Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
I shrug. “Sheesh. I was just trying to be complimentary.”
“Well don’t.”
We both wave when Stella arrives with her father, John McKinnon. He also happens to be Brody’s father, but there’s a huge age difference between the half siblings. Which, in a weird little twist, makes Stella Juliette’s aunt.
Since they’re the same age and grew up together, they’re more like cousins. Stella is besties with Riggs, one of the guys on the team, and attends most of the games along with the hockey parties.
Juliette nudges me just as the action is about to get underway. “Hey, isn’t that your stepfather?”
My gaze slides around the packed stands until it lands on Crawford. I pop to my feet and wave, knowing how much it’ll mean to Ford that his dad came to support him. As soon as he sees me, a wide smile breaks out across his face.
“Who’s the older guy and girl with him?”
That’s the exact moment I realize Crawford isn’t alone. It doesn’t take long for recognition to crash over me. Peter Bowman, his business partner. And the younger woman with sable-colored hair at his side is Jaclyn, his daughter. We’ve worked together in the office over the summers. We got along well enough and grabbed lunch most days. This isn’t the first game they’ve attended, but it’s been a while. Probably years. The reason for their sudden appearance at the arena hits me like a ton of bricks.
My eyes narrow.
Didn’t Ford mention the other night that his dad is trying to hook him up with Peter’s daughter?
That’s all it takes for a tight fist to wrap around my heart until sucking in a full breath becomes impossible.
As they draw closer, I keep my smile pasted in place. I hug Crawford and shake hands with Peter. Jaclyn is busy glancing around the large space with interest. She’s wearing a bright red jacket with a soft, inky-colored knit hat. Both her hair and makeup are perfect. It looks like she’s been airbrushed.
She squeals before throwing her arms around me and hugging me tight like we’re long-lost sisters. Both teams take their place on the ice and the puck gets dropped. Movement explodes as the centers fight for possession. Her eyes light up as Crawford points out his son.
I can’t help but gnash my teeth before resettling in my chair.
It quickly becomes apparent that Jaclyn knows absolutely nothing about hockey as she peppers him with a ton of questions throughout the first and second periods. It’s equally obvious from her over-the-top reactions that she’s onboard with the idea of being set up with Ford.
Then again, what girl in her right mind wouldn’t be?
From the corner of my eye, I take Jaclyn in for a second time.
She’s totally his type.
Pretty with big boobs. And from what I remember, she loves to party.
These two are a match made in construction company heaven. They can have little Hamilton-Bowman Construction Company babies.
Ugh.
That thought gnaws at my insides and is enough to make me sick with jealousy.
And I hate it. Hate that he’s able to affect me this way. I shouldn’t care who Ford sleeps with or dates. I don’t want to feel anything where he’s concerned.
And yet…I do.
That realization is enough to rob the air from my lungs.
Why now?
Why is this happening now?
We’ve spent the past three years attending the same university, and I’ve been so good about keeping him at arm’s length. Even when I discovered that we were next door neighbors.
I made it a priority to steer clear and for the most part, my efforts worked.
Family dinners with Crawford have been more sporadic during previous years. This fall, he’s tried to set aside time on a weekly basis for the three of us to get together.
Instead of getting lost in the action unfolding on the ice, I continue to stew, barely paying attention when goals get scored. It’s almost a shock when the buzzer rings throughout the arena signaling the end of the game.
“Damn. That was a real nailbiter,” Juliette says. “Didn’t you think so?”
I glance at the scoreboard to see that the Wildcats won by a single goal.
“Definitely,” I say lightly, not wanting to admit that I’ve been stuck inside my head for the past three hours.
How embarrassing.
Not to mention pathetic.
For just a moment, I stare at my bestie and contemplate telling her about Ford’s offer. My plan before the game had been to turn him down flat and then avoid him for the foreseeable future.
Now however…
My gaze reluctantly shifts to Jaclyn as she reapplies her lipstick before giggling at something Crawford said.
Christ…is she’s seriously flirting with a man her father’s age?
This girl has no shame.
That’s the moment I realize that my plans have taken a one-eighty. A mixture of nerves and excitement explodes at the bottom of my belly.
It’ll be just like he said—no-strings attached sex.