Page 57 of Make Her Mine

“That dress? My jealousy over your ex? That kiss? Yeah, we’re in a hurry to get home.”

“Are we gonna start tearing each other clothes off on the porch for him to see?”

I glance over. “I’m game.”

She chuckles now. “Not fair. I’m like a zipper away from practically naked.”

Heat and desire tighten my gut. “Noted.”

She quickly looks away from my stare.

“I don’t have anything at your house. Not even for a one-night slumber party.”

“What do you need?”

“Pajamas. Toothbrush.” She pauses. “I guess those are the basics. “

“I have extra toothbrushes.”

“And pajamas?”

“You’d definitely be sleeping naked if you were my girlfriend.”

“But I’m not. And Zach isn’t going to be checking what I’m sleeping in.”

I am resolutely not wondering about just how much—or how little—she has on under that dress right now.

If she’s only a zipper away from ‘practically’ naked, does that mean no bra? There are definitely no panty lines…I would have absolutely noticed with how I studied her ass tonight and when I had my hands there…

Okay, maybe I’m not so resolutely not wondering.

I clear my throat. “You can borrow a t-shirt. It’s one night. We’ll get your stuff tomorrow.”

I am not immune to what the thought of her sleeping in one of my shirts does to me either. It’s probably the kiss. Or this fucking dress. Or maybe the fact that even playing her boyfriend for a day has already gotten me thinking about what it would be like to date Harlow.

Fun.

Sexy.

Easy.

Sure, I’d always have to be on my toes, but it would be easy to be around her, and to blend into each other’s lives. Even when we’re not getting along, my heart pounds and I enjoy myself.

And when we are getting along, I just want more and more.

Sure, she’s a pain in my ass. She doesn’t let me get away with anything. She does not think I am amazing. We would no doubt bicker just like this if we were dating.

But it feels fresh. Even though we’ve been doing it as long as I’ve known her. Our relationship is well established, but how we both approach things, how we live our lives, and what we bicker about has evolved. And I think it always will.

Harlow and I would never get boring.

She’s not wrong when she says that I have it pretty easy around Sapphire Falls. People like me. It’s not hard to be liked. My family as well liked, they contribute a lot to the community, and the local economy. Honestly, my siblings are all great. We have a big, influential friend group. And the group is influential because they are kind, generous, hard-working, nice members of the community.

I’d have to be a real asshole to be disliked in this town.

But Harlow keeps it real with me. She makes me actually think about the things I do. Like my job. She’s not impressed with me as a coach. Football—the game itself anyway—is not impressive to her. The number of wins and losses on my record don’t matter to her.

But the way I interact with the kids does make an impression.

---