Page 4 of Beautiful Storm

I don’t want to notice the way his lips lift in a half smirk as he raises an eyebrow as if to say “I see you watching me”—ever the cocky asshole that he is—and I don’t want to notice his mocking wave before his smirk turns into a scowl. I don’t wantanythingto do with him.

“Ugh, I’d rather sew myself shut,” I mutter under my breath as he turns away.

“Amelia, geez. That’s not a visual I need when I’m only two drinks in.”

My eyes flash to Hayley’s and I can’t help but laugh. “Oh…but more drinks and it would be fine,” I joke, shaking my head at the woman who has recently become my rock.

Hayley stares at me, deadpan, or maybe a little confused. “Yes. No issues.”

It might be the alcohol coursing through my veins after Hayley insisted my first drink should be a shot, or the need to prove to Luke that I’m having fun, but either way, I throw my head back and laugh out loud.God,I love her.She came into my life at the best possible time after moving to America with heractor boyfriend. They’d met when they starred together on an Australian soap opera, and when he was cast in a sitcom to be filmed here in San Francisco, she followed in the hope that she’d get her big break too.

Long story, short… I was working as an assistant at the studio where they were filming and we met waiting in line at the cafeteria. It took half a cup of coffee for her and three bites of a donut for me to convince us we were going to be friends, and we’ve been close ever since, bonding over the harsh world that is the film and television industry along with our love of sports.

Although I’m still trying to figure out how Aussie Rules works.

That aside, what really cemented our friendship is that both our relationships imploded at the same time. Hayley caught her douchebag boyfriend cheating on her with his co-star, and I made the hardest decision of my life by suggesting my husband and I take a break. Safe to say, he wasn’t happy about that request, and our marriage ended shortly after.

Hayley got back on the horse right away, or horse rider in her case—literally riding a cowboy within days of her breakup—while I’ve been taking my time. I wanted to let my heart heal a little first. I’d been in a relationship since I was seventeen. I needed a break. For me. But now…

“What’s wrong with Luke I-could-melt-your-panties-with-one-look Bennett?” Hayley says, cutting into my thoughts, her eyes following Luke as he walks toward his teammates at the bar. “He’s hot…he doesn’t like strings…at all—he’d probably let go of a balloon if you gave him one—and he has the body of a god.” Her eyes flash to mine, catching me looking in his direction. “If nothing else…” She grins. “He’s nice to look at, and his experience might mean you learn a thing or two.”

What?My gaze shifts her way and I frown. “Orhe could be lazy in bed knowing he can move on to the next girl before the night's through.”

“True. That’s a possibility but it’s not what I’m hearing around the traps.”

“What traps? What does that mean?” I raise an eyebrow and scoff. “Is that another Aussieism?”

Hayley frowns as she tucks her long blonde hair behind her ears. “You don’t say that here?”

“Nope.”

She hums to herself. “Then yes.” She nods, straightening up in her seat. “Yes, it is. It basically means it’s not what I’ve been hearing. Point is…he’s a good option.”

“I can’t.”

“Why? You love football.”

“Nah,” I lie. “I’m more into hockey men…”

Hayley shushes me with a gasp. “No, you’re not. We don’t play favorites when it comes to football or hockey men. You can’t bullshit me.”

“Ugh.”I’m going to have to tell her.“I—”

“You’re a relationship girl, right?” She cuts in before I can speak. “You don’t want your next relationship to be shadowed by the fear that he’s a rebound guy. And you said so yourself—you and Preston had a vanilla sex life. It’s time to put yourself out there. Fuck the no-strings guy that you know will be great in bed. Then search for your soulmate later.”

A little part of me comes to life as she speaks. Yes, I said that. I said our sex life was vanilla, but at the time I was okay with that. Now I want to try more, and it makes sense to try it with someone I can easily walk away from. But it has to be someone else.

“If I were to take your advice…and I’m not saying I am…yet. But Luke is not the right choice. I’ve known him for years, and if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t cry if he was hit by lightning.”

Hayley laughs out loud, her twinkling eyes moving in the direction of the obnoxious players as they chant by the bar. “Poetic considering he plays for Storm.”

I bite back my smile as she grins from ear to ear. “Point is…” I say, using her words to tell her I mean business. “I’d rather stab him while he slept than let him touch me.”Again.

“Okay.” She claps her hands together, her eyes lighting up like it’s Christmas. “One.” She raises a finger. “I need that story. And two.” Her second finger lifts. “Hate sex is highly underrated. It could beexactlywhat you need.”

“I’m not having hate sex.”

“Why?”

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