“So,” she said, ticking off the allowances she was willing to make, “hand holding, an arm around me as long as your hand remains in a respectful position, and a peck on the cheek.”
He darted a glance at her mouth, and his chin lifted. “Lips.”
She shook her head. “Cheek.”
The spark lit his eyes again, and he opened his mouth to speak.
“These cheeks,” she said with an index finger poking both sides of her mouth.
He heaved another exaggerated sigh. “Is that it?”
“Other than these adjustments are only in the presence of your family?”
“Fine.” He pushed off the wall and made a shooing motion.
She took two steps and turned around. He hadn’t moved. “Aren’t you coming?”
He mumbled something that sounded like, “Probably,” then said, “Can you find your way back alone?”
“I think so, why?”
“Because, unless you want to take care of this—” He made an open V with his hands, aiming at the substantial bulge behind his fly. “—I need to.”
“Oh, I, um…” She licked her lips.
“That’s what I thought.” He did a one-eighty and strode down the hall.
“Where’s the bathroom?” she called after him. She really did need to pee.
“First door before you hit the entry,” he yelled back without stopping.
Jo found the bathroom and did her business and a quick check of her jeans to make sure they weren’t as wet as her panties. Thank God for small favors.
As she washed up, she looked at herself in the mirror. Tangled hair, flushed cheeks—the ones Avery might kiss later—and a rash of red where his scruff scratched her collarbone.
Well, that’ll clear up any doubts his mom had about us.
She giggled, then sobered. What the hell was wrong with her?
Making out in his parents’ house like a teenager? She’d never done that before. Never had a boyfriend until Chase. Never made out with him in his mom’s house or her dad’s. Never liked it as much as she had with Avery. She’d been high on lust, and he never even kissed her.
She snorted.Probably all that experience.
Maybe Brooke was right. And Viv. Why not take advantage of all that knowledge and experience? Surely, her first time should be worth remembering. Worth the cost. What was her virginity even worth anyway when she could have the big O? Or two or three?
“Sex is the devil’s game,” Grandma warned, “and if you play, the only thing you’ll win is a first-class ticket to hell.”
Do not pass go. Do not collect ten thousand. Yeah, yeah, I get it.
“But think of the education.”
Listen to you making excuses. Just admit you want him.
Okay, I want him.
It was only three more weeks. No time at all. No chance of falling in love. Not that a fuckboy like Avery had a chance in hell of swaying her cold, dead, armor-encased heart.
Heaven—and her grandma—knew she didn’t have a chance with his.
