Page 81 of Rebel Secrets
Classify.Relationship.Explosive.Fun.
I tried to pick up any kind of clue as to what he wanted.But then I realized.He’d just told me.He wanted to have fun.He didn’t want to classify what was going on.Reading between the lines, I understood that he didn’t want anyone to know what we were doing.
I got it.I was friends with his sister.We owned a business together.Our lives were tangled together in ways that could seriously affect our relationships.And yet…
There was part of me that wanted more.And I needed to decide if I’d be okay with not having it.
“I think I need a little time to decide if this is what I want.”
He didn’t respond right away, but he didn’t look angry or upset, and finally he nodded.
“If that’s what you want.”
Oh hell, I didn’t know what I wanted, but I did know I wasn’t ready to give him an answer right this minute.Honestly, I didn’t know what I should do.
“You know what?”I said, “I think we should meet tomorrow at the café to go over the menus.If that’s okay?”
I wasn’t sure I could think straight now.My underwear rubbed against my clit, an achy little reminder of what we’d been up to.Before I could change my mind—or lay him out on the table this time—I turned and headed out the door.
He didn’t follow and just before I turned to walk down the hall, I turned and caught a quick glimpse of him, head down, hands clenched on the edge of the table.
It made my lungs clench and my steps falter.But I knew if I went back in there, I’d give him what he wanted.I’d been there and done that with another man, and he’d broken my heart.I’d tried to be the person my former fiancé had wanted but, in the end, that person hadn’t been me.
I just didn’t know if I could be the person he wanted me to be.
Even though I knew he could be the man I needed.
ChapterTwenty-One
First week of camp
Rebel
“Hey Coach?Um, I, um, I got a problem.”
Day four of camp, and I was pretty pleased with how it was going.The kids were eager to learn and happy to be here.Well, except for Baylor Cunningham.He showed up every day ready to train, but he lost focus often, and it’d been a struggle keeping him in line.He had a comeback to everything, but it was starting to affect the rest of the team.
I hadn’t figured out yet if he was being deliberately disruptive or if there was something else going on.
“What’s up, Cunningham?”
I tried not to let the edge show in my voice.I had plans to corner Erin tonight.I knew she had book club, and I planned to be there.And no, I hadn’t read the damn book, and I didn’t care.
She couldn’t avoid me if there were other people around, and I was tired of waiting for her to come to me.I knew she was busy, knew she had way too much on her plate, but the ache in the pit of my stomach kept growing.I wanted to see her.Wanted to spend time with her.And if some of that time was naked, all the better.
And if she told me she didn’t want to spend time with me, well, at least I’d know for sure.For all that she liked to talk, she’d avoided talking to me for the past week.Even though I saw her every day, there never seemed to be time to discuss what had happened.
But I couldn’t head out until all of the kids had been picked up.
“Um, my dad’s not answering his phone, and my mom can’t get away from work.Do you, uh, do you think I could get a ride to the library.Mom said she’d pick me up there when she’s done.”
The kid had my full attention now.I’d read all the campers’ info before we’d started and, though I hadn’t memorized all the facts, I knew Bay was one of the youngest here.His bright copper hair and blue eyes set him apart.So did his skill.The kid could skate, and he was a damn good defenseman.But I’d noticed his gear was well used, verging on unusable.
I’d already decided to get the kid a couple new sticks and pads, though I’d wanted to talk to his parents first.The problem was, I hadn’t met them yet.He’d gotten a ride with one of the other kids every day.
“What time’s your mom get off from work?”
“Uh, not sure.”
