Page 36 of Beautiful Crazy

“I have no idea.” He shrugs. “To be honest, I had a suspicion that he’d take it from me anyway when I told him I wasn’t going to become an attorney, so I was already expecting it. Sure, having that money could’ve helped, especially when I was just getting started out in my career and was barely making anything, but I’d rather struggle a bit than get a shit ton of money for doing something that would’ve made me miserable.”

“Wait.” I hold up a hand, something he said setting in. “You said when thementurn twenty-five. Do the women in your family not get the same?”

“Nope. My aunt didn’t get shit when she turned twenty-five. Granted, she also married into old money, so it wasn’t like she was hurting for cash, but still. The double standard is nauseating.”

“Holy shit, that’s so sexist.”

Everett chuckles, bringing his wineglass up to his lips ashe takes a sip. “It’s a hundred percent sexist,” he agrees. “But let’s talk about something not as gloomy, and”—finishing his wine, he holds up the glass—“we should get a refill.”

“Agreed.” I giggle as I swig the rest of mine and move to stand up, but he stops me as he rises from his chair, holding a hand up.

“Let me,” he says, his eyes boring into mine, sending a shiver down my spine with the intensity of his gaze. “You sit and relax, and I’ll be right back.”

A smile curls on my lips as I hand him my empty glass, and then he disappears into the house as my mind swirls with thoughts of everything he just admitted to me and everything I still want to talk to him about tonight. I’m not sure how I’m going to get from where we just were to where I want to be, but I’m hoping a little liquid courage will help.

Sixteen

Gemma

Liquid couragedefinitelyhelped.

Once Everett came back with our refill—and the bottle of wine—our conversation moved from the heavy topic of his father to much lighter ones. We’ve spent the last half hour or so laughing and talking about everything and nothing all at once. It’s refreshing how easy it is to talk to Everett. Never do I feel an awkwardness to fill the lulls, nor do I feel like I’m forcing anything.

I would be lying if I said we haven’t had this intense chemistry since the minute we met.

And maybe that’s not a coincidence.

With that thought in mind, I take one more sip of my wine before I set it on the table and take a deep breath.

Now or never, Gemma.

Clearing my throat, I look over at Everett and say, “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about tonight.”

His brows pinch together as a smile curls his lips. “Okay, sounds ominous. What’s up?”

A chuckle bubbles out of me. “It’s nothing bad. And I don’t mean to be so formal about it, but I’ve never done something like this, so I’m a little nervous.”

“Well, now you’ve freaked me out.” He laughs, shifting more to face me. “What’s got you nervous?”

A breathy laugh slips out, and I realize I’m doing this so wrong. He’s probably going to think I’m ridiculous, and turn me down, but I can’t stop now. I have to see it through.

“All right, I’m just gonna say it.”

“Yes, please.” His smirk makes my stomach flip, and the way his piercing blue eyes watch me gives me the confidence to keep going.

“Okay, so this may be presumptuous, but it has recently been brought to my attention how much you flirt with me and the way you’re always looking at me when we’re around each other.”

His grin is so wide, it deepens the wrinkles around his eyes. “Is that so?”

Laughter bubbles out of me, mostly from nerves, but also a little bit because of the way he’s looking at me right now. Like he’s been dying for me to call him out on this. And maybe he has.

I nod. “Yes, that’s so. And I’ve also noticed that I’ve been flirting with you too, even if I didn’t totally realize it at first.”

He breathes out a chuckle, eyes glinting with amusement. “I’d say that you have too. So, what are you getting at with this little realization of yours?” Holding up afinger, he adds, “Which, by the way, I’d love to find out who brought this to your attention, but I’m guessing now isn’t the time for that.”

Nerves swim in my gut, my heart pounding a mile a minute, but it’s the good kind of pounding. Adrenaline and something I haven’t felt in years… arousal.

“Well, I know how busy you are; getting settled somewhere new, in a brand-new school. I’m busy too, with work and being a mom to a very active child.

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