Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
As she packed up the van, returned it, and then went home to change for her shopping trip, Mila was pulsing with need and desire and want. She could still taste Herschel—his lips, the brushy feel of his moustache, which she’d thought she’d hate but had actually kind of liked. She could feel his body against hers, and one very prominent part of his body had made it very clear that he was seriously interested in her.
She changed into a dress that was easy to pull on and off, and heels, so shopping for a dress suitable to wear as Tessa’s bridesmaid would be easy. The three women had great fun checking out the boutiques in town, refusing Tessa’s suggestion that they at least take a peek in the thrift stores. They agreed on a sea shade of turquoise, and then Tessa insisted that Erin and Mila choose different dresses in the same color palette. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re matching dolls,” she explained.
This was great news, as Mila and Erin were different in size, shape, and complexion. Mila found a great dress at her favorite boutique, and a couple of stores later, Erin found a dress cut more to her style in a nearly identical color. They both fell in love with silver heels at the shoe store, and they were done.
It was a laughing group who went out for a drink to celebrate. Then Erin had to go, as she had an event to cover for the Sea Shell. Tessa was meeting Arch, and so Mila found herself alone on a Saturday night. She hadn’t wanted to talk about Hersch with Erin and Tessa, but her mind had been distracted.
Now she walked around her house in a daze. She put away her new purchases and ate some dinner. She lifted some weights and did some squats until her body was pretty much screaming at her. TV couldn’t hold her attention. Same with a book Erin had pressed on her. Finally, she checked her watch. It wasn’t that late. She texted Erin.
You still awake?
The answer came back almost immediately. Just reading a novel. What’s up?
She called her sister and said, “Picture this. Me, looking very fine if I do say so myself, with a gorgeous man who I’ve been eyeing up and down.”
“Herschel Greenfield,” Erin said, as though it was obvious. Her sister saw way too much.
“Right. And I can tell he’s totally into me, and I’m totally into him. We had dinner to celebrate the deal on his house going through.”
“Aha,” Erin said, sounding triumphant. “Not the traditional gift basket, then?”
Mila rolled her eyes. “Anyway. We go for a beautiful, romantic dinner. His idea, I might add. But instead of ending the evening with a kiss, he just switches off when I say the check is on the company, and then we part ways.”
Erin sighed. “That’s pretty similar to how this chapter of my novel ended. They missed the moment.”
“Yeah, but my life isn’t a romance novel, Erin, and I’m used to dinner ending in something a little more… hot. And satisfying. It was like I didn’t even get past the prologue.”
She’d expected shock and horror from her sister that her hot date hadn’t ended in a kiss. What she hadn’t expected was a loud peal of laughter. She laughed so hard and so long that Mila nearly hung up.
“What is so amusing?”
Erin had to gasp, and then Mila could hear her taking a sip of water. She could picture her sister, red in the face, tears running down her cheeks. So not the reaction she’d been going for.
“I’m sorry. It’s just so funny. I cannot believe a man actually didn’t take the first opportunity to jump you. Has that ever happened in your whole life?”
She was pretty sure it hadn’t. “Beside the point. Because we did kiss. Just a few hours ago.”
“Why didn’t you say? I thought you were acting strange when we were shopping.”
“I didn’t want to talk boy trouble when Tessa’s all loved up.”
“So. You kissed.”
“Yeah.”
She decided to leave out the details about Hersch and the water. He had trusted her with his deepest fear, and Erin didn’t need to know what they’d been doing when the kiss happened.
One of the things she liked about Erin, and probably the reason she’d called her, was that she didn’t rush into speech. She took a moment to think things through. Funny. Hersch did that too.
Finally, Erin said, “How was the kiss?”
“Imagine fireworks, the greatest surf ride of your life, and the best chocolate in the world, all wrapped into one.”
“That good,” Erin breathed.
“Better. And yet, I walked away. He was going to take it further, and I just couldn’t go there. I had to meet you two, but I didn’t even suggest we get together tonight. I felt thrown off course.”