer onto her face and shrugs. “They weren’t dry when I went to bed last night.”
“Surely they’re dry now.”
Her eyes catch mine in the mirror. “Are your cheeks a little red?”
I prop my hands on my hips. The gesture is supposed to convey No more nice guy, but she doesn’t look the least bit worried. “Get that lacy black bra out of my hallway.”
“Or what?”
Or what?
I wet my lip, and I see her shiver. Summer, Summer, Summer. You’re not fooling anyone.
“Fine. I’ll clean them up. My, my, you’re extra moody this morning. Didn’t sleep well last night?”
I think of my shower…my long shower that only left me mildly satisfied. All those feelings from last night come rushing back in now. The tension between us didn’t die overnight; it grew teeth.
“What happened to the shy Summer? The nice quiet girl who showed up here at my doorstep begging me to let her stay?”
Her eyes spark. “You know, it’s funny. That’s the way I usually am, shy and quiet. Ask anyone. I’m not this person. You bring it out of me. The very worst.” She cocks her head and props her hands on her hips, matching my stance. “Proud?”
“Extremely.” I head her way, needing to get back out into the hall. She doesn’t move though, which means we’re chest to chest again, always too close. I look down at her, and she lifts her chin up in a show of defiance. For a brief moment, I let my gaze trail down her delicate neck to her collarbone peeking out of her loose nightshirt. She’s not wearing a bra, and I can see the effect I’m having on her, her body’s innate response to me. What a dangerous game, being this close. “I’m going into town today.”
“What about work?”
I can’t do it this morning. If I stay in this house with her, that nightshirt will come off. I’ll know the taste of her lips, and everything else. I’ll make her forget Andrew ever fucking existed. All before we’ve had our coffee…
“We’ll reconvene tomorrow,” I say, sliding around her so I can put distance between us.
“You’re not giving up, are you?” she calls after me. “We’re finally getting somewhere!”
She’s right, we are. I don’t usually like to stall momentum once I have it, but getting out of here is all I can think about right now.
“Tomorrow,” I promise.
I change quickly and grab my coat off the hook downstairs. It’s freezing out. The temperature somehow dropped even more last night. The sky overhead is overcast and gray. Even if there’s no snow in the forecast for today, there’s enough piled up outside to keep me from continuing work on the fence later.