“Just for practice,” Kira whispered to her reflection. “It’s just for practice and nothing more.”
Through the side window, she could see Connor parking on the street in front of her house. A nest of butterflies woke in her stomach. She clenched her thighs together and tugged her top away from her boobs before glancing at them. Shit, her nipples were hard and more than noticeable.
She snagged a cardigan from the hallway closet and hurriedly yanked it on, leaving it unbuttoned but pulling it across her tits to hide her stupid nipples. She smoothed down her hair and checked her makeup as Connor walked up the steps. He was wearing a t-shirt with his usual jeans and she checked out his crotch as excitement burned in her belly. She opened the door and stepped back, hoping her smile looked more natural than it felt.
Connor walked inside and shut the door. “Good morning, Kira.”
“Uh, good morning.” She was ashamed to realize she was already wet and aching for him.
He followed her into the kitchen. There was a moment of awkwardness and then Connor slid his arm around her waist. He cupped the back of her head and dropped his mouth onto hers.
She moaned at the contact and parted her lips instantly. To her surprise, he immediately dipped his tongue into her mouth, and she sucked at it, hoping to make him moan.
He did, a low sound in the back of his throat that set her aflame. His fingers threaded through her blonde hair and he angled his mouth over hers, taking the kiss deeper, demanding more that she willingly gave.
Time passed, she had no idea how long and didn’t care. Her damn dentist was a master at kissing, and she didn’t even realize she was rubbing herself against him until his hand squeezed her hip.
“Stop,” he rasped.
“Please,” she whispered before clinging more tightly to him. “I need it.”
“You make the sweetest little sounds when I kiss you. Did you know that?” He nuzzled her ear and she moaned when he traced the edge of it with his tongue.
“Am I – am I better at kissing?” she asked. It was stupid but she wanted to know. She was oddly humiliated by not being a good kisser.
“Yes,” he said. “You’re a fast learner, little Kira.”
“Please,” she repeated before rubbing her flat stomach against his erection. “I need more.”
“What do you need?” he whispered. “This?”
He boosted her up onto the counter, it pressed his cock directly against her aching core and moving on instinct, she wrapped her legs around his waist and dry humped him shamelessly.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes! I mean, no… I don’t know,” she moaned.
He laughed, another low sound that made her shiver, and brushed his long fingers against the underside of one small breast. She arched her back and made an inarticulate pleading noise. When he slid his hand inside her cardigan and cupped her breast, his hand squeezing her gently through her shirt and her bra, she mashed her mouth down onto his. She kissed him desperately and he returned her kiss before pinching her erect nipple.
She gasped and he rubbed it with the ball of his thumb before groaning, “You have no idea what you do to me, Kira.”
“You’re driving me crazy,” she whispered.
He kissed her again and when she tentatively tugged at his shirt, he stripped it over his head and dropped it on the counter beside her. She stared at his chest. Unlike Daniel, who was as muscular and smooth as a body-builder, he had a lean build and his chest had a light layer of dark hair. She touched the hair, a little surprised at the coarseness of it, before studying his abdomen.
“What?” he asked.
“I didn’t expect a dentist to have a six pack,” she said.
He grinned at her, and she traced the hard ridges of his stomach before smoothing her fingers over the v-line she could see just peeking out from his waistband. He inhaled sharply before sliding the cardigan down her arms. She twisted out of it, and he folded it and set it on the counter before reaching for the buttons on her shirt.
“Your turn,” he said.
He had her shirt unbuttoned before she quite knew what was happening.
“Beautiful,” he muttered.
She wasn’t sure what was so beautiful about her smaller-than-average breasts, but her push-up bra did do a fine job of making them look larger than they were. She hoped he wouldn’t take off her bra. Ignoring the fact that no guy had ever seen her half-naked, she rather enjoyed having him think they were beautiful.
He bent his dark head and kissed the tops of her breasts, brushing his lips over them with barely-there caresses that inflamed her senses. She realized with a vague feeling of embarrassment that her nipples were hard and protruding against the silk fabric of her bra. She tried to place her hands over them, and he tugged her hands away immediately, studying the outline of her nipples.
She gasped when he tugged on her right nipple through the fabric of her bra. It sent an aching pull of need straight to her pussy and she was helpless to stop from arching her back. He made a low mutter of approval and toyed with her nipple as she gasped and moaned. But when his fingers reached for the front clasp of her bra, she stiffened and pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said. “I’ve just never, you know…”
He took a step back and gave her a cautious look. “Never what, Kira?”
“I’ve never had a guy, uh, see my…”
She stopped again, her embarrassment growing when his gaze narrowed.
“What exactly have you done?” he asked.
She cleared her throat. “Well, I’ve kissed guys – not very well, obviously – and done some other stuff.”
“What other stuff?”
“You know - stuff.”
“Tell me.”
“I’ve done a bit of, um, groping. Uh – under the shirt but over the bra, sort of thing.”
His look of surprise made her feel about three feet tall. “What?”
“You’re twenty-five years old, Kira.”
“So?”
“So, you’re telling me you’ve never even taken your shirt off in front of a guy before?”
“You’re making me sound like a freak,” she said angrily. “Stop it.”
He grasped her chin and forced her gaze to his. “You’re a virgin.”
“Yes,” she said.
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why are you still a virgin? You’re smart and gorgeous and I’m sure you’ve had plenty of opportunity. Why haven’t you had sex?”
“Because I’m…”
She was suddenly ashamed to tell him the truth, but he made a low curse under his breath and released her chin. “You’re saving yourself for Daniel.”
She didn’t reply and he gave her a dark look of disapproval. “Daniel hasn’t done the same for you. You can’t possibly be that naïve to think he has.”
“I know that,” she snapped. “I just – it’s special to me, okay? I want him to have it.”
He shook his head in disgust. “He doesn’t deserve it, Kira.”
She glared at him. “Yes, he does.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“Let’s agree to disagree.” The exasperation was clear in her voice. “Can we just, uh, do some more kissing? We’ve still got some time.”
He grabbed his t-shirt. “No. I need to go.”
“Why are you angry with me?” she said. “This is fake, remember? We’re only doing this so that we look like we’re dating. What do you care if I’m a virgin or not?”
He just shook his head again before walking away. “I have to go.”
He left the kitchen and she stared blankly at her still-hard nipples. She was angry as hell at Connor for making her feel like an idiot, but she was also, stupidly, still incredibly horny. It was only quarter after eight and she’d apparently grown used to at least half an hour of kissing. What the hell had Connor done to her?
Before she could button her shirt or hop down from the counter, Connor strode back into the kitchen. He was still shirtless, and her eyes widened when dropped his shirt to the counter and his big hands grasped her thighs through her dress pants. He pushed her legs apart and crowded up against her until his crotch was snug against hers.
“Connor, what -”?
He kissed her, devouring her mouth with hard licks and nips. She moaned and returned his kisses enthusiastically. He cupped her right breast with one large hand and kneaded it roughly.
She had no idea why he’d returned, and she didn’t care. It felt so good to kiss him, even if she could feel his anger with her through his kisses. She dug her nails into his back, wrapping her legs around his waist again and rocking her pussy against him. If he tried to undo her bra, she would let him this time. Her nipples were aching and throbbing in a way she’d never felt before, and she knew instinctively that letting him suck on them would help ease the ache.
“Kira? Hey, Kira?”
The front door slammed, and she tried to pull away. Connor made a low growl of disapproval and tightened his grip on her. He kissed her deeply, stealing both her breath and her instinct to stop.
“Kira? Can I borrow your phone charger? My phone died at the gym and I …”
She heard Daniel make a loud grunt of surprise. Connor pulled his mouth from hers and stared over his shoulder. “Can I help you?”
“What the hell is going on?” Daniel stared wide-eyed at them.
For the first time in her life, Kira felt a thin thread of irritation toward Daniel. If he hadn’t interrupted, Connor would be sucking on her nipples right now and –
“Kira? Are you okay?” Daniel was giving her a look of alarm.
She made herself concentrate on Daniel. He was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, his phone in one hand.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Connor and I are, uh….”
Shit. What did she say? They weren’t supposed to be dating for another couple of weeks.
“You’re what?” Daniel’s face was a mask of confusion.
“We’re dating,” Connor said.
Daniel’s gaze flickered to Connor and then back to her. “You’re dating the doc?”
“Yes,” Kira said.
“Since when?”
“A few weeks now. We’ve been keeping it quiet,” Connor said smoothly.
He was blocking Daniel’s view of her upper body and he dropped his gaze to her breasts for a moment before raising one eyebrow at her. She blushed and scrambled to button her shirt. When she was fully covered, he lifted her down from the counter before pulling his shirt over his head.
“The two of you are dating.” Daniel repeated as he drifted toward them.
Kira nodded, searching his face for any signs of jealousy. If he was jealous, it was effectively hidden by surprise and confusion.
“How did you two meet?” Daniel said.
“I’m her dentist.”
“Isn’t that like, illegal, to date your patients?” Daniel asked.
Before Connor could reply, the front door opened again, and she heard the tell-tale tap of dog nails on the hardwood. She immediately braced herself against the counter, already wincing in anticipation.
“What’s wrong?” Connor asked.
“Kira, incoming!” Her brother hollered from the hallway just as the giant fawn-coloured dog scrambled into the kitchen.
“Holy shit,” Connor breathed. “It’s a goddamn horse.”
“Tank, no,” Kira said as Tank, his tongue hanging from his mouth and a giant doggie grin on his face, lumbered toward her. “Stop! Down! Sit!”
It made her a terrible person, but she almost hoped that Daniel, who was standing in Tank’s path toward her, would be the one knocked over by the friendly but overly enthusiastic dog. After being slammed into, stepped on, and knocked over by Tank for the last three years, she was over it.
Unfortunately, Daniel’s good qualities didn’t include taking one for the team in the form of being trampled by a one hundred-and seventy-five-pound Great Dane with a zest for life and no comprehension of personal space. He made a quick side-step just before Tank could close in on him. The big dog wasn’t graceful enough to turn so he settled for a quick and sloppy slurp across Daniel’s forearm as he skidded by him.
“Tank, sit,” Kira repeated, then steeled herself for impact when Tank didn’t slow his enthusiastic race toward her.
To her surprise, the bone-rattling impact never came. Just as Tank reached them, Connor stepped neatly in front of her. The dog slammed into him in a tangle of long limbs, a madly wagging tail and a slobbery tongue. Connor grunted but bore the impact well, his body only lightly pressing against hers as he fended off the giant dog.
Her brother appeared in the doorway and barked out a command. “Tank, sit!”
Tank sat obediently at Connor’s feet, his tail sweeping back and forth across the floor and his sides heaving with exertion.
“You okay?” Connor asked over his shoulder.
“Yes, uh, thank you. That was really nice of you to throw your body into harm’s way like that.”
He gave her a grin that showed off his dimple before turning back and letting Tank sniff his hand. The dog’s tail thumped hard against the floor and when Connor petted him, he stood up and leaned his entire body against Connor’s.
Connor rocked backward into Kira and she made a low ‘oof’.
“Sorry,” Connor said.
She squeezed out from behind him. “It’s okay. I should have warned you that Tank is a leaner.”
The big dog made a chuff of happiness before leaning against Kira. Connor slipped his arm around her waist, holding her steady as she patted the dog’s head. Tank was so tall that when he lifted his head, his nose pressed against Kira’s chin.
He licked her chin and she wiped the moisture away with a grimace. “Yuck, Tank. Bad dog.”
“Dog or horse?” Connor petted Tank’s back and the big dog chuffed again.
“He’s a Great Dane,” Kira said. “They get… big.”
“How much does he weigh?” Connor asked.
“About a buck seventy-five,” her brother said. “Who are you, exactly?”
Kira groaned inwardly. Gideon was studying Connor like the dentist might be a mass murderer. Her brother was above and beyond protective of her, had been ever since her parents died, and she’d had this half-hearted idea that she could keep her fake relationship with Connor a secret from Gideon.
It would be bad enough for a real boyfriend to be subjected to Gideon’s grilling, her fake one didn’t need to be put through it.
Gideon had brushed past Daniel like he wasn’t even there, not surprising - there was no love loss between her brother and Daniel – and was now standing in front of them. Her brother was born with heterochromia, making his right eye a wintry shade of blue, and his left eye the pale green of a large jungle cat’s eye. The difference in colour was particularly noticeable this morning. Of course, it usually was when he was pissed off.
Keeping his arm around her waist, Connor held out his other hand. “Connor MacMillan. I don’t think we’ve ever formally met, Sheriff Walker.”
Gideon studied his hand for a second or two before shaking it. “You’re the dentist who opened the new practice on Hudson Road with Grant Henderson. That right?”
“Yes. H&M Dental Clinic,” Connor said.
“You’re from Willington,” Gideon said.
“He’s lived here like two years now, Gideon,” Kira said hurriedly. Her brother wasn’t a fanatical Willington hater like most people in Harmony Falls, but the idea of her dating someone from Willington was bound to set him off.
“Why are you in my sister’s kitchen this morning, Dr. MacMillan?” Gideon’s voice had an edge to it.
“Gideon, knock it off,” Kira said.
“We’re dating,” Connor replied.
She was surprised by how relaxed Connor looked and sounded. Connor was tall, she guessed he was around six feet and muscular, but at 6’4”, her brother was one of the biggest men in Harmony Falls. It wasn’t just his height either. He had a physically intimidating build, his broad shoulders, wide chest and thick thighs made even the most belligerent of drunks think twice about crossing him. That Connor didn’t seem even a little intimidated by her brother was an unexpected surprise.
The muscle ticking at Gideon’s temple was the only sign that he heard Connor.
“Kira,” he said, “can I speak to you in private, please?”
“I have to go to work,” she said. “I’ll text you later. Why are you here anyway?”
Gideon lifted the travel coffee mug he held in one large hand. “I’m dropping Tank at Guardians for the day and I’m out of coffee. The house is on the way.”
“You know where the coffee pods are,” she said.
Gideon’s nostrils flared and she gave him a don’t-push-me-look that he completely ignored. “I would prefer to speak with you now,” he said.
“Well, I’m busy with Connor and -”
“It’s fine,” Connor said. “I need to get to work as well.”
He pulled her close and pressed a kiss against her mouth. It was a brief kiss, but she still felt like her lips had been seared by flames.
He stepped away from her and gave Tank a final pat. “Nice to meet you, Sheriff. Kira, I’ll call you later.”
“Right, okay. Bye.” Kira gave him a stupid little wave before her eyes widened. Shit, she’d forgotten about Daniel.
She sidestepped around her brother and Tank. “Daniel, I’m sorry, I…”
The kitchen was empty. Daniel was gone. Feeling a little sick to her stomach, she barely noticed when Connor walked out of the kitchen. Was Daniel mad at her? Had he left because she’d basically ignored him from the moment he walked in, or had he left because of her brother?
She didn’t know and worry gnawed at her stomach. She should text him. She was reaching for her phone when her brother cleared his throat. He was putting a coffee pod into the machine and giving her a pointed look.
“What?” she said.
“Since when did you start dating a dentist from Willington?”
“He’s been in Harmony Falls for two years, Gideon.”
“When did you start dating?” he repeated.
“A few weeks ago. Why?” The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Tank, who had stretched out on his side, thumped his tail against the floor when she stepped over him.
“He doesn’t seem like your type,” Gideon said. “How did you meet him?”
“He’s my dentist,” Kira replied. “Isn’t he yours?”
“I see Grant.”
“Oh. Well, you should try seeing Connor instead. He’s a great dentist. Listen, I have to go, or I’ll be late for -”
“What about Daniel?”
She opened the fridge and grabbed her lunch. “What about him?”
“Don’t play dumb, Kira. You’ve been,” Gideon gestured vaguely in the air, “smitten with him since you were a kid.”
“Yeah, well, maybe I finally grew up. Make sure you lock the door when you leave.” She picked up her purse from the table and walked out of the kitchen before Gideon could grill her further.
* * *
“Connor? There’s a man here to see you.” Keisha popped her head into the break room.
“Who is it?” he asked.
“He wouldn’t tell me his name.” The receptionist shrugged before studying her nails.
He sighed and stuffed his lunch bag back into the fridge before following Keisha down the hall toward reception. His eyes widened and a smile broke out across his face.
“Lucas!”
He pushed past the reception desk and grabbed his best friend in a hard hug. Lucas hugged him in return, pounding him on the back before stepping backward and looking him over. “You’re looking good for an old man.”
Connor laughed. “What are you doing here?’
“I came down for the weekend. Ma is throwing a yard sale and threatened to sell all of my childhood stuff if I didn’t come down and sort through it. Figured I’d stop in and see you before I went home. You got time for lunch?”
“I do. Give me five minutes.”
* * *
Lucas took a bite of his burger, chewing and swallowing before saying, “This burger’s not half bad for a Falls burger. It’s not as good as Ted’s, but it’ll do.”
Connor laughed. “Don’t let Nan hear you say that. She’ll kick you out so fast your head will spin.”
“Shit, do you mean the infamous Nan that Ted’s been fighting with for the last thirty years?”
Connor nodded and Lucas shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re eating at Ted’s mortal enemy’s diner. If he finds out, you’ll be banned from his diner.”
“Nan’s food is so good, I’ll risk it,” Connor said.
“You even go back to Willington anymore?” Lucas asked.
Connor popped a fry into his mouth. “What have you heard?”
Lucas grinned. “The shit I’ve heard, buddy… you wouldn’t believe it.”
“Try me,” Connor said.
“My favourite one is the rumour that you go back every weekend and sit outside of Lisa’s place, playing emo music and crying.”
Connor groaned and Lucas laughed. “It’s better than the one that circulated a few weeks ago.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“You should be. That one had you going crazy at work and yanking out some poor dude’s teeth without any provocation. You got fired and are now living in your mother’s basement in shame.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.” Connor pushed his plate of food away. “What the hell is wrong with people in Willington?”
Lucas ate another fry. “They’re bored. Besides, you’re the tragedy that just keeps giving. You were the town’s golden boy, about to become the biggest name in Willington since… ever. And then poof… you blow your knee and lose your baseball career and the girl.”
“I didn’t lose the girl right away.” Connor could hear the edge in his voice. “She stuck around for another few years.”
“Yeah, well, she was a right bitch to do that. She should never have dragged it out like that, buddy. She made your life miserable.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Connor said.
“Wasn’t it?” Lucas raised an eyebrow at him.
“Fuck, I don’t know,” Connor said. “But can you blame her? I ruined her life, Lucas. I made one stupid mistake and ruined mine and Lisa’s lives forever.”
“Bullshit,” Lucas said. “Maybe your life didn’t turn out the way you planned, but you didn’t ruin it or Lisa’s. She couldn’t accept that she wasn’t going to be married to a famous baseball player and have everything her greedy little heart wanted and that isn’t your fault. Frankly, it’s good that she showed her true colours before you married her, right?”
Connor just shrugged. What Lucas was telling him wasn’t anything he hadn’t said before, but like always, it didn’t lessen his guilt or convince him that he wasn’t a world class screw-up. Nausea bit at the edges of his stomach. Christ, would he ever not feel guilty about what he did?
Lucas leaned forward. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories, but you can’t live your life swallowed up by guilt. It’s not healthy. You started dating yet?”
Connor hesitated before shaking his head. “No.”
Lucas ate another bite of burger. “What’s her name?”
“There isn’t anyone.”
Ketchup dripped onto Lucas’ finger and he licked it off before pointing the finger at Connor. “I’ve been your best friend since grade fucking one, Connor. You think I can’t tell when you’re lying? Spill it, asshole.”
Connor took a sip of his water before glancing around the diner and lowering his voice. “Her name is Kira and we’re not really dating.”
* * *
“Let me get this straight,” Lucas leaned back in the booth, “this is all fake, but you keep grinding on her like some horny frat boy whenever you’re alone?”
“Keep your voice down,” Connor said.
“How was the meal?” Their curvy redheaded server stopped at their table to take their plates.
Lucas gave her a flirty grin, his gaze dropping to the nametag pinned above one ample breast. “Well, Georgia, that burger might just have been the best damn thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
Her lips twitched. “You’re not putting the right things in your mouth then.”
“Is that right?” Lucas said with another flirty grin. “Maybe you have something else I could put in my mouth.”
The redhead leaned closer to him, her smile warm. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re just a Willington boy. You couldn’t handle what I have to give your mouth.”
She pinched his cheek and winked at him before turning and walking away. Lucas stared at her ass and swallowed hard. “Fuck, I think I’m in love.”
Connor laughed. “You realize you were just shot down, right?”
Lucas was still staring at the redhead’s ass. “Hell, I’m starting to rethink my belief that Willington girls are better than the Falls girls. How did she know I was from Willington?”
“No idea,” Connor replied.
“Anyway, back to you,” Lucas said. “You’re really gonna bring a fake girlfriend to Mandy’s wedding?”
“Yeah. Kira needs someone to make her crush jealous and it’s the only way to stop my parents and the rest of my family from trying to get me and Lisa back together.”
“Yeah, but… this isn’t like you,” Lucas said. “Maybe you should rethink your decision.”
“It’s too late. I already told Mom and Mandy that I had a girlfriend named Kira who I was bringing to the wedding.”
“What did your mom say?”
“Not a lot,” Connor said. “I think she was stunned into silence.”
“Yeah, I bet. My mom says that your mom and Lisa still hang out together all the time. All the time, dude.”
Connor rubbed at the back of his neck. “I didn’t know that, but I’m not surprised.”
“It was a real shitty thing for your parents to take Lisa’s side.”
“They didn’t take sides,” Connor said. “They just…”
“They took her side,” Lucas said. “I know it hurts to hear that, but they did. So, tell me more about this Kira chick. Obviously, she’s hot if you can’t stop kissing her.”
“I told you, I only kissed her because we needed to make sure we had chemistry as a couple.”
“Oh yeah?” Lucas said. “So, then why do you keep going over there to play kissy-face with her?”
Connor didn’t answer and Lucas frowned. “She’s in love with this firefighter, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t forget that,” Lucas said.
“I haven’t,” Connor said. “I’ve known her for two days, Lucas. I’m not falling for her. Stop freaking out.”
“I just want to make sure you’re not setting yourself up for another broken heart,” Lucas said.
“I’m not. I’m not ready for a relationship and have no fucking idea when I will be,” Connor said.
“Do you still love Lisa?” Lucas asked. “Are you doing this to keep your family off your back or to make Lisa jealous?”
“I’m not in love with her,” Connor said. “I still care about her, but I’m not in love with her.”
“You sure?” Lucas eyed him.
“Yeah,” Connor said. “I’m sure. I’m doing this to stop everyone from pushing Lisa and me back together, nothing else. Which is why it’s so perfect that Kira is in love with Daniel. I don’t have to worry about her developing feelings for me.
“Right.” Lucas slid out of the booth. “I’m gonna hit the head.”
He walked away and Connor sat back in the booth, feeling a little like he’d been put through the wringer. He knew his best friend meant well, but if he was being truthful, he was still a little shaken by what had happened this morning.
He shouldn’t have even showed up at her place this morning. It was obvious they had chemistry, and Kira was fine at kissing him now.
Better than fine. You’re getting hard just thinking about her kissing you.
He shifted in the booth, trying to relieve some of the pressure in his groin. Last night when she had asked him about practicing, he’d been so damn tempted. He should have said no, should have told her that they didn’t need to practice anymore, but he couldn’t.
But saying yes last night would have been dangerous. Her bedroom was too close, too tempting. It was all too easy to imagine taking her to her bed, undressing her in the dark and kissing every part of her body until she was moaning and pleading in that soft, sweet voice of hers for him to fuck her.
So, he’d compromised and said this morning, figuring it was easier to resist fucking her if he was on a time limit.
Only, all his good intentions had flown out the damn window and he couldn’t even fool himself into thinking that if she hadn’t admitted to being a virgin, he wouldn’t have tried to coax her into having a quickie with him this morning. The way she reacted when he touched her, the way she tasted, and the little breathless cries she made had him twisted into a knot that he couldn’t seem to loosen.
He wanted Kira Walker. Their relationship might be fake, but it didn’t stop him from getting half a damn stiffy every time he was around her now. Didn’t stop him from wondering just how tight her little pussy was.
Very tight. She’s a virgin, remember?
He grimaced. She was and she was saving herself for Daniel Moore. An idiot who didn’t deserve it.
He supposed that was unfair of him. He really knew nothing about the man. Other than seeing him on the ball field, he didn’t travel in the same social circles as Daniel.
You don’t travel in any social circles. You’re barely a step above social recluse.
He gulped down the rest of his water. He’d found it hard to make friends in Harmony Falls, but whose fault was that? He made no effort. The guys on his ball team had invited him for drinks after games how many times, and he always said no. The idea of belonging to a team again, of thinking that playing ball once a week was for anything more than exercise, made him feel a little anxious.
Now that you’re with Kira, you’re gonna need to be a lot more social. She sounds like a damn social butterfly.
Not to mention that if they were gonna make Daniel jealous, they needed to be seen together around him and other people. Of course, Daniel seemed pretty comfortable just walking into her house. He scowled, a weird part of him a little pissed that Daniel walked into Kira’s place like he had the right.
He’d seen Daniel walking up the driveway and had immediately turned and gone back to Kira. He hadn’t needed to kiss her again, but she’d still been sitting on the counter, her mouth swollen and her nipples hard against her bra. He couldn’t resist. Besides, it had been an effective way to announce their fake relationship to Daniel and start them down the path to making him jealous.
Yeah, except you weren’t supposed to do that for a couple of weeks, remember? Kira might have promised she’d go to the wedding with you, but she’s been in love with Daniel for years. The minute he goes after her, she’ll back out of your arrangement.
He grimaced again. Fuck, he’d screwed up, and he could only hope that Kira kept her word. If she didn’t, well… there was always the option of coming down with a bad case of food poisoning right before the wedding.
Lucas returned and sat down again. Before he could grill him anymore about Kira, Connor said, “So, how’s work going?”
“Busy,” Lucas said. “The company has exploded ever since Shadow Dragons went to number one. We’re expanding operations. The boss is looking for a building in Harmony Falls.”
“Sorry, what?” Connor blinked at him. “He’s starting up a company in Harmony Falls?”
Lucas nodded. “Yeah. I mean, it’s the same company, just a second location.”
“But why Harmony Falls?”
“Apparently he had some connection to this place when he was a kid. I dunno. The guy’s close-mouthed as shit about his personal life. He wants me to be the head developer at the second location.”
Connor’s mouth dropped open. “You’re moving to Harmony Falls?”
“Thinking about it.”
“Seriously? You swore when you moved to New Cassel that you’d never live in a small town again.”
“Yeah, I know. But,” Lucas traced a finger over the chipped table top, “big city living isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Anyway, I haven’t accepted the position yet, but it is a promotion and a pay raise, so I’d be an idiot not to do it.”
Connor grinned at him. “Who knew that all those years of playing video games in your basement would lead to this, huh?”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “Dude, how many times do I have to tell you that I don’t play video games, I design them.”
“I know,” Connor said. “Listen, for what it’s worth, Harmony Falls is a great little town and I’m full on team ‘Lucas moves here’.”
“Thanks, man. Listen, keep this under your hat for now, okay? My boss hasn’t found a building yet and not everyone in the company knows that he’s expanding.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Anyway,” Lucas checked his watch, “I’d better get on the road. I told Ma I’d be there by two and she’ll kick my ass if I’m late. If I get the chance, I’ll stop in on my way back on Sunday, okay?”
“Sure. Say hi to your mom for me.”
“I will.”