Page 13 of Hooking

“Yes—” I say, a little too quickly, cutting him off. “You do that. Shower. First, I mean.”

God, could I sound anymore like a blubbering idiot right now. I was so confident in my teasing before, swaying my hips a little too much in my bikini to rile him up. But one mention of a shower, and I lose all common sense. My mind drifted off to the dirtiest depths they could have gone. Envisioning us together in the shower. His rough, calloused hands dragging down my sides, caressing my curves with much considered care and attention. Igniting my already molten-hot core. My body arching into him as he kisses his way between my breasts before biting my pert nipple.

Shit. Stop.

God, I need to get away from him. Take a walk or something to clear the conflicting thoughts I’m having. A smirk forms at the corner of his lips before he turns and walks toward the bathroom. I wait for the door to shut before quickly moving to the front entrance of the villa, making sure I’m a good distance away before pulling my phone out and calling the one person who would always give it to me straight.

“I swear to God, if you’re calling me because Halloway did something stupid already, I’m going to get on the next flight to come kick his ass,” Hayley says in a breath.

I can’t help but smile at her protectiveness. “Call off the hounds, Hayley. Channing has been nothing shy of a gentleman,” I say, back in reassurance.

“Well, that’s good,” she says, slightly easing her defense. “So, why are you calling me then?”

Lie. Lie through your teeth, Cassidy.

“No reason,” I say, my voice particularly high. A tell-tale sign that I’m lying. “I just wanted to talk to my favorite person.”

“Okay, spill,” she says, a slight smirk to her tone. “I know you’re lying, so you might as well just spill the beans already.”

Nothing’s happened, so are there really any beans to spill? Well, maybe. If you consider the idea of Channing handcuffing me to the bed in our villa and having his wicked way with me, then… yeah. I guess I do have a few things to get off my chest.

But a part of me wants to hide from this truth. The guilt that I am lusting after a guy who has made it clear that nothing can ever happen between us, and well, the fact it’s literally only been a week since I had my heart ripped out and trampled on is front and center in the back of my mind. Eating away at me bit by bit the longer I keep it bottled up.

Realizing there’s no way out of it, I release a loud sigh. “I’m pretty sure Channing’s not going to be the problem this weekend.”

The line is quiet for a moment, her silence causing my panic to rise. “I shouldn’t have called you about this. You knew this would be a disaster from the beginning. I should have just stayed home.”

“Hey now, I didn’t say anything. You’re the one who is insinuating things. But I did tell you this could go bad with knowing your feelings for him,” she says, in an I told you so voice.

“I know.” I plop down on a bench lining the path, leading away from the villa. “I don’t know what to do, Hayley. I’m in over my head here. I should be heartbroken and use this time to heal. Yet all I can think about is Channing and having his hands all over me. I’m going insane. I feel guilty for even think things like this.”

“Fuck guilt,” she says, as if she’s angry. “You have no reason to feel guilty. You’re a single woman who is free to do whatever and whomever she wants. If anyone should feel guilty, it’s Vince. Plus, you’ve been in love with Channing forever; maybe this is your chance to see what could be.”

“Hayley, you know that would never happen. He made that very clear.”

“Well then make him see differently. Look, I know what Vince did was horrible, but I know the look of uncertainty you get when you’re contemplating things.” She releases a strangled breath before continuing. “I don’t think you wanted to marry Vince. I think you compromised for the sake of your heart because the person you really wanted is emotionally unavailable for some unknown reason. So, would you please for once in your life, take the jump and make him see that you’re the person for him?”

“I don’t know—” I start to say as I’m cut off by a masculine voice that could only belong to Brooks. I should have known he’s close by and listening. Waiting for me to call saying Channing fucked up.

“Is that Cass?” he questions before snatching the phone from Hayley. I hear her faint protests through the line and can’t help but smile at the two of them and their love. It’s like something you can only dream up in a romance novel. Yet, they have it. And it’s real. “Cassie? Hey, look, I know I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help myself.” I feel my smile growing as I shake my head. “I only lectured Halloway to keep it in his pants because I know him. The first sign that he’s getting too close to any sort of feelings, he bolts and fucks everything up. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. But…”

Brooks pauses for a moment. The silence on the line drives me mad with anticipation. Brooks is like a brother to me and has been a huge support system since everything with Vince.

“But I think Hayley is right.” Wait, did he just say what I think he said? I have to be hallucinating. “You and Halloway are two peas in a pod. You should take this opportunity to see where this could go.”

“But he told me it would never happen. You’re forgetting… that ship has sailed several years ago and though I may still have feelings for him, he’s made it pretty clear that he has none for me.”

“Yeah, I call bullshit on that,” Brooks says through a laugh. “Look, Halloway’s complicated. Always has been, maybe always will be. However, I’ve never known Halloway to get on a flight and go on a vacation when training camp is literally on the horizon. He wants you as much as you want him. You just have to get him to pull his head out of his ass long enough to see it.”

Could Channing really want me? Everything between us has always been so trivial after he called me a mistake, but could he have said that as some kneejerk reaction? Could all the little unimportant moments we’ve spent together really be a front to hide how he truly feels about me?

“But how?” I ask as a million thoughts run through my mind.

“Operation Sex Kitten!” I hear Hayley yell in the background.

“What the hell is Operation Sex Kitten?” Brooks counters.

“It’s what we would have called the operation to get you back if you hadn’t decided to pull your head out of your ass and get me back first.”

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