mug as he thought. “Maybe…” A frown twitched across his lips then disappeared.
“Have you ever been in love?” I watched him thoughtfully, trying to figure out the charming, easy-going, alluring man that sat beside me.
“I don't think so,” he answered after a few beats. “Are you in love with Kyle?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Was he your first?” A teasing grin lifted the corner of his mouth.
“That’s personal, Mr. Howell,” I teased back.
His eyes shot up in surprise before his grin grew, revealing his perfect white teeth. “That’s a yes, then?” His eyes twinkled mischievously, sending my body head first into a slow sizzle.
“Yes.” I scrunched my nose up at him before shoving him playfully.
“Is he your only?”
“Are you always so probing?” I winced as the word left my lips.
His eyebrows shot up as a mischievous sparkle lit his eyes. “No comment.”
I sighed. “No, he's not my only. We’ve broken up a few times, dated other people, but we always came back. I guess that's how I know it's true love.”
“Just because you keep coming back to the same person doesn’t make it true love, it might mean you haven't found the right one yet,” he murmured, his eyes trained on mine.
“Well, thanks for imparting your wisdom.” I retorted. “I love Kyle. I’ve always loved Kyle. We’re two pieces of the same puzzle.”
“It's good you feel that way.” He turned to look back out at the water.
“What does that mean?”
“It seems you’ve got it all figured out.” He finished his coffee and stood. “I’ve got to call a client. Later, Georgia.” He twisted a lock of my hair that had fallen across my cheek before tucking it behind my ear and leaving. Frowning, I considered his mysterious words. I knew Tristan was a hopeless flirt and a ladies’ man, but he was also sensual, thoughtful, and emotional.
I trained my eyes on the horizon and inhaled the thick ocean air. I closed my eyes as the sweet sea breeze picked up a few stray tendrils and curled them around my neck. I was sure of two things in my life ― that I’d found true love with Kyle, and buying this house on the beach had been the best decision I’d ever made.
Nine
Tristan
I crawled out of bed just as dawn started to peak though the curtains and stumbled to the bathroom. I splashed water on my face and scrubbed with my palms, trying to erase the memory of the beautiful brown eyes that had been haunting me since I’d stepped into this house a week ago.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself away from the bathroom counter and back into the bedroom. Tugging on a pair of jogging shorts, I headed out the door, feet pounding the sand as my thoughts ran wild about the girl I was supposed to spend a completely platonic summer with.
This girl was affected. I could feel it. I could see it in her eyes. I knew I shouldn’t get involved with her. I knew it would only lead to trouble — not something I always avoided — but this girl had been hurt. She’d been broken. She thought she hid it well, but the pain behind her smile, the sadness in her eyes was always there.
I ran down the shoreline and pushed myself harder than I normally did. I ran for miles before I turned and headed back to the house, slowing my pace only marginally, both dreading reaching the sprawling beach house and wanting to get back to see her face as soon as possible. I padded up the stairs to the house just as the sun was cresting over the horizon. I passed the chairs on the deck and thought of Georgia curled up in her cute little sleep shorts and thin tank, thick waves of brown hair cascading around her shoulders, her full pink lips curved in a smile.
I loved how I couldn’t bullshit her. She threw it back at me just as easily as I dealt it instead of getting flustered like most girls. Just thinking of her rolling her eyes; that indulgent smile crossing her lips, had my balls tingling.
Fuck I needed to do something about
“Have you ever been in love?” I watched him thoughtfully, trying to figure out the charming, easy-going, alluring man that sat beside me.
“I don't think so,” he answered after a few beats. “Are you in love with Kyle?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Was he your first?” A teasing grin lifted the corner of his mouth.
“That’s personal, Mr. Howell,” I teased back.
His eyes shot up in surprise before his grin grew, revealing his perfect white teeth. “That’s a yes, then?” His eyes twinkled mischievously, sending my body head first into a slow sizzle.
“Yes.” I scrunched my nose up at him before shoving him playfully.
“Is he your only?”
“Are you always so probing?” I winced as the word left my lips.
His eyebrows shot up as a mischievous sparkle lit his eyes. “No comment.”
I sighed. “No, he's not my only. We’ve broken up a few times, dated other people, but we always came back. I guess that's how I know it's true love.”
“Just because you keep coming back to the same person doesn’t make it true love, it might mean you haven't found the right one yet,” he murmured, his eyes trained on mine.
“Well, thanks for imparting your wisdom.” I retorted. “I love Kyle. I’ve always loved Kyle. We’re two pieces of the same puzzle.”
“It's good you feel that way.” He turned to look back out at the water.
“What does that mean?”
“It seems you’ve got it all figured out.” He finished his coffee and stood. “I’ve got to call a client. Later, Georgia.” He twisted a lock of my hair that had fallen across my cheek before tucking it behind my ear and leaving. Frowning, I considered his mysterious words. I knew Tristan was a hopeless flirt and a ladies’ man, but he was also sensual, thoughtful, and emotional.
I trained my eyes on the horizon and inhaled the thick ocean air. I closed my eyes as the sweet sea breeze picked up a few stray tendrils and curled them around my neck. I was sure of two things in my life ― that I’d found true love with Kyle, and buying this house on the beach had been the best decision I’d ever made.
Nine
Tristan
I crawled out of bed just as dawn started to peak though the curtains and stumbled to the bathroom. I splashed water on my face and scrubbed with my palms, trying to erase the memory of the beautiful brown eyes that had been haunting me since I’d stepped into this house a week ago.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself away from the bathroom counter and back into the bedroom. Tugging on a pair of jogging shorts, I headed out the door, feet pounding the sand as my thoughts ran wild about the girl I was supposed to spend a completely platonic summer with.
This girl was affected. I could feel it. I could see it in her eyes. I knew I shouldn’t get involved with her. I knew it would only lead to trouble — not something I always avoided — but this girl had been hurt. She’d been broken. She thought she hid it well, but the pain behind her smile, the sadness in her eyes was always there.
I ran down the shoreline and pushed myself harder than I normally did. I ran for miles before I turned and headed back to the house, slowing my pace only marginally, both dreading reaching the sprawling beach house and wanting to get back to see her face as soon as possible. I padded up the stairs to the house just as the sun was cresting over the horizon. I passed the chairs on the deck and thought of Georgia curled up in her cute little sleep shorts and thin tank, thick waves of brown hair cascading around her shoulders, her full pink lips curved in a smile.
I loved how I couldn’t bullshit her. She threw it back at me just as easily as I dealt it instead of getting flustered like most girls. Just thinking of her rolling her eyes; that indulgent smile crossing her lips, had my balls tingling.
Fuck I needed to do something about
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