Page 22 of Hothead

CHAPTER SIX

Bella fidgeted in herchair.Torture device more like.She’d recently come to the conclusion that any chair that could be folded was not for her. Actually, they weren’t for anyone past the age of thirty. She needed back support. Some cushions. Maybe a nice neck rest.

This is why I don’t do activities.

Her job was adventurous enough. When she wasn’t working, she wanted comfort. Peace and quiet. Maybe a nice book.

Not for the first time today, she cursed Luke. He was the reason she was surrounded by strangers right now. Pretending to fish. She hadn’t even put any bait on her rod for God’s sake. Not that anyone noticed. They were too busy snapping pictures for their Instagram.

Why was he the reason she agreed to go on a fishing trip? That damn kiss, that’s why. Two days later, and her body was still buzzing. Who the hell kissed like that? Like he was worshipping her and punishing her at the same time. Setting everything inside of her ablaze. But the worst part was that she wanted more. So badly, she was even prepared to burn for it.

Fuckboys kiss like that.

Exactly. There’s no way a man becomes that talented without a whole load of practice. But just the thought of that turned her stomach. Kept her awake. It didn’t make any sense. Nothing about what she was feeling for the man she barely knew did. Which brought her back to why she was there. Joining in. Throwing herself into activities in the hope she’d quieten her mind, if only for a little while.

“So, you and Luke?”

Goddamnit.

Wade had snuck up on her. He’d even managed to drag his own foldable chair next to her without her noticing.

“There is nome and Luke.” Denial. Denial. Denial.

Wade scoffed. “Yeah right. He practically peed a circle around you a few days ago. And a little bird told me he made quite the scene at the Tipsy Cow the other night. You’re the talk of the town.”

Stupid small towns.

“Perfect,” she grumbled, her eyes shooting back to the riverbed in front of her.

“So? What’s going on with you guys?” Wade prompted.

He got her eyes again, but only so she could throw him a disappointed head shake. “Wade Evans, I never took you as a gossip.”

A short, sharp laugh escaped as she got an eyeful of dimples. “Yeah, well, what can I say? I don’t get out much.”

Says the man always outside. But she was guessing he wasn’t talking about the great outdoors.

“That makes two of us.” She blew out a breath. “Marco, well, he was the social butterfly. If he didn’t drag me out, I’d probably go months on end without basic interaction ... and be perfectly happy. I guess now he’s gone ... I’m gonna have to drag myself out.”

Her gaze returned to the ripples. A steady stream of green rapids glistening under the sun.

“It must be hard. Losing someone so close to you. I can’t even imagine.”

She nodded into the distance. “I miss him. Every day.”

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