Page 50 of Bright Lights and Summer Nights

MARGO

Making an extremely pregnant woman keep a secret from her baby daddy when said baby daddy is barely letting her out of the house is cruel. I need to gossip and both of you are busy.

WINNIE

I love that Beck listens to your gossip.

EMMA

We’ve all met Archer, Win. We know that man loves when you bring home the tea to spill.

MARGO

Kick some ass at tennis today, Em! Even if you suck, you’ll look hot as fuck doing it.

I smile, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I think about a witty response. I want to tell her I’m terrified of making a fool out of myself in front of everyone today, but I want to opt out of coming clean on that and pretend to be confident instead.

Preston tries to look over my shoulder at my phone as I step out of the car in front of the tennis courts at Pembroke Hills Country Club. “Who are you talking to?” he asks, trying to peer down at my phone.

I gasp, pulling it to my chest. “That’s none of your business.”

His body cages me in, pinning me between his sports car and his body. His cologne surrounds me, and I try not to think about the way my sheets smelled like him last night as I drifted asleep to thoughts of him. “I beg to differ,” Preston responds, running a finger along my chest. He traces the bare skin right next to where I hold my phone, sending shivers through my entire body.

“No, it isn’t.”

“You’re right. But I still want to know.”

I sigh, hating that his answer is perfect. Everything he says is perfect and surprisingly charming—despite him having a sour attitude more often than not. “I’m texting Winnie and Margo.”

This might be my head playing tricks on me, but I swear his shoulders loosen a little with my answer. “About what?”

“Admittedly, I did tell them about you. But don’t worry, I just said you invited me to be your date for the weekend and that things are very casual. I’ve sworn them to secrecy from sharing anything with their husbands.”

“Fine by me.” His answer takes me by surprise. I was ready for him to be upset that I told my friends about us without running through a story with him first. I know he probably works hard at keeping his private life private and that our little charade for the week is probably messing that up, but I can’t help but focus on his surprising reaction.

“Really?” I ask, not hiding the shock in my tone.

“It was possible they could be at the wedding this weekend anyway, right?”

I nod. I’m sure they were invited because my friends get invited to everything. But even before getting confirmation that neither of them will be here this weekend, I didn’t expect them to be in the Hamptons this weekend for Peyton’s wedding.

“Then, of course, I don’t care that you told them. I’m the one who called you my girlfriend without ever getting your permission, remember?”

I place my hands against his chest. His muscles are hard underneath my palms, even with the thin fabric between us. I wish he’d play tennis shirtless so I could get a good look at everything he hides underneath his fancy clothes. He saw all of me last night, so it’s only fair I see more of him.

“I thought I was going to be put away for murdering you after that.”

He leans in close and brushes his thumb along my cheek. “I’m glad you didn’t. It hasn’t worked out terribly for you, right?”

I lean into his touch, loving the way the calluses on his fingertips feel against my sensitive skin. “That depends on if I make a fool of myself playing tennis this morning.”

He presses his lips against mine without any warning, as if he’s trying to ease my nerves by kissing them away.

It might work. The man is an excellent kisser. His tongue meets mine eagerly, tracing the seam of my mouth and moving at a speed that has my toes curling in my tennis shoes. I fist the fabric of his shirt and bring him closer to me, needing more from him. I want all of him, but that might be a little R-rated for the country club parking lot.

I know it’s possible that anyone could be watching us right now, but I don’t care. I place my hands on his shoulders and stand on my tiptoes. Preston understands what I want immediately. His hands run up the backs of my thighs and against my ass until he’s lifting me off my feet. My thighs wrap around his middle instantly.

We make out like a bunch of horny teenagers, and it’s the best kiss of my life. I swear each time we kiss, it gets better, and I’m slowly beginning to get addicted to the way Preston kisses me. It’s possessive and confident. I moan when he squeezes my ass and lets out his own groan of arousal.

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