Harper was on the edge of her seat, waiting for me to continue. “What happened?” Her eyes were wild with anticipation.
“We sort of had phone sex.” I covered my face with both hands, embarrassed, but then peeked through my fingers to see her reaction.
Her head fell back in laughter. “How do you sort of have phone sex?”
“Okay, we had phone sex, and oh my God, Harper, it was the hottest thing I’ve ever done. I was in the bath, and we were flirting a bit through text after having a particularly sexually charged lunch. One thing led to another, and he called me. He had this deep, sexy, commanding voice I’d never heard before and told me what to do to myself, and before I knew what was happening, I was having the best orgasm of my life.” I fanned my face because just talking about it got me worked up all over again.
“Damn, girl. He got you off with his voice and instruction alone? You have got to go try him out in person. He’s got to be one hell of a fuck.” She laughed. “So, what’s happened sincethat night? Has he made any moves?”
“He helped me move some furniture over to the new farm, and we took the horses out for a trail ride. We always have easy, good conversations, but he hasn’t tried anything since. Probably my fault though. I acted completely unfazed, like nothing happened between us, the following day. Do you think he regrets the phone sex? Maybe he isn’t attracted to me now, because I acted like I didn’t care and he sees me more as a friend?” I sighed heavily and laid my body across the countertop dramatically in defeat. “I didn’t know how to act around him. I’ve never done something like that before. I did catch him checking me out a few times though, and our typical flirty banter slowly came back when we were riding,” I said into the countertop as I continued to lie across it.
Harper thought for a moment, taking a sip of her wine. “I don’t know, Addi. You don’t just randomly have phone sex with a girl and then immediately decide to be friends because she was awkward the next day. Seems weird. I bet he just doesn’t know where you guys stand now either?”
“True. I mean, I don’t really blame him after how I acted.” I sighed. “Ugh, I am so attracted to the man. I feel this pull toward him that I’ve never experienced before. I don’t know in the eight years I was with Noah that I ever wanted him the way I want Dean. I can only describe it as a deep ache, a longing, for him.”
“Wow, you really like this doctor, don’t you?” Harper smiled.
“Unfortunately, yes, but I don’t think he does relationships, and honestly I don’t need to be diving back into anything witha guy right now. He had a bit of a reputation in his early twenties of being a playboy.” I proceeded to tell Harper all about who Dean’s family is and what my sister told me of him and his brother back in the day.
“That doesn’t mean that things don’t change, Addi. He is thirty now and has a career. Hell, remember me in my early twenties? I was a bit of a skank.” She chuckled.
I couldn’t help but laugh, because Harper had all the guys falling at her feet in college and definitely enjoyed her fair share of uncomplicated, casual sex. She still had guys chasing after her, but now she was more focused on her career as a pediatric nurse practitioner and didn’t go out much. “All I’m saying is, don’t make assumptions or the decision for him. Just see where things go. Why can’t you have a little fun? You could use a rebound, girl.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right. My sister said the same thing. I just need to chill out and let it play out.”
“I am proud of you though. Phone sex is not a very Addison thing to do. About time you started having some fun…so let it continue.” She waggled her brows before raising her glass of rosé toward me in a cheers.
Harper and I decided to go out and grab some drinks at Hops & Hills, as they usually had live music on Saturday nights. Tonight was a gorgeous night, the sky was clear, and the moon was bright. The temperature was unusually warmfor mid-November in the Texas Hill Country, sitting in the mid-60s. I decided to go with my dark skinny jeans, which were like a second skin, booties, and a dark-green sweater that brought out the color of my eyes. I wore my long, camel-colored peacoat for warmth and kept my hair down in long waves.
As we walked into the bar, I introduced Harper to a couple of the locals and family friends who were there. I glanced around the room to find an available table for us to sit, and that was when I saw him.
Over to the left, by the pool tables, Dean was at a high-top table with another very attractive man who appeared to have similar features to him. Dean was wearing jeans, his usual cowboy boots, and a dark-gray Henley that clung to his chest and biceps in the most delicious way. Damn, he looked good. His gaze immediately found mine as if he were searching for me, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Harper looked at my face and followed my line of sight. “Good God, is that the doctor?” I just nodded in silence, not taking my eyes off him. “I figured he was good-looking, but holy fuck, he is hot as hell. That guy with him is too.” And before I knew what was happening, she grabbed my hand and was leading me toward their table.
Once we planted ourselves right in front of Dean and his friend, Harper extended her hand. “Hey, I’m Harper, Addi’s best friend.” The girl was nothing if not bold.
Dean glanced over at me, a sexy smirk spreading across his face, and I was suddenly feeling hot. Why couldn’t I controlmy body’s reaction around this man? He turned his attention back to Harper. “Hey, Harper, I’m Dean. Nice to meet you.” He turned toward the man next to him. “This is my brother, Archer.” As Harper and Archer shook hands, Dean motioned toward me. “And, Archer, this is Addison. Walker’s sister.” Harper discreetly elbowed me, reminding me that I hadn’t said a word yet.
I extended my hand to his brother. “Hey, Archer, nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” I smiled. Archer was incredibly good-looking. He stood about as tall as Dean, maybe an inch shorter. He had the same dark hair but cut a little shorter, and he had hazel eyes instead of Dean’s darker brown gaze.
A shit-eating grin spread across Archer’s face as he shook my hand. “Ah. Addison. Nice to meet Dean’sgoodfriend.”
He looked back at his brother with a smirk, and I caught Dean subtly rolling his eyes.
“Why don’t you guys join us?” Archer said while pulling out a chair for both me and Harper. Harper and I sat down at their table, Dean next to me and Archer next to Harper. After ordering some drinks and appetizers to share, the live music began. It was a cover band that primarily played Texas country.
As we listened to the music, Dean and I caught up on the latest happenings of his practice and my business, while Harper and Archer seemed to be getting along well. I took a long pull from my beer and looked over at Dean. “So, how long is Archer in town?”
“A couple weeks. I’m trying to convince him to stay throughThanksgiving though. What about Harper?”
“About a week.” I glanced across the table at them. Archer had his arm resting on the back of Harper’s chair and was whispering something close to her ear. Harper was eating it up, leaning into him and smiling widely. Sometimes I wished I could be as laid-back and carefree as my best friend.
Dean followed my gaze. “Well, they seem to be getting along.” He chuckled.
I laughed. “Yeah, back in our college days, Harper left a trail of broken hearts behind her. The girl doesn’t do serious. She’s a huge flirt.”
“Sounds like she and Archer have that in common. What about you? Do you only do serious?” He looked at me with heat in his eyes as he reached out to brush my hair behind my shoulder then casually draped his arm along the back of my chair.
