Page 10 of Resting Beach Face
“Right.” I cleared my throat. “I just wondered, because being horny all the time is fucking hard.”
She busted out laughing. “I don’t think it’s the same, Cash. You’re allosexual. You get it on all the time.” She paused. “Or you used to, anyway. Is that what this is about?”
“It’s not about anything.”
“I mean, I’ve noticed that it’s been a while.”
“Shh. You’ll ruin everyone’s certainty that I’m a shameless man whore.”
“I would have thought you’d want them to notice.”
“If they haven’t noticed yet, they never will. It’s been eight months. Not that I’m counting.”
She smiled sympathetically. “You are, apparently. But why—” She stopped. “This is about Declan, isn’t it?”
“No.”
That was only a partial lie. It was about Declan, but only because I was hung up on wanting him. Not because I expected anything to happen. That was obvious when he shut down the kiss at the B&B.
Mostly, it was about me. About deciding I was using sex to hide from my problems. That I was as reliant on it as my dad was on alcohol. And I’d be damned if I ever followed in his footsteps.
But going cold turkey wasn’t easy. I’d fallen off the wagon once or twice, when I’d gotten a little too desperate for human contact. I missed sex, but mostly I missed being close to another person, sharing their warmth, their breath.
Feeling connected—even if only for a few minutes.
I didn’t understand how Poppy didn’t want or need that. But in a way, I envied her. She wasn’t driven by hormones or loneliness. She found her contentment, her happiness within herself.
“Drinks are up!” Danny called.
I collected them at the counter, leaning in to smack a kiss to Danny’s cheek.
“Thanks, babe.”
“Anytime, handsome.”
By the time I arrived at the resort, I was ten minutes late. I’d caught a ride with Fisher’s dad—who was heading over to the fishing hole to join the Weekend Hookers now that he trusted my friend to run the store on his own—or I’d have been even later.
I hustled into the lobby, ignoring Brooks’s scowl and shoving a cup into his hand. “All-Americano Alpha,” I said. “You’re welcome.”
He looked down in surprise. “Oh. We have complimentary coffee.”
“But it’s not Danny’s coffee.”
He lifted the cup and took a sip and sighed. “You’re not wrong.”
I swept toward Skylar as he emerged from his office. “Sky, have I told you that you’re the bestest, most gorgeous, sexiest boss ever?”
He chuckled, shooting a puzzled glance past me to Brooks. “Not lately, no…”
I held out a coffee cup. “Well, you are, and I’d totally be the cream in your coffee anytime you want.”
“Cash,” Brooks growled behind me, sounding exasperated.
I turned, blinking wide, innocent eyes. “Don’t worry. You’re invited too.”
He grimaced. “Please don’t put that picture in my head.”
I laughed. “Too late. It’s there, isn’t it? In all its X-rated glory.”
