My smile was enormous. “I knew it’d be perfect for you,” I said without thinking. Shit.
“Wait a minute… You knew about this?”
“Um—”
“You let me suffer all this time and didn’t say anything? I thought you’re my best friend? I thought you loved me? I thought—”
“Perry, stop. I do love you; that’s why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t know any details, I just saw the ring and knew he was planning something. I didn’t want to take the magic away from you by letting you know beforehand. Do you think you’d have been that excited if every second you were with him, you were constantly wondering if that was the moment?”
“Well, when you put it that way… I guess I can forgive you since you’re going to be my official sister and all. And I’m way too happy to be upset right now. But I will get you back someday, somehow.”
She laughed, and I knew all was good. “I can’t wait to see the ring.”
“You just said you already did.”
“Not while it was on your finger.” I walked into my office and rested my head against one of the huge windows. The sun would be rising soon.
“That’s true. So what are your plans today? Besides morning sex.”
“Let’s see. I have a teleconference in less than two hours. Then around noon, I’ll be getting my period, and then I agreed to watch Chase play baseball at three. After that, not sure.”
“Hmm… public stuff. So for afterward, why don’t you just say you’ll be having more sex? You know that’s what you’ll be doing.”
“No, Perry. Didn’t you just hear me say I’ll have my period?”
“Maybe he’s into that.”
“It doesn’t matter if he is. I’m not. Why do you think he’s still here this morning? I wanted to get in one last time before I’m out of commission for the next two days.”
“You can’t lie worth shit, Jills.” I fixated on the dove’s nest sitting on top of my water spout outside to keep from chuckling. “You know very well why he’s there. Now, you’re going to repeat after me: I will never lie to my best friend and sister ever again.”
“I will never lie to my best friend and sister ever again.” I couldn’t help it this time; I started to laugh.
“Now say, ‘Chase is still here because I care about him. It’s more than just sex.’ Got it?”
“Chase is still here because I care about him. It’s more than just sex. I really like him.”
“I never told you to say that last part.” Oh, damn. That must have just slipped out somehow. “So, where’s he playing today?”
“Killmer Field.”
“Okay, I’ll come out and sit with you awhile before I need to meet up with Stephen again. I’ll bring the smelling salts in case you pass out from swooning so hard.”
“Sounds good, Perry. See you then.”
I turned around to see Chase leaning against the doorway, naked and hard. Fuck.
“You really like me, huh?”
My eyes traveled over his body. I felt like I’d received my favorite Christmas present every time I looked at him. “And that turns you on?”
“You have no idea, Wild Horses.” His voice added more intensity to the throb. He held out his hand, and I went to him. I wasn’t going to waste my remaining time sleeping. He pulled me tight against him. “You have no idea,” he repeated into my ear.
I hadsomeidea.
Atouch on my shoulder made me swing my head around. “Hey, you made it!” I said.
“Of course I did, silly.” Perry sat beside me on the bleachers just as the opposing batter struck out. She wrapped her arms around mine and pulled me close. “Damn, he’s hot.”