Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
“That’s up to our landlords,” I reminded him.
We lived in the bungalow Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn bought Derek’s sophomore year when Evan and he were looking for post-dorm accommodations near campus. They wanted Derek to live in a safe neighborhood, but they also wanted an attractive asset for their portfolio. The two-bedroom, one-bath house was quaint with mid-century features, like original hardwood flooring and arched doorways. The kitchen had been updated, but the bathroom hadn’t. It wasn’t really an issue, though. We lived a couple of blocks from the beach and had a kickass backyard in a desirable section of town. And while we paid rent, we were getting the sweet family deal.
It might be time to think about moving. Our bank accounts would hate us, but we weren’t students anymore.
Derek set the container on the coffee table. “True, but I think my mom would like the tile. She’s coming by to check out the bistro on Sunday. I’ll give her a tour, show her the tile, and weasel out of accepting her investment offer by—”
“Offering her tile? Listen to yourself, Der. You’re a no-nonsense guy in every aspect of your life…except when it comes to your mom.” I reached for his foot, massaging it to keep the sting out of my words. “Just tell her you don’t want her to invest in the bistro. Or do you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t, but I don’t want family drama either. I can just see some big blowup going down before the holidays and the grand opening. My nerves can’t deal.”
“Okay.” I tossed the cushions on the floor and motioned for him to lie beside me on the sofa. He eyed me warily but obeyed.
Derek propped himself on his elbow and squeezed my ass. “What’s on your mind?”
“You.”
“Are you worried I’m gonna go nuts?” he joked.
I made a funny face, then nodded. “A little. You’re handling a lot of the remodel on your own. I’m not much of a business partner so far.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re the best business partner! You helped with the finance stuff, choosing the right contractor, and you helped hire a few waiters.”
I snorted. “They’re college students and water polo players. As long as you don’t expect them to memorize the menu in French, they should work out okay.”
“They’ll be fine. And the eye candy alone will be worth dealing with ‘dude’ speak. ‘Dude, want some water? Ready to order, dude? We’ve got some epic specials today.’ ”
His Cali surfer accent was on point. I chuckled softly. “I’m sure you’ll whip them into shape.”
“Not me. I’m delegating. We need to hire a manager. Maybe just part-time to start. I have a lead on a guy who’s an acquaintance of Phoenix’s. We’ll get more info when we meet up this weekend. Did I tell you I’ve got Nix and Mitch helping me with design and marketing?”
“No, but I figured they’d insist.”
“We have a lot of friends who’ve offered help. It’s really cool. Did your mom tell you she wants to be one of my cooks?”
I widened my eyes comically. “Really? I guess I’m not surprised, but don’t feel like you have to take her up on it. I’m wary of having too much family in the mix.”
“Your mom is easy. And she’s a great cook. My mom is the tricky one, and I officially don’t want to talk about this anymore.” He made a funny face, then narrowed his gaze. “So, tell me about that last play of the game again. Sounds exciting. Was it a cross-cage shot or—you’re not mad, are you?”
“Mad? No, but I don’t want her calling the shots. This is yours and—”
“Ours,” he corrected.
I nodded. “Ours. We don’t need their money, Der. But they’re your parents and I know they’re not easy, so I’m not going to jump in and make this more complicated than it has to be. But I need you to know that we’re gonna be fine. We’re smart, we have connections, experience, a business loan, and a lot of good will. Best of all, we have each other. I’m here for you, and I’ll do everything in my power to support you and make sure you succeed. We’re gonna be just fine, baby.”
Derek gave me a dreamy smile that made me feel ten feet tall. “Fuck, I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” I pulled him against my chest and pressed my lips to his.
We made out on the sofa, in a tangle of limbs and tongues, savoring each other. I could smell the soap from the shower he’d taken when he got home and taste the hint of chocolate ice cream on his lips. He was delicious. I loved the feel of him under me…his taut abs, muscular thighs, and the swell of his erection. I slipped my fingers under the elastic of his workout shorts and boxer briefs, sat up, and pulled the fabric over his cock. He gripped himself and met my gaze.