Page 56 of Lost Love

“And I said it was too soon.”

“Good girl.”

She traced her lower lip with her teeth. “But I need to decide if Jake is what I want going forward because I know if I take him back, he’ll want it all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jake’s never been a guy that’s half in. He’s talked about marrying me before. Then he broke my trust.”

“You’re too young to marry!” I blurted out, causing her to look up at me wide-eyed.

“Your sister’s the same age, and she is engaged.”

“Hang on. You can’t be seriously thinking about marrying him? He went behind your back and slept with another woman.”

“He didn’t sleep with her.”

“He may as well have. Didn’t he do everything else?”

“It was just a kiss,” she mumbled.

“I’m sorry,” I said, aware she was getting upset. I wanted her to be happy. I promised her I would help her, so I’d do just that as much as it pained me to see her with another man.

“Listen, I’m sorry. I promised I’d help you.”

“That’s okay. This is weird… you… me… friends.”

“I know, it’s very difficult for me to stop myself from climbing over this table and pressing my lips against yours, Pepper, but that makes everything complicated.”

She gave me a heated stare before blinking and shaking her head. “It’s what can’t happen, Connor. And you can’t look at me like you want to fuck me at any given moment.”

“That goes for you too. If you bat those lashes at me again, I’m not going to have the restraint to hold myself back.

“Oh God, we’re a bunch of nymphos,” she said, and we both laughed.

Shit.“Well, don’t come around wearing a short skirt… that might help.”

“Okay, deal.” She extended her hand, and I took it in mine, ignoring the buzz up my spine.

“With Jake, wear the skirt, but don’t let him near you. Keep him wanting you, but keep him at a distance. Guys can’t handle that… they just want you more.”

“And kissing?”

I sucked in a breath, my gaze drifting down to her luscious, full lips. “That’s up to you, but don’t kiss him in front of me. Because I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“And you think I enjoy watching Francesca all over you?”

“Fair point.”

“It’s something we have to get used to, I guess,” she admitted, her gaze lifting to meet mine.

When I said nothing, she poked at her food. “Anyway, it’s not like we’ll be hanging out just the four of us!”

“Definition of torture.”

“Agreed,” she said, and I was happy that she found this situation difficult too.

She pushed aside the rest of her food as we continued talking about Lourde and Barrett’s upcoming nuptials—choosing to discuss a non-controversial topic like Jake and Francesca.

---