Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“She’s always been so irresponsible,” he mumbled, tucking his phone back inside his pocket. Chae burst out with laughter as the guys’ fight began to encroach on us. Josh was trying to stop the brawl by lifting Hunter off J.J. and carelessly tossing him to the side. He landed with a thump, rolling close to us. Hunter was up and on his feet within seconds, doing a free dive back into the center of the guys. His resolve to fight to the death, earned an even louder cheer.
“I’ll let y’all handle this. I’m gonna go get a beer and see what’s goin’ down,” Chae said. “I don’t imagine either of you drinks too much. Especially not him,” she added and patted a palm on Dash’s chest before walking away backward. “If you need a ride, Beau, tell me quick. Otherwise, I refuse to be the DD again tonight.”
Here I was, staring at Dash the dashing, who stared right back at me.
Instinctually, I knew this moment was pivotal to my life. My senses warned that he was into guys, and he knew I was too. Since I’d never told another living person about this chaos inside me, I didn’t understand.
The corners of his lips quirked up, the smile taking my heart.
I guessed I was riding home with him.
“I saw you on the road today.”
Surprisingly, with Chae gone, I became less defensive, lifting my arm to see the sloppily applied bandage. “Not my finest moment. It wasn’t too bad though. I survived the antiseptic.”
“Good,” he said, grinning broadly. “Did we stop you from using nature’s bathroom?” Dash swept a hand out to the patch of trees in a quick, graceful move. My gaze followed the sweep, taking in the muscular bicep and defined forearm. His hand didn’t appear to have calluses. When understanding replaced concentration, I chuckled.
“Honest answer?”
“Absolutely,” he chimed back.
“No. I was in a turn-and-burn escape.” My hand went to my head again, dislodging my ball cap. I was still nervous. “This isn’t really my thing. I’m more of an introvert. There’s too much happenin’ here. I usually stick to myself.”
“I’m the same. Joy forced me here. Our family was having dinner together…” Dash stopped, shaking his head. Frustration laced his next words. “I didn’t want to come, but it was decided for me. It seems a lot is decided for me these days.”
Of course, I didn’t understand but I didn’t need to.
Our gazes locked. Not awkwardly. I never wanted to look away. Slowly, his smile tilted up. “I take it all back. I’m glad I followed along. It’s nice to meet you.”
A couple of quick assessments to this point.
For whatever reason, Beau gave off a skittish vibe. Did that only have to do with me? Or maybe a personality trait? Either way it complicated my desire to have a quick commitment for a long-lasting relationship. It also made it hard to throw down right here, right now, and make out with the guy.
Even under all this intense physical attraction, I instinctively knew he mattered more than sex. He needed me. Which was weird for me to consider. I was inherently a self-centered guy.
I couldn’t look away as I fisted my hands, itching to reach out and touch him. I needed to take my time. Go slow.
Clearly, confidence came easy to me, but as the stars aligned, I saw my future as more than just the baby son of the wealthy Jackson Richmond. Beau gave me a sense of purpose I didn’t understand. In what? Who knew? I’d figure it out as we went.
“Do you live around here?” I asked.
He shook his head and stuffed his fingers inside his front jeans pockets, stretching the material. I fixed my gaze on his eyes, instead of where they wanted to look. It didn’t come easy. “No. Well, yes, a few miles away. Maybe three, probably four, could be five.”
“You don’t drive?” I asked.
“I’m not old enough. Next year.”
“So you’re fifteen?” Which had to be the obvious answer. “I’ll be sixteen on July fourth.”
“Today’s my birthday so I have exactly a year to go before I drive.” Whatever held Beau at a distance, lightened in his grin. My heart stuttered, fluttering frantically around my chest. After having such a powerful reaction to a smile, I wasn’t sure I heard the rest of his explanation. “I guess this is my birthday party.”
I said the only thing that came to mind. “Happy Birthday. Good party, but it’s not as amazing as the party our country club puts on for me…”
His smile turned into a quiet chuckle, and I was utterly captivated.
“I don’t really want to be here. I can take you home now if you wanna go.”
Beau’s face read like an open book. The uncertainty was back. He glanced over his shoulder at the party, leaving me to stare shamelessly at his profile.