I so attracted to this guy? I've talked to him here and there around town, but we've never gotten to know each other until now. But after that little make-out session on my couch, I can't sleep to save my life. I kept thinking about him and what I wanted him to do to me instead of getting up and leaving.
There’s no way he feels the same. Hot guys like him don't go for the curvy nerdy librarians like me.
As I'm getting ready for work the following morning, Austin calls.
She doesn't even say hello. "Girl, everyone is talking about that kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel, and I need the details. What’s going on?"
"His whole family was watching and expecting a kiss at the top. When we got down, pretty much everyone had seen it, including his ex, who was shooting daggers at me for the rest of the night."
"Why didn't I hear from you yesterday? I was expecting a girl's night with details."
"His mom invited us to dinner. She wanted to get to know me better. Thankfully, North’s brother and ex weren't there, and his mom’s lovely when she's not around them. After dinner, North brought me home, and...” I trail off, unsure if I want to share that part with her.
But Austin’s always been good at reading me and knows when there's more to the story. "And?" she asks gently, pushing me along.
"And we had a bit of a make-out session on my couch before he left."
Neither of us says anything for a moment.
"I can tell by your tone that your heart is already involved, isn't it?" Her soft tone reminds me of the one I use on my little sister when giving her advice she doesn’t want to hear.
"I didn't plan on the kissing and how it would make me feel."
"There's a good chance that sleeping with him could get him out of your system. Or it could make you feel even more for him."
"So, I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't?"
"Pretty much,” she says unhelpfully. “Listen, have fun tonight and try to get a read on him. If he's standoffish, then you know things went a bit too far. Follow his lead and go with your gut. Relationships have started over a lot less."
"Austin, this isn't some romance book. Guys like him don't fall for fat girls like me."
"I'm coming to the library at lunch to whoop your ass for calling yourself fat. I don't know who put it into your head that it’s okay to talk to yourself like that. You’re fucking gorgeous, and the right man will love your curves because I would kill for them."
We've had conversations like this many times. I try to love my body, but I wasn't always overweight. I was skinny in school and then busted my butt in college to get my degrees early. The stress made gaining weight easier than losing it, and my college boyfriend made it very clear how he felt about that.
I guess it's easy to believe the bad things but a lot harder to believe the good things, no matter how hard your best friend tries to reassure you.
My nerves are in full flight by the time North knocks on my door. I'm in jeans and a dressy sweater since I know it will be colder out on the water. When I open the door, I'm not expecting him to eat me up with his eyes. He looks at me like I'm wearing the sexiest lingerie he's ever seen.
"I can go change..." I start to say.
"Don't you dare. You look stunning." He steps forward, places a hand on my hip, and kisses my cheek.
He keeps his hand on my lower back as he guides me to the car and opens my car door like a gentleman. Starting the car, he reaches over and holds my hand the whole way, asking about my day and telling me about his.
"My dad wants to know if you can come over for breakfast tomorrow,” I ask him shyly, remembering my conversation with Dad at lunch. “My sister has something planned, so it would just be the three of us,"
Dad seems to be under the impression that things are a bit more serious between us than they are. I'm not sure how he thinks that, considering this is all fake.
"Sure. And since we have an off day tomorrow with no wedding events, why don't we go out and do something, just you and me?"
I want to ask if he means an actual date, but then I remember that people in town expect to see us out together, especially on a night when we don't have any wedding events.
I agree, and we head on to the boat for the wedding party Christmas light cruise. We say our hellos, but the bride and groom avoid us, which is fine with me, and by the looks of it, with North too.
As the boat leaves the dock and starts heading around the lake, I find a spot leaning against one of the handrails and take in the view. North joins me, pressing his front to my back and resting his hands on either side of mine on the rail. He rests his head beside mine as we relax and watch the lights, ignoring everyone else around us.
"You look beautiful in this light," he whispers, and my cheeks heat with a blush. "And you look sexy as hell when you blush like that too. I didn't sleep a wink last night because you had me so damn turned on, baby."
He runs his nose down my neck. He's teasing me, but I can feel how hard he is, so he's teasing himself as much as me.
His soft caresses and teasing continue for the rest of the cruise, and by the time we head home, I'm so damn turned on I think I might explode if he doesn't touch me.