Page 96 of The B!tch List

“Good. We’re on the same page now.” Pulling her closer I sighed. “Plus, I think Minnesota seems to have got the message too.”

She rolled her eyes. “Is it me or has he become an even bigger douchebag over the last few days.”

“Tell me about it.” I felt my jaw clench. “He’s decided he hates me suddenly. Not that we were ever really friends.”

She ran a finger over my eyebrows and sighed. “I think that might be my fault. I told him that I had feelings for you.”

“What?” I blinked not sure I’d heard her properly.

“I told him that I had feelings for you, it was when you saw him leaving my apartment. I told him that we’d kind of been seeing each other and that I wanted to move things to a different level.” She looked at me through one eye. “Are you mad?”

“The only thing I’m mad about is him thinking he can treat you like that.” Wrapping my arm around her back, I pulled her closer. “It does explain why he was a douche in Delphine’s.”

“I shouldn’t have said it though,” she said warily. “I mean we weren’t actually seeing each other. Not really.”

“Did you say it just to get rid of him?” I asked.

“No. Maybe. I don’t think so.”

I laughed. “Which is it?”

“I know it’s what I wanted to happen, so maybe it was my subconscious’ decision to say it.”

“Maybe.” I winked. “And they reckon that saying your wishes out loud means they don’t come true.”

Nancy rolled her eyes and huffed. “It was hardly a wish, Shaw.”

“More like a dream come true?” My smirk earned me a playful slap to the chest.

“I could change my mind you know.”

“But you won’t. I’m your biggest wish, remember?”

“Oh my god, now I see where Austen gets it from.” She shifted and dropped a kiss to my chest. “Anyway, I thought you wanted to get back to Stars & Stripes.”

“What and watch my sister and Ellie vie for Miss. Most Pregnant of Dayton Valley? No thanks.”

We fell silent and watched each other for a few seconds and as I considered how damn beautiful that she was I wondered how stupid I’d been not to have asked her for a chance before now.

“Do you think anyone saw us leave together?” Nancy asked after a few minutes.

I laughed. “I don’t know Nancy, what do you think?”

“They may have seen me throw a drink over Ruthie, and they may not. Either way we’ve only been gone a little over an hour.”

I lifted my head to look at her. “And?”

“We could always fit another round in.”

I grinned, liking that idea, but then I was reminded of something. “Okay,” I said. “But one other thing.”

“What’s that?”

I rolled on top of her and pinned her hands above her head. “I give you an orgasm and you show me that damn list of names you have for me.”

You know I don’t think I’d ever seen Nancy Andrews go pale before.

four months later