with you makes my blood boil, I will put up with it because that is what friends do. I realize you no longer want to marry me but I have always cherished our friendship, Deirdre and yes, I do intend to stay here in La Jolla because it’s where you’re happy.”
“What about your business with Drew?” I inquired out loud. “I mean, if you dare tell me you are going back to bar jobs and being a barista with your Harvard degree then I will personally kill you myself.”
“I will still own the bar with Drew but he and Aubrey can handle it while I am away. Actually, I want to buy in on your coffee shop and co-own Ground Beans with you. We both know I am more knowledgeable about the coffee industry than you are so I would be more than happy to help,” he explained with a hint of snarkiness to his tone.
I laughed out loud. “I would love to act all tough shit and tell you to take your money and shove it but I do need all the help I can get with Ground Beans. I know you would be do a lot better job handling the employees than I do and you’re right, I miss our friendship too. More than you could ever know.”
He leaned against the railing and let the gentle breeze flow through his silky fair hair. “They say everything happens for a reason and I always thought those people were full of bullshit but…perhaps we needed that to happen and maybe you do deserve some time away from me. You may think I am being altruistic and a bit of a wimp but I have my ulterior motives. I am secretly hoping you and Drake crash and burn so I can be here to pick up the pieces.”
I smiled wryly. “Well, at least you’re honest.”
Colin leaned in toward me and if I didn’t have cramps from hell ravaging my body, I might have taken him up on the offer his body language was sending out to me loud and clear but at the last minute, I chickened out and backed away.
“This can’t happen. Not after I just got out of the hospital but to answer your question, yes, I am still very much attracted to you. I can’t promise you anything though because I’m not sure what I want and until I do, it isn’t fair to you or me.”
“You’re right.” His arms slipped around my waist as he pulled me closer to him and buried his face in my hair. “I miss doing this more than anything. Does that sound cheesy?”
“No.” My arms slid around his neck and the feel of his clothed body pressed against mine was almost more than I could take.
I was certifiable and had no idea what the hell I wanted hence it was a good thing I couldn’t do anything with anyone.
I don’t remember when we separated from one another but eventually we let each other go and walked back inside. The little get together continued for a couple more hours before Colin left with Drew and Aubrey. I didn’t realize I wasn’t alone until I heard the toilet flush in the hallway bathroom and Drake emerged moments later with freshly washed hands.
I smiled at him as I leaned against the opposite wall. “Well, aren’t you just as sneaky as your cousin? I thought you’d left.”
He grinned back before he pushed his body against mine. There was nothing gentlemanly about his behavior what so ever. “Nope, not on your life, woman—I may have not gone to Harvard but I did go to the Ivy League of culinary institutions and I am far from stupid. I wanted some quality time with you too like your ex enjoyed on the balcony. I noticed you two didn’t kiss. Can I ask why?”
He was too close to me and he smelled so good, a mixture of some expensive cologne from Christian Dior and his own manly scent. I was intoxicated by too much Pinot Grigio and the sheer maleness of Drake O’Connell. It wasn’t fair for me to feel this way especially when his nose was pressed against mine intentionally. He didn’t want us to kiss but we were close enough.
“I don’t want to confuse Colin. It’s not fair to lead him on when I’m not sure what it is I want at this time in my life.”
He face
“What about your business with Drew?” I inquired out loud. “I mean, if you dare tell me you are going back to bar jobs and being a barista with your Harvard degree then I will personally kill you myself.”
“I will still own the bar with Drew but he and Aubrey can handle it while I am away. Actually, I want to buy in on your coffee shop and co-own Ground Beans with you. We both know I am more knowledgeable about the coffee industry than you are so I would be more than happy to help,” he explained with a hint of snarkiness to his tone.
I laughed out loud. “I would love to act all tough shit and tell you to take your money and shove it but I do need all the help I can get with Ground Beans. I know you would be do a lot better job handling the employees than I do and you’re right, I miss our friendship too. More than you could ever know.”
He leaned against the railing and let the gentle breeze flow through his silky fair hair. “They say everything happens for a reason and I always thought those people were full of bullshit but…perhaps we needed that to happen and maybe you do deserve some time away from me. You may think I am being altruistic and a bit of a wimp but I have my ulterior motives. I am secretly hoping you and Drake crash and burn so I can be here to pick up the pieces.”
I smiled wryly. “Well, at least you’re honest.”
Colin leaned in toward me and if I didn’t have cramps from hell ravaging my body, I might have taken him up on the offer his body language was sending out to me loud and clear but at the last minute, I chickened out and backed away.
“This can’t happen. Not after I just got out of the hospital but to answer your question, yes, I am still very much attracted to you. I can’t promise you anything though because I’m not sure what I want and until I do, it isn’t fair to you or me.”
“You’re right.” His arms slipped around my waist as he pulled me closer to him and buried his face in my hair. “I miss doing this more than anything. Does that sound cheesy?”
“No.” My arms slid around his neck and the feel of his clothed body pressed against mine was almost more than I could take.
I was certifiable and had no idea what the hell I wanted hence it was a good thing I couldn’t do anything with anyone.
I don’t remember when we separated from one another but eventually we let each other go and walked back inside. The little get together continued for a couple more hours before Colin left with Drew and Aubrey. I didn’t realize I wasn’t alone until I heard the toilet flush in the hallway bathroom and Drake emerged moments later with freshly washed hands.
I smiled at him as I leaned against the opposite wall. “Well, aren’t you just as sneaky as your cousin? I thought you’d left.”
He grinned back before he pushed his body against mine. There was nothing gentlemanly about his behavior what so ever. “Nope, not on your life, woman—I may have not gone to Harvard but I did go to the Ivy League of culinary institutions and I am far from stupid. I wanted some quality time with you too like your ex enjoyed on the balcony. I noticed you two didn’t kiss. Can I ask why?”
He was too close to me and he smelled so good, a mixture of some expensive cologne from Christian Dior and his own manly scent. I was intoxicated by too much Pinot Grigio and the sheer maleness of Drake O’Connell. It wasn’t fair for me to feel this way especially when his nose was pressed against mine intentionally. He didn’t want us to kiss but we were close enough.
“I don’t want to confuse Colin. It’s not fair to lead him on when I’m not sure what it is I want at this time in my life.”
He face
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