Page 18 of Love Like Lightning

She looks just as good now as she did a couple of months ago, and suddenly it’s clear to me why I can’t get her out of my head.

I want to have sex with her again.

That’s it.

That makes sense.

Sort of. Repeat hookups aren’t my norm, but we did have some incredible sex together. And she’s here again.

Must be fate.

I watch her check her phone, laughing at whatever she sees, and I suddenly wonder if she’s gotten herself a boyfriend since the last time I saw her. My stomach hollows out, feeling foreign and wrong.

Searching my thoughts, I try to figure out what it is. I can’t be jealous if she’s seeing someone else. That would be ridiculous. But if she does have a boyfriend, we can’t have sex again.

Sex would be off the table. And that would suck. Big time.

Laughing to myself, I watch her walk up to a car, and I react without so much as a conscious thought. I’m taking long strides toward her before I realize what I’m doing.

I wouldn’t normally approach a past hookup like this, but I’m convinced that this is some cosmic timing or something. I didn’t think I’d see Gia back in Ever Lake ever again, and now here she is and here I am.

I can’t fight that.

That’s all, nothing serious, just good timing, and if there’s a niggling feeling at the back of my head trying to tell me otherwise…I ignore it.

8

Gianna

Sighing, I smooth my skirt down and, not for the first time, wish I had added some more buffer time between my travel and this meeting.

Yeah, but you were procrastinating your return to Ever Lake, weren’t you?

I changed the flight Cam booked for me no less than twice and considered doing it a third time, but decided against it after I realized how ridiculous I was being.

Grumbling to myself, I teeter the few short steps to my rental car in heels that I only save for important business meetings. I wore them the last time I was in town, and I’ve been dreading having to wear them again.

After this particular meeting, the Wrights are getting me in flats only. There’s no need for me to risk breaking my neck when I’m just the numbers girl. Frankly, there’s never a need to.

But it’s “professional,” so here we are.

“Gia?”

I almost stumble over a crack in the sidewalk, but stretch out an arm and catch myself with one hand pressed to the car. I glance around, trying to spot the person who said my name. Cam’s already at the lodge waiting for me, and I don’t know anyone else—

Oh, shit.

My eyes land on Henry, who is walking my way, looking like a wet dream. He’s dressed in a pair of incredibly well-fitting pair of jeans and a gray Henley that hugs his chest in a way that makes me jealous.

Jealous of a shirt. Christ, get it together, Gia.

Why does he have to look so good? And why is he the first person in this town that I see?

The smile on his face makes it clear that he’s happy to see me, and I can’t help but think I look like a deer in the headlights, so I do my best to wipe my face clear.

I manage as well as I can expect, but I can’t help but smile as he gets closer. It seems to be inevitable when I’m around him.

And he probably uses that smile on all kinds of girls. You’re not special.

---