Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“They sound like douches. What did you tell them?” I do my best to sound nonchalant. “Interested?”
Logic tells me she’s not. In fact, she doesn’t seem interested in any man, me included. Because some other guy who apparently couldn’t keep his pants zipped burned her, so she finds me “refreshing?” Maybe. But one thing I do know? Since we met, Bethany hasn’t acted like a duplicitous criminal mastermind. She works hard, does her job, and refuses to fraternize. Then I take her home alone because Ash seems glued to Montana these days. During the drive, I try to coax her to open up to me…but it’s as if the bit she confided the other night scared her from revealing more.
I’m hoping tonight will be different.
The last hour leading up to midnight is particularly grueling. Everyone wants a fresh round to toast the new year. Champagne bottles come out of the chiller, bubbly gets poured, glasses get raised. As people start the last ten seconds of the countdown, accompanied by a tape-delayed feed on the TV from Times Square, Bethany drops her tray on the bar, grabs herself a glass of water, and takes a sip.
“Five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year!” the crowd shouts.
Beside us, Ash leans across the bar to mack on Montana. I look away—and my stare locks on Bethany. Around us, everything is pandemonium. Everyone is kissing, their lip locks somewhere between joyous and passionate. Between us, the air is suddenly and completely still.
The urge to lay my mouth over hers storms my brain. Can she read my thoughts? I don’t know. She just gazes back, unblinking. What she’s not doing? Putting distance between us.
I swallow. My blood surges. My cock flares to life.
Yes, I want this to be the year I get retribution for my dad. On the other hand, what if Bethany is innocent?
Is that even possible…or is that simply my libido negotiating with my head because I want her?
“Happy New Year,” she murmurs softly.
“Happy New Year.”
Ash elbows me. “Ring in the New Year right. Kiss her!”
I don’t dare. If I start, I’m afraid I’ll back her against the bar and seduce her into wrapping her legs around me so I can unzip, and we can get busy.
Finally, I settle for cupping her shoulder. It’s friendly without being flirty, right? It’s also not enough. Not nearly. Without conscious thought, I shuffle closer, lean in. I’m shocked when Bethany does the same. My heart kicks my ribs. Holy shit, is this going to happen?
Breath held, I bend to her, my face inches above hers. She bites her lip, clearly wavering and unsure. But breathless. Damn it, she looks as if she wants me to kiss her. How can I? Yet how can I fucking refuse when I want to so badly?
Her pouty, rosy lips lure me closer. My body is on autopilot. I keep leaning in, moving closer and closer, heart thundering. Anticipation buzzes under my skin.
I close the distance. But just before I brush my lips across hers, she turns her head. My lips glide across her soft cheek. I inhale her light, sugary scent, then jerk away in disappointment. In frustration. I’m full of recriminations, even though not kissing her is for the best.
Fuck, I need to get my head together. I also need to lighten the mood between us.
“Back to work for me,” I quip as I somehow find the will to step back. “I’ll get those drinks you asked for.”
“Thanks,” she murmurs, then gulps down the last of her water nervously before bustling to a nearby table to pick up empty glasses and cash out their tab.
Over the next two hours, the crowd thins quickly. A little after two a.m., Andy locks up while the staff collectively groans in exhaustion.
“Good job, everyone. Beth, Clint, Samantha? I’ll see you guys on Tuesday. Enjoy your day off.”
“See you.” I wave at him.
Predictably, Ash tosses me his car keys and disappears with Montana again.
When I look for Bethany, she’s standing at the far end of the overhang and tapping on her phone.
“Ready to head home?”
She hesitates. “I’m sure you’re way too tired to drive me. Maxon volunteered—”
“Are you bailing because of what didn’t happen between us tonight?”
For a moment, I think she’s going to demur, but she finally nods. “I didn’t mean to…”
Get that close to me. As much as her last-minute cold shoulder grated on me, I’m glad now it happened. I don’t need my head clouded by Bethany. I still have a million and one problems. Fixating on how much I want to fuck her won’t help.
“It’s cool,” I downplay our almost-kiss. “Look, we’re friends, right? It would have just been a friendly New Year’s peck in the moment. It wouldn’t have meant anything.”
A little frown steals across her face. “Sure. And nothing personal, but I have a lot happening in my life right now. I don’t need anything romantic. Not that you see me that way. I’m older than you, after all.”