Page 22 of Unwrapped
“I’ll get some after I shower. Thanks.” I need to clear my head and deal with the blue balls situation down yonder.
“Sounds good.” He brings their mugs to the island, then grabs his own and takes a long sip, peering at Camille’s computer screen over her shoulder. “I want to hear all about this author gig.”
“I’ll see you guys in a bit,” I grumble, annoyed he’s standing so close to her. I want to be the one near her.
God help me, I willneverrecover from that kiss. After spending years fantasizing about her—fucking pining—there aren’t words to describe how it felt to finally have her in my arms. If Hudson hadn’t ruined the moment, I would have been inside her. My dick twitches in agreement.
I head for the staircase, pausing in the kitchen doorway. “Hey, Camille?”
She looks over her shoulder at me. “Yeah?”
“How does the story end?”
Staring into my eyes, Camille ponders the loaded question. “I’m glad you asked,” she finally murmurs, and the emotion in her gaze could bring me to my knees. “But I haven’t figured that out yet.”
Mood Music: “Oh My God” by Adele
Ipeek outside to where the guys are shoveling the front path and cleaning a foot of snow off everyone’s cars. “I’ll be honest. I’m really not in the mood for skiing.”
Lena sets her coffee mug on the nightstand and shrugs. “So don’t go.”
“But I feel bad ditching you.”
“Don’t feel bad. It’s not your job to entertain me.” She moseys over to where I’m standing, wipes steam from a windowpane, and stares outside. “Look at all those men out there exerting themselves. I can’t believe they wouldn’t let us help.” She chuckles and weaves her long hair into a braid. “I mean, I’m not complaining, but I feel a little guilty lounging while they work.”
“Same.”
My eyes follow Dean as he heaves a shovelful of snow off the path. I felt his muscles when we kissed, and sweet baby Jesus, the man is a chiseled masterpiece. He’s so gorgeous, I find it hard to breathe when I’m around him.
I can’t believe I spent eleven years under the impression he wasn’t interested in me. If only I’d turned Ryan down when he asked me to attend a concert with him. I was so stupid for allowing my hurt and embarrassment to get in the way of logic. I should’ve spent more time licking my wounds. Maybe then I wouldn’t have allowed someone to give me new ones.
Cringing, I push thoughts of Ryan aside. He doesn’t deserve space in my head. Dean, on the other hand, is worth all my brain’s real estate. My lower belly flutters, remembering our time in the kitchen. He certainly didn’t kiss me like the quiet gentleman I met in college. No, there was nothing gentle about the way he claimed my mouth. Domineering, passionate, and intense, he kissed me like he’d been waiting his whole life to taste my lips.
Lena notices my gaze riveted to Dean and nudges me. “Will I be the only non-pharmacist on the mountain, or is a certain someone going too?”
“I think he’s going.” I’d filled her in on everything that happened in the kitchen because I needed a sounding board, and I know I can trust her to keep her mouth shut.
“I have an idea.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Perhaps you should feign an injury, so the good doctor feels compelled to stay here and takecareof you.” She shimmies her hips in a mini salsa dance. “Are you picking up what I’m putting down?”
I laugh. “I always do.”
“It’s perfect. I’ll go with your friends. That way, I can burn off all the pie and cupcakes I’ve eaten, stay out of your hair,andkeep an eye on Hudson, who shouldn’t be skiing—or shoveling the damn driveway—in the first place.”
“Tell me about it. That man needs alotof eyes on him.”
“Seriously. I can’t believe he made it down the stairs safely but fell in the pantry.” She cocks her head to the side. “Did he ever sleepwalk in college?”
“No.”
“Is he under a lot of stress?”
“I’m really not sure.” I chew my lip, annoyed with myself for not staying up to date on my friends’ lives.
Lena resettles on her bed. “Should I sleep on the couch tonight to give you some privacy?”
I snort a laugh. “I highly doubt anything else will happen. Realistically, we’re a bad idea. Aside from the whole ex-boyfriend’s twin issue, Dean has a job he loves in Boston. I’m really not interested in doing the long-distance thing. If I’m going to be with somebody, I wanna bewiththem.”
“Believe me, I get it,” she mutters, twisting the enormous diamond on her finger. “I spend far more time alone than I’d like.”
