Page 61 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 2

I should have taken advantage last night since he left to help his mom get the house ready for guests. Now it’s too late.

Yet because of the damn towels and more than two hours stuck in a car traveling, I’ve spent most of today thinking about how hot he is. This is what he does to me.Mounting pressure . . .Muddled. I can’t even think straight because of those damn towels, the deep V that I saw water droplets trailing down last Tuesday, and a minimum of six abs. There might be more. It would be rude to stare longer than I already had.

So there’s only one thing I can do. I must now dedicate my life to the pursuit of confirming just how many muscles he has on that washboard stomach of his.

Yes, now would be a good time to remember he’s not mine—not to claim, not to flirt with, not to think about beyond our temporary arrangement.

I’ve seen at least fifteen apartments in the past three weeks, and any that Rad saw, he refused to even consider. So temporary is already longer than I expected. He’s been a great sport about me staying and even told me not to rush into a rash decision.

I appreciate how he’s looking out for me. He’s been such a gentleman, and here, I’ve been acting like a dog in heat.Not very nice of me.

Yes, this weekend is needed. Hopefully, it will offer a nice distraction, taking my mind off everything it shouldn’t be on, and I can relax.

As soon as the car pulls onto the driveway, I see Rad walking out of the house to greet us. Dammit. Why does he have to look like he just stepped out ofGQ?

Every. Dang. Time.

His mom hurries from the house right behind him, waving from the porch. Amanda Allison is pure joy. When the car comes to a stop, Marlow swings open the passenger’s door and groans, “Why do the Hamptons have to be so far from the city?” She’s already stretching her arms in the air when my back-seat door opens.

Rad smiles at me, trying to kill me dead on this seat. “Hi,” he says, offering me a hand. “It’s a big drop.”

Freaking gentleman.

“Hi.” I slip my hand in his and hop out. He moves to the back,too fast for my liking, to start unloading. Stepping onto the lawn, I smile, closing my eyes, stealing only a second to take it all in. “Listen. Not a siren or horn to be heard.”

Marlow laughs. “Those sirens lull me to sleep each night.”

“You can hear them in your palace in the sky?”

Coming around to this side of the SUV, she taps my arm. “I bought a noise machine that plays the recorded version. Too much quiet leaves room for my mind to wander, and I don’t want that interfering with my beauty sleep.”

Cammie and Cade are already on the porch hugging Amanda, so I drag my large bag from the floorboard and hike it onto my shoulder. Before I have a chance to start walking, Rad’s taking the handles from me. “Let me.” I peek up to find the gold in his eyes brighter in the sunshine. “How was the ride?”

It takes me a second to get my bearings. “Noisy. Marlow snored with her headphones on. Jackson was watching a movie on his phone but forgot his earbuds. Cammie was dealing with the wedding planner. Cade tapped the steering wheel to a beat in his head for at least two hours.”

Chuckling, he asks, “And what about you? What did you do to pass the time?”

“Daydreamed.” The confession makes me giggle, and I’m grateful he can’t read my thoughts . . . or know what I was daydreaming about.

“Must have been a good daydream.”

I nod. “It most definitely was.”

Marlow calls out, “Rad, do you mind taking my bags upstairs?” She goes inside the house without taking them with her, including the small Vuitton train case she was holding.

“I can help,” I add.

“It’s okay. You should go inside and join her. It was a long drive. By the time I get the luggage to the rooms, you’ll probably be ready to freshen up.”

“I don’t mind.”

He chuckles. “I insist. I missed my workout this morning anyway, and Jackson can help. Go on up and enjoy.” He winks. Calling out to Jackson, he says, “St. James, get your ass over here and help me with the luggage.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Amanda comes down the steps with her arms open wide. “It’s so good to see you again, Tealey.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I say, “It’s been too long.” There’s comfort in her arms and such kindness felt in the hug. She leans back and looks at me like a doting stage mom. “You’re more beautiful every time I see you. How are you?”

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