Page 40 of My Secret to Protect

The ride back to Forest Falls was smooth and uneventful. I hate to admit, even to myself, that I loved being on the back of a motorcycle again after so long. I loved being onhismotorcycle after so long, and the urge to push my hands up under his shirt to flatten my hands against his heated skin the way I used to was strong.

Then our date. I feel so stupid, so embarrassed for getting excited and dressed up to go out with him, feeling like there was still a connection again when it was all an act. The man deserves an Oscar because the way he looked at me had me convinced. If he hadn’t messed up and called me princess, would he have kissed me? Would he have fucked me? How far would he have gone to convince me this was real?

Now, it’s Sunday morning, and I’m hosting brunch with my girls at my place. It was Arlo’s idea. He suggested it when he called around yesterday afternoon to check on me after everything. He wants Nolan to see me having fun and enjoying myself, and I always enjoy myself with my girls.

I’ve dragged my ass in and out of the shower, managed to pull on some shorts and a tank, and opened up all of the windows to let the air flow through the house and blow out the negative energy I’m putting down, and now I’m just waiting for…

‘The party has arrived,’ Missy calls out as she comes around the house to find me on the back porch. Zoe and Cara follow her with the babies in their strollers. My heart kicks up at the sight of them.

‘Gimme those babies.’ I stand, my love for them and need to have them close, pushing away my fear and exhaustion as I rush to my niece and nephew. ‘Oh my god, they’re so beautiful.’ I sigh happily.

Who could be stressed out with not one, but two gorgeous newborns to snuggle?

‘Thisisnice,’Carasays thoughtfully, stretching out her legs into the sunlight, the top half of her body in the shade of the porch roof as she nurses little Lottie.

‘It is,’ Missy admits, ‘but if we don’t start talking about the BDE next door soon, I’m going to lose it.’

‘Oh my god,’ I groan as Zoe laughs. I’m not ready for this. Not ready to lie to them.

‘She’s right, twinnie. Arlo is swinging somerealbig dick energy around, so you’re going to have to start blabbing, honey. Tell us about your date.’

Here we go. ‘It was nice.’ And it was—until it wasn’t.

‘Nice?’ Cara questions. ‘The pair of you almost started a fire at the bar with the sparks that were flying.’

‘And Merv said y’all were making goo-goo eyes at each other at the diner.’

Fuckin’ Merv. ‘We were not,’ I whine the huff out in a dramatic breath. ‘But fine, it was good, he’s…’ I inhale deeply, considering my words when Missy,helpfully, fills in the gap.

‘Hung?’

‘Jesus, Miss.’ I can’t help but laugh.

‘What? He’s like eight foot tall, it would be weird if he didn’t have a huge dick.’

‘Do I need to call your man to come get you?’

‘No, god, he is exhausted. Let the man rest.’ She grins, and the rest of us laugh.

‘Well, I’m invested now,’ Cara prompts, and my mouth falls open as Zoe steals the words right out of my mouth.

‘Cara Marie, you’ve come a long way, girl.’

I laugh. It’s true. The sweet girl who arrived here a couple of years ago and hadn’t ever had an orgasm and had never even considered masturbation is now asking about the size of my fake boyfriend’s dick.

‘First off, you make him sound like Sasquatch. He’s like six-four at most.’ I glare at Missy who presses her lips together in a troublemaking smirk.

‘And you are?’

‘You know damn well I’m five-three.’

‘Hot,’ my best friend fans herself, ‘he can just carry you around like a little sex doll.’

‘Marissa, I swear to god.’

‘Okay, okay,’ she swats at me with her hand, ‘but tell us, did you put out? I know y’all only had one date, but he’s fine as hell, Bree.’

‘It’s not only one date,’ I admit, and they all turn to look at me. ‘He took me out on a ride, too.’

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