Page 12 of Fumbled Beginning

She shook her head. “Aren’t you the one always telling me that I shouldn’t go on anymore dates.”

“Let me clarify.” I paused and debated how far I wanted to push her on this. “I meant anyone but me.”

She laughed. “I can’t figure you out.”

“Ask me anything. I’m an open book.”

“I can’t tell if you’re joking or serious.”

“I’m dead serious, Rylee,” I answered immediately. “We are both attracted to each other and even you can’t deny that we have chemistry.”

I so desperately wanted to move past this conversation and finally make my move, but I didn’t want to push her. I wanted her to know where I stood, break down these damn walls, and convince her to give me a chance.

She shifted her body. “Who says I’m attracted to you?”

This woman wasn’t giving me an inch, but I was calling her on her bullshit.

My gaze dropped to her lips. “Are you seriously going to pretend that you’ve never wondered what I kiss like? Never curious about what it would be like if we spent the night together?” I asked softly, noticing the rise and fall of her chest.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I don’t believe you.” My eyes tracked over her features, and I cupped her cheek. “Just so we are clear, I would worship those lips and spend every waking minute getting lost in them.”

Rylee leaned into my touch, and I had to mentally tell myself to calm down. Never in my life had I ever felt this type of yearning. We were one second away from crossing a line, but I couldn’t think of anything that would stop me.

Her lips parted, and my heart pounded in my chest, hoping she was finally going to put me out of my misery and fucking kiss me.

“Yo, JP, you back there?”

Worst fucking timing ever!

Rylee pushed away from me just as Rhett came into view.

He stood at the foot of the dock with a shit-eating grin. We probably both looked guilty as hell, even though we did nothing wrong—unfortunately.

“What’s up?”

“Am I interrupting something?” the cockblocker asked.

Rylee turned her head, unable to meet his eyes. She kept her gaze on the water.

“Rhett, did you need something?” I snapped, hating that things were now awkward.

“Yeah.” He scratched the side of his jaw. “One of the girls got sick in the kitchen. We cleaned it up but I was wondering if you had an old T-shirt or something she could change into.”

“Jesus,” I muttered under my breath and was about to stand up, but he held his hand out.

“I got it. I wanted to make sure you are cool with it.”

“There should be something in the guest room at the other end of the hall.”

“I’m on it and I’ll start clearing out the house.” His eyes bounced between us. He looked like he wanted to say more, but when he saw the murderous look on my face, he retreated back to the house.

My house. The guy had as much money as I did; he could afford his own damn house. He loved to host parties, and it was past time he started looking for his own plot of land. I was done.

Rylee removed the blanket from her shoulders and stood up. “I should get going.”

Damn, my friend and his shitty timing.

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