Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Oh, so more shirtless Brody O’Ralley for marketing? I think Isaac would be happy to help.”
“Apparently, it’s a bit of a competition which O’Ralley will be stripping for the brand, but…pretty much that idea.”
He laughed. “That sounds fun.”
“So you think he can make some space in his schedule for us?”
“Of course. He just ran off to the store to grab some tools to help me with this, but I’ll get him to text you about it when he gets back.”
“Good. Then we can go ahead and schedule a date night for us this weekend.”
He froze for a moment, as though it took his brain a moment to process what I’d said. Then he smiled. “Oh, you’re asking me on a date?”
“You’re the one who said you’re in love with me.”
“That’s not what I said. I said I like you.”
“You said, ‘I’m not saying I’m in love with you or anything.’ And I think we both know that’s something only a person who’s kinda in love would say.”
“Or someone who’s very good at being clear about where he’s at, and like is the best word for it. In strong like, but like.”
“Strong like sounds like the exit you get off at a couple of miles before the exit for love.”
“But you can stay at one exit for days…weeks…years, before ever getting to that next exit.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “This is so mean of me, calling you out on how hard you’re falling for me. But don’t worry. I’m getting some feelings for you too. Feels hot, almost burning.”
“That’s probably something you need to get checked out before we mess around again.”
“Face it, Cozies, I’m helping save you the heartache of fearing the rejection of asking me on a date.”
“Am I being tricked into a date?”
“Depends…do you like being tricked?”
I winked at the reference to his previous remark about tricking, and he rolled his eyes, unable to keep that chuckle in. “I’m supposed to be the cocky top here.”
“You can be the cocky top until I decide to show you what a cocky top really looks like.”
He couldn’t have grinned any harder if he’d tried, I just knew it. “I can feel the hate our ancestors had for each other right now.”
“Well, save some of it for our date tonight, then.”
“Is that when you’re gonna show me these topping skills?”
“Depends on how the date goes, I imagine. I’m a Southern gentleman, so I gotta take good care of you…before I take care of you.”
“Oh, wow. So you’re taking me on this date, but I’m pretty sure under the circumstances, I’m the one who’ll be hosting.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan,” I admitted.
“What if I say no? That I don’t want to date this cocky asshole O’Ralley, for all the obvious reasons.” It was clear by his expression he was just teasing, and I fucking loved the way he teased.
“Then you can text me and let me know how it feels to be alone when you’re all in love with a guy who’s just trying to ease your pain by dating you.”
“Oh, now it’s to ease my pain too? Wow. You’re the most generous man in the world, aren’t you? And again, strong like…but fading with each new dick comment you make.”
“Or is it getting stronger, like you’re getting closer to that next exit?”
He narrowed his gaze, shaking his head, as I moved closer to him. He slipped his arm around my waist effortlessly, and that let me know all this tit-for-tat was just in good, hot fun.
“So what did you have in mind for this date in my home this weekend?”
“You’ll only find out if you say yes.”
“Then yes, but just out of curiosity and not at all because of my like for you.”
“Perfect,” I said before taking another kiss of his warm, wet lips, but not granting myself too much time with them.
No, I was gonna save that for when we really had time again.
But as soon as I pulled away, he said, “Wait. What? That’s it?”
“For now.”
“Okay, so we’ll chat and see each other…say, this Saturday night, around seven?”
“Works for me, Cozies.”
“Guess we can catch up on whatever Isaac’s helping you guys with, and then I’ve had some ideas—”
“Nah. We’ll have another meeting for that.”
“Meeting?”
“Yeah. Sure. The date’s just us. Clearly, I gotta train you not to mix business with pleasure.”
“Oh, now you’re training me?”
“Only if you like being trained,” I said, winking again. “Text you later.” I waved goodbye and headed out.
God, I was smiling like the biggest fool. I had a feeling I knew which exit was coming up next for me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Cohen
It was ridiculous to be nervous about a date. That hadn’t happened to me in…hell, ever, to be honest. Because it had never really mattered before, but this one did. Probably more than I was ready to admit.
Fucking Brody O’Ralley and his stupid grin and adorable jokes and…fuck, I was so close to that damn exit he’d mentioned, I didn’t want to think about it. Even the metaphor made me grin like a damn fool—one who had no business feeling much of anything, considering we could only go on a date in my house, because we lived in a made-for-TV movie where everyone in town had their eyes on us and Brody’s family would never accept me.