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“I guess I should be happy because it means I’m going to win the bet.”

“Win the bet? Why would you—” She stares at me for a few seconds and shakes her head slowly. “Oh my gosh. Do you think he asked me out on a date?”

“Didn’t he?”

“And you thought I accepted, didn’t you? No. Oh my gosh. He called to tell me NBC is scouting local comics for a national comedian search, a show they’re going to be filming soon, and he thought I might be interested in auditioning.”

“Oh wow.” I stare at her in surprise. “He put your name forward for that?”

“Yeah. I told you he’s a really nice guy.”

“And you deserve a nice guy,” I say softly, running my fingers through my hair. “Maybe I’m being selfish here.”

“I’m going to audition for the show, Brett. It’s nothing more than that.”

I stare at her, but I don’t feel relaxed. I feel even guiltier than before because maybe Marcus is the guy for her. Maybe he can help make all her dreams come true. I’m the man giving her orgasms, but orgasms can’t last her the rest of her life.

“I still want us to have fun,” she says softly, reaching out and squeezing my arm. “If you still do.”

I look over at her beautiful face and nod slowly. The fact of the matter is, I can’t wait to get her back to my apartment so I can fuck her again. And I don’t know if I’ll ever get enough of her. Rosie is special, but I know I’m not the right man for her. I can’t give her what she needs. Part of me wishes I could, but another part of me knows I’ll never be a man who can offer his whole heart because mine doesn’t even exist anymore.

Chapter Seventeen

ROSIE

“Rosie, I have a question for you before I take you all the way home,” Brett says, looking over at me.

There’s a teasing expression on his face that makes my heart flip, and I try to ignore the voice in my head, telling me to reach over and rub him down.

I gaze at him, letting my feelings of lust swirl in my stomach. “Go on. What is it?”

“I was wondering if you want me to take you back to your place tonight or if you’d like …” He pauses like he’s shy, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Or what, Brett?”

“Or would you like to come back to mine? I know the weekend’s over, and it went well, but I was thinking we could have one last night. Just the two of us.”

“Are you saying you want me to spend the night at your place?” I ask, giggling.

I reach over and squeeze his thigh, and I hear his sharp intake of breath.

“Only if it’s something you’d be interested in.”

“I think one last night before we go back to the real world sounds like fun.”

“What is the real world?” he asks in a gruff voice.

“I don’t know exactly, but I know I can’t stay at your place forever.”

“Why not? I mean, obviously not forever, forever, but why not until we figure out what’s going to happen on Catalina Island and with my grandparents?”

“Yeah, but Izzy, Sage, and Lucia know the truth. They know we’re not actually dating. I don’t want them getting suspicious and wondering why I’m staying at your place and then maybe figuring out …” I bite down on my lower lip.

“So, I guess that means you’re not going to tell them about us?”

“What am I going to tell them? That we’re friends with benefits now? That could complicate everything.”

“They already know this is a fake arrangement. But we’re hooking up for real,” he says, his voice teasing. This time, he reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “And it feels great, doesn’t it?”