Page 27 of Love's a Glitch
“I get what you’re saying, though. I’ve been on dates where my gut screamedrun, strong enough I didn’t care if I could justify it or not. Fortunately, Milo doesn’t give off that vibe. Since I cringed instead of swooned at his poems, I felt like his sweetness was wasted on me, and that it was better to let him go so he could find someone who’d appreciate them. Then I got a harsh reminder of how many assholes are out there, and now I’m thinking I’d rather learn to appreciate the effort he puts into his poems rather than going out with some guy who’ll pressure me for sex and not call the next morning.”
Luke winced, and I wondered if that meanthe’d been that guy before. The muscles around his jawline tightened and he blew air from his nostrils. “If any of the guys you go on a date with pressure you like that, you call me, and I’ll come right over and set them straight.”
The protective edge to his words blew oxygen directly onto the dying coals within me, and I assured myself that it was okay to go ahead and let the fire ignite.
Just as long as I remembered the flames represented friendship, friendship,friendship.And nothing more.
13
Luke
The rich notes of vanilla, spice, and toasted oak in the bourbon slid warmth down my throat and heated my chest. I’d give it to Dad—the expensive booze reigned supreme, especially compared to the cheap swill I’d been drinking the past few years. I’d just finished off my second glass when my phone chimed.
So much for numbing thoughts of Ellie.Her face flashed before my mind, a beacon in the storm I longed to blaze a trail toward. While I didn’t want to forget a single second of our time together this afternoon, in order to prevent myself from doing something I might later regret, I’d hoped to blur them enough to get some sleep.
My heart jackhammered at the sight of her name on my phone screen, declaring there wasn’t enough Kentucky bourbon in the world to dull my reaction to Ellie.
She wants something you can’t give her. Don’t be another douchebag on her list.
As I read her text, another type of warmth spread through me, eclipsing the burn of the alcohol by a mile.
Ellie:Thanks again for the amazing day. I’m already planning the next time, when I take on the kiddie course! That’s right. You heard it here first. #BADASS
I tappedon the picture she’d attached. In a lot of ways, it was similar to the picture that’d started this whole thing. Sunlit strands, incredible smile, so much happiness it transferred to me as I studied her pretty face. OnlyIwas the dude at her side. The unicorn horn on the front of her ridiculous helmet rested against my cheek, pointing at my huge goofy grin, and had I gaped at her like that the entire day?
If so, my words and my eyes were telling two different stories, because uninhibited desire shone through the blue. Great. My profound attraction to Ellie was what’d led to helping myself to the top-shelf Kentucky bourbon in the first place.
Me:Well, now you’ve finally gotten ahold of the very thing you’ve been asking me for.
Ellie:???
Me:An embarrassing picture.
Ellie:Nice try. I’m the one in the illustrious helmet. You still owe me one embarrassing photo. No substitutions, exchanges, or refunds.
Me:Did you just quoteAladdin?
Ellie:Did you just admit to recognizing a quote fromAladdin?
Seriously,this woman was going to be the death of me. After all my dangerous exploits, to think that a witty brunette in a unicorn helmet would be the thing that did me in—nowthatwas embarrassing.
Without fully thinking through my actions, I headed toward the bathroom, my eyes still glued to the picture. All day I’d vibrated with an intoxicating sensation, and if I didn’t take the edge off, I’d explode.
Actually, that was going to happen, either way, but as I’d informed her earlier today over dinner, I liked to pretend I was a gentleman.
Being gentle isn’t anywhere close to on my mind now.
Being a man who takes a woman, however…
I shed my shirt and quickly tapped out a reply, wishing her goodnight.
Ellie:Goodnight.??
Tepid water sprayedfrom my showerhead, and I debated a second before turning it to the hotter side. Cold showers were for restraint, and I wasn’t going to bother with that right now.
After stepping out of my sweatpants and boxers, I climbed into the shower. Then I closed my eyes and pictured Ellie. I traveled back to the plank, when she’d been celebrating making it across. Rewound to a few minutes before that, when she’d gotten stuck after looking down.
If I concentrated hard enough, I could feel her arms around my waist, as well as the rise and fall of her breasts against my chest.Now that I’ve wrapped myself around you, I’m not sure Icanlet go.
