Page 10 of Falling for You
“Hey yourself. Good to have you back for the summer.” I smile like a goofy teenager in love.
My eyes haven’t been able to leave her all night. And right now, I’ve had enough beer to not remember that I shouldn’t be thinking the thoughts that I’m thinking.
“It’s good to be back.” She sits next to me, her leg pressed against mine sending zings of heat straight to my balls.
I stare at her, and she stares back. My eyes drift to her lips. Plump full lips that I don’t ever think I’ve noticed before tonight.
As if her lips are pulling mine to hers, I slam my mouth onto the plump lips that taste like cherries.
That summer was the first time I had a taste of Emma Keaton. And I was hooked. We started hooking up any time she’d come home on weekends and over the last year my feelings for her have grown. I’ve fallen in love with my best friend’s sister. But I can’t bring myself to tell him, or her for that matter. She made it crystal clear when we started that this was purely a friends with benefits deal.
My phone vibrates again in my pocket. This time it’s my sister calling. A good reminder of how I’d feel if Hunter was the one in my situation and that I’d want to kill him myself then ask questions.
“Hey, baby sister,” I answer.
“I’m twenty-seven. Do we still need to call me that?” She sighs.
I pick up a nail and line it up where I need it. “We do. What’s going on? You don’t usually call me.”
“I just wanted to touch base about me coming home this weekend. I can still stay with you?” Evelyn lives in Portland, but she likes to stay with me for a weekend getaway here and there. I don’t think she actually likes living in the city, she just followed Mom and Dad like the dutiful daughter she is.
“Of course! I’m excited to see you, but is Neil coming?” I groan. I love my sister but her boyfriend is a pretentious dick.
“He’s not. He has a work thing. But it wouldn’t kill you to be nice to him, Rome.”
“I think it actually might. What do you see in that guy, Evelyn? You deserve so much better than him.” I roll my eyes, I could never be nice to that guy. I’ve seen his wandering eyes too much at the brewery to think he isn’t cheating on her back in Portland. He’s just smart enough to not do it in my bar.
“He loves me. And he isn’t afraid to show it to the world.”
Loves her or controls her? I hate this guy and she’ll never convince me otherwise. I don’t like how she feels she needs to get defensive of him.
“I’m glad you’re coming home either way. And of course my house is yours. When will you be here?”
“Tonight! I’m leaving now. Is my favorite girl ready for some snugs?”
“You know she is. I’ll head home now and clean up for ya. I have to work but you have the key. And Fiona will be more than happy to see you.”
Sometimes I think Evelyn only comes home to see my dog, not her big brother.
At least now I have an excuse to avoid Hunter and his dates tonight.
Sweat drips down the center of my back. An unusually warm May day has shown up just in time for the Memorial Day Parade. And I only semi-regret wearing my favorite pair of jeans that look tailor made for my body, accentuating the ass I’ve worked really fucking hard for.
Despite choosing my outfit to garner Rome’s attention this morning, I’ve been trying to avoid him all day, not actually wanting to come face-to-face with him. I’ve been successful so far, but he and Hunter are only a few booths away from reaching ours at the vendor’s market.
Violet and Willow are with me today, working the booth for the bakery, and for the inn. We are giving away a weekend stay and it’s been really popular with locals as well as tourists.
It’s absolutely killing Violet to not make any comments about Roman and I. Her mouth keeps opening, then closing, thenlooking at Willow, followed up with a huff of annoyance. Her patience is about to be tested as Hunter and Roman finally make their way over to our booth. I catch her eye and subtly shake my head. She rolls her eyes and turns away from me. This is torture for her.
I make a show of bending over to get some more promotional materials out of the box under the table at the back of our tent. Giving anyone on the other side of our booth a perfect view of my ass. Exactly as Roman walks up to our booth. Violet chuckles off to the side as she figures out what I’m doing.
Behind me someone chokes and sputters. A sly smile spreads for a brief moment at the thought that I’ve affected him like he affects me. I stand, turning to look over my shoulder and, sure enough, there is Roman, choking on the lemonade he must have been sipping on his way over.
“You alright, man? Do I need to do the Heimlich?” Hunter slaps his back.
“I’m good.” He stares right at me, “I’ll be fine in a minute. I just need to recover.”
I turn back away from him, grabbing my stack of brochures to place on the table where he stands.
