Page 12 of It Happened Again

Fuck, what was I thinking? It’d been a few years with Maisy inhabiting my thoughts. Again and again, each time Maisy and I got close, we walked away. What made me think this time would be any different if I tried?

I muddled my way through the rest of the conversation with Lennox and shook hands with him before he drifted to the next victim he could pin down to listen to him. Then I let Lacey lead me around to a few more conversations, my passion growing weaker for it all by the minute.

“Brooks? Are you okay?” Lacey eyed me suspiciously when it was finally just the two of us, with Archer still off somewhere else schmoozing away.

“I’m fine,” I flatlined.

“Was it that woman? Maisy? Who was she?”

The one who got away, but I kept that to myself. “My ex.” A look of understanding came over her.

“If it helps, you’ve seen and talked to everyone on the guest list you wanted to. I kept track to be sure according to our discussion in the office yesterday. So we could leave. Shall I call us a car? Would you mind if I share a ride with you?” She innocently fluttered her lashes at me.

“Uh...” I scanned the room and didn’t spot Maisy again. Then glanced at Lacey and remembered everything Archer said about her crush on me. Good, dependable Lacey. Pretty, but she wasn’t Maisy. Easily one of the best assistants we’d ever had, though, so I shouldn’t ruin it by taking advantage of her and putting my neglected cock out of its misery. I could use her to help me forget Maisy, if I were one of those types of bosses. But I wasn’t.

“Thanks, but no. I’ll stay with Archer. You’ve been amazing help tonight. You go home. We’ll see you in the morning.” I nodded.

For a flash of a second, her smile faltered, then curled again. “Yes, see you then.”

Fuck. I wish I could get it up for other women like Lacey, but Maisy ruined me.

5

THAT SPRING BREAK

MAISY

The past: Spring Break, a few years prior

“Lookat this blue water and this island!” I threw my hands up in the air as if I were worshipping at the church in Holly Creek.

This was far, far from my home in upstate New York.

There were definite perks to being Chelsea’s sister, especially since she’s engaged to Rex Buchanan, a wealthy New York City, former playboy. Never in my lifetime did I think I’d be on a billionaire’s yacht docking at a private island with clean sandy beaches and the bluest sea.

Brooks lifted me off the boat. With his arms around my waist, my spine tingled... anytime he touched me, something tingled.

Knowing Chelsea and Rex had left the boat a few minutes before us, and they were now heading hand-in-hand up the sandto our destination, I took full advantage of my time alone with Brooks.

I brushed his nose with mine and whispered, “Kiss me.”

“Gladly.” His warm, sensual lips, layered with his Pina colada flavored lip moisturizer, melted on mine. His brawny body, scent of coconuts, and suntan oil were so overpowering that they made me seriously doubt my reasons to save my virginity.

My hands skimmed his back muscles, unsure how much longer I could hold out. He was a true gentleman, though, never pushing me further than I wanted to go. Oh, we did things…and sometimes he’d get me so hot stopping took every ounce of our will power.

His hands dipped south, cupping my buttocks. I split my legs and wrapped them around his waist. He had a good hold on me, so I threw my arms in the air again and yelled, “I’m free!”

He chuckled, knowing what a struggle my last semester had been so far. “Well, free for seven days on spring break, Maisy,” he said. “Only forty-two days left until you graduate with your degree. Then, my beautiful girl, you are free of books and studying and cramming…and college idiots who hit on you all the time.”

He set me carefully down, and, clearly, was still not over the fact that my lab partner asked me out on a date last week. I rolled my eyes. “I shouldn’t have even told you about that. Besides, the only man I care about is you.”

“I’m teasing, babe. I know I’m one lucky guy.” He winked and lifted our bags out of the boat. I admired the flex of his golden arm muscles down to his trim, tight abs in a pair of flat front board shorts.

He may be much older, but it didn’t bother me at all. I’d dated enough boys in college; by the time I met Brooks, I was ready to graduate to a real man.

With a solid body like a Norse god, his fat bank account, his own successful business, what’s not to like? Plus, he knew how to treat a woman right, always setting up thoughtful and creative ways for us to spend time together.

There weren’t many twenty-something guys walking around Columbia who could beat that. My attraction to Brooks wasn’t just based on dollar signs and muscles thought, he also possessed a funny sense of humor, enjoyed the same streaming habits as me, and made me laugh.

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