Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Dean’s eyes narrowed. “Really?” he asked. “Why?”
Nope. We were not going to talk about my past. That was behind me. It was my secret. I had built a new life, and it was all he needed to know.
“Uh, you know, kids, teenagers, they sleep in crazy places,” I said. “Thanks for the soda and a chance to sit down and wait. But if she’s done, I want to get back in there and start drying the floor.”
“It’s already being done. You don’t have to go down there. Contrary to what Kiro said, I do have food in the kitchen. I can make you something to eat.”
No, no, no, no, no. I was not doing this. I was not getting comfortable and friendly with this man. He was smooth and charming when he chose to be, but I’d already figured out that Kiro’s lack of a filter was more accurate to the way Dean’s inner thoughts went. I might not be his type, but I was a female and in his apartment, alone with him. Major warning flag, and I knew it.
“I would feel better if I was there. With my things,” I replied.
Dean nodded his head. “Understood. You can call or text me if you need anything.” He paused, then grinned. “You should have my number now.”
The text from earlier reminded me that he also had my number now. It also reminded me that Clara was supposed to be coming over in an hour. Crap! I had forgotten. I had to call her. I needed to go.
“Yes,” I said, then headed in the direction of the door.
“See you around, Brielle,” he called out just as I opened his door.
I lifted a hand to wave but didn’t look back, then walked out, closing the door behind me. I hoped we saw very little of each other.
This was not something I had planned on ever happening. Life would carry on as usual, and I would change nothing. There was no reason to.
seven
dean
I gave it two days before I texted Brielle. She hadn’t contacted me or even Maegan. I knew her new mattress had been delivered within an hour of her returning to her apartment the day she came up here with me. I’d ordered it myself. One identical to the mattress I slept on, just a full-size to fit her bedframe, unlike my king-size. She hadn’t texted me or called after receiving it. Maegan had said she’d barely been there yesterday, and I assumed she had been at work.
The most frustrating part of it all was, I shouldn’t have given a fuck. She wasn’t what I was looking for, if I was even looking at all. I still hadn’t made up my mind about that. Relationships were sticky, and I had never managed to do one. It seemed like too much damn work. Until the past couple of years. Part of me wanted what Kiro had had with Emily, his late wife. He’d been so fucking happy for a time. Before her accident. Before the joy of life was completely sucked out of him when he lost her.
Was loving like he had loved worth the pain that could follow? I wasn’t sure I could take the gamble. I’d seen him so completely wrapped up in her, and I envied him that connection to another person. Then, I’d been there when he fell apart from the agony of losing her. I didn’t think I could survive that. Harlow was the one thing that had kept him from going under.
No. What I needed was someone closer to my age. A woman. Someone who had lived life and was mature. Someone who I could respect, appreciate, enjoy being near. If I was going to be in a relationship, it would have to be real. There would have to be depth. It could not be with some flighty, cheating twenty-something with a body that made my dick hard. I needed more than a fucking hard dick.
Brielle was simply a tenant and nothing more. I had to start noticing women my age—or at least within fifteen years of my age. I had grandkids, for God’s sake. My son should not be older than my girlfriend.
My phone dinged with a text message alert, and I looked down to see Brielle’s response.
It’s as if there was never any water damage at all. Thank you for handling it.
That was it. Nothing more. As it should be. I slid my phone back into my pocket and started for the private exit of my place when there was a knock at the other door before it opened.
“Dean?” Maegan’s voice called out.
I turned around and walked back to the living room just as she entered it. Today, her skirt was somehow even shorter than yesterday. Soon, her ass was going to be hanging out of the back. I knew she was trying to get my attention. She’d had her sights set on Kiro, but after a few fucks, he’d gotten bored with her. I’d given her the job to get her out of there. Not to fuck her. I was starting to think she had other ideas.