Chapter Eighteen
When Bristol woke up that morning, ithad been with a hum beneath her skin. She couldn’t explain it exactly, but it was almost like a steady current of adrenaline was streaming in her blood. Even through coffee with Rex, it had been there, silently wreaking havoc.
It was them, she realized. Kaden and Keegan.
They made her feel different. Made her feel … strong and sexy in a way no one ever had before.
Bristol kept waiting for the feeling to wane, to go back to being the insecure daycare owner who lived her life for the kids who were in her care. Truth was, that was all she’d lived for these past few years. The routine, the monotony, it had become her safe haven. Ever since Baxter had dumped her for Betsy McTitface or whatever. And holding onto the familiar had been what soothed her soul after losing her father. She’d gotten used to it.
Some might even call it a rut.
But Kaden and Keegan stirred something inside her, and she was beginning to crave that feeling like a drug. They’d sparked it that first night they’d kissed her at Alluring Indulgence Resort, again after their first night together in Keegan’s bed despite the undesirable ending. It was still there, even now, after these last painful, lonely weeks she’d spent trying to get over them. Now she was wondering if perhaps she was turning over a new leaf.
In fact, she’d been a bit feistier than she’d ever been before, hence the text messages that had transpired between her and Kaden earlier in the day. It had been a bold move on her part to instigate what she assumed was referred to as sexting. Yes, her face might’ve flamed a few times from embarrassment, but she hadn’t wanted to bury her head in the sand indefinitely afterward.
Now, as she sat on the ugly flower couch in her living room, Bristol debated as to whether she should call Bianca. For whatever reason, her conversation with Rex had her wanting to get someone else’s opinion. Not because she disagreed with him, more so because she could see his point.
And that worried her. She didn’t want to be the girl who cowered and hid from the rest of the world.
She had just made up her mind to call Bianca when her cell phone rang.
Bristol snatched it up, hit the talk button, grinning as she did. “I was just about to call you.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve heard that before,” Bianca grumbled.
“No, seriously.” Bristol twisted on the couch, propping her head on the armrest, extending her legs. “What’s wrong? Why do you sound upset?”
“I’m not,” Bianca said, and Bristol could hear it for the lie that it was.
“Did Jake go out of town again?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Aww. Why didn’t you go with him?”
“Town council meeting’s this week,” Bianca said sadly then perked up quickly. “But I heard it through the grapevine you’ve been passin’ the time with a hot cowboy.”
Bristol frowned, a strange squeezing sensation in her chest. This was her biggest fear realized. “What?”
“Havin’ breakfast with Rex?” Bianca snorted. “I see how it is.”
The relief that slammed into her was overwhelming. It took a moment for her to catch her breath, but she managed to do so without cluing Bianca in to the panic that had nearly taken over.
“Are you havin’ breakfast with other hot cowboys that I don’t know about?” Bianca asked, her tone shifting to prodding mode.
Bristol knew if she didn’t say something, Bianca would harass her until she did, and that always resulted in Bristol telling more than she cared to.
“I’m gonna tell you somethin’,” Bristol said, her tone stern. “But you have to promise to not tell a soul. Not even Jake.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“I’m serious, Bianca. No. One.”
“Jesus H. Christ. Who do you think I’m gonna tell?”
Bristol took a deep breath. “I did it,” she blurted.
“Did what?”
