“Six?”Wow. I lean back against the small sofa across from her, sipping my Coke and nodding. “What’s so special about that number?”
“I don’t know. It felt like a good, round number.” Shesquirms, and I do my best to maintain my no-judgment vibe.
“Okay…”
“I figured we’d go on a date a week, and if six weeks isn’t long enough… I mean, that’s almost two months!”
“It is.” I nod.
“But he doubled up.”
“Doubled?”
“More like tripled,” she huffs. “He took me to art openings, outdoor concerts, picnics…”
“Picnics are free.”
“Then when we got to six, he was very…” She leans against the bed again, squeezing her hands on the top of her knees. “So I slept with him. And I never heard from him again.”
“Hmm…” It’s a low growl in my throat, and now I really want to find this guy.
Gina’s shoulders rise, and she covers her face with her hands. “I know—I did it to myself, whereas if I’d just put out on the first or second date, I could’ve saved myself all that time and effort and embarrassment.”
“You don’t really think that’s the right answer, do you?”
She shakes her head, dropping her hands and looking down. “I don’t know. Maybe I do? Maybe I’m just not?—”
“Hey.” Leaning forward, I catch her chin in my thumb and forefinger. “Look at me, Gina.”
She stills, blinking those pretty green eyes up at me. The scent of cherries drifts around us, and all I can think of is how again, I want to kiss her so badly.
Only this time, I don’t want to stop at her lips.
“You are so much more than you know. Any guy who can’t see that is a fucking asshole.”
9
GINA
Heat flashes in my chest, racing up my neck, all the way to my cheeks.
Owen Stone holds my face with the tips of his fingers, leaning closer so his scent of soap and cedar permeates my brain, and I have never had such a strong attraction to anyone in my life.
“How can you say that?” I laugh softly, doing my best to grab the reins on my racing heart. “We hardly know each other.”
“I see you. You take care of everyone at your house, the dogs. You help everyone with their special projects… You’re really great Gina.”
“Thank you,” I say, flustered and looking down.
Tilting my iced tea to the side, I wish it were something stronger. Maybe some purple drink?
“This is such a crazy place.” He pushes off the floor, collecting our garbage and carrying it to the small bin.
The muscles in his tight ass flex with every step, and Iremember his bare chest from the photo shoot, broad, Iined, scattered with light brown hair. I remember him standing in the hall completely nude, penis erect, and I cross my legs in an attempt to cool these burning feelings for him.
“I wonder if you’re right, and he’s putting on an act.” Owen turns around, and I gulp a breath, hoping he can’t tell the way I was ogling him just now.
His blue eyes narrow, and he returns to where I’m sitting.
