Page 33 of Finding Their Place

I’d never met the whole package before, the type of woman who could listen without interruption, ask questions because she truly cared, and who looked as delicious as a luscious slice of coconut cream pie.

The beguiling curl of her lips begged my tongue to take a taste. A gentle slope of tanned skin along her neck peeking at me through maroon-colored tresses made my teeth itch to scrape the flesh. Slender shoulders and a perfect amount of cleavage from her low-cut white shirt caused dampness to coat my palms time and again.

I’d been on a goddamn roller coaster of emotions since early that morning, but just chatting about our favorite TV shows—reality for both of us—settled my insides better than any pink chalk-like liquid medicine.

We got into the latest dating show that had taken the US by storm, but Haley lost the sparkle in her eyes.

“Jessica Braddock is a bitch, a complete narcissist.”

The latest bachelorette to join in the house where the cast of singles had been shut in together for two weeks. Forced proximity hadn’t worked out well for finding any happily ever afters, and I had to agree with Haley’s thoughts on the newest addition.

And Haley would know the TV star’s character. She’d told me all about her mom the night before.

“She’s making every goddamn thing about her, and don’t get me started on the tears.” Haley rolled her eyes. “Manipulative little whore. She got caught lying to save her own ass—twice—and the men are still falling at her feet because of honeyed words. How can they not see the red flags she’s waving like those guys do at the end of car races?”

I didn’t correct her about them being checkered but let her go on with her tirade. Haley’s mom had done some serious damage to her heart. Broke down her ability to trust easily. The narcissistic woman had made it hard for Haley to lower her walls and be vulnerable.

But she’d shared with me more than I expected—and I saw firsthand how her emotions played out on her face.

Her eyes couldn’t lie, and her going off about some random woman on TV gave me information into her inside workings I craved to understand.

“You seem super empathetic,” I said when she paused to take a bite of her dinner. “Have you ever put yourself in that woman’s shoes? Tried to figure out why she behaves that way? Not that I’m condoning cheating or anything.”

“And why the fuck would I? She’s just like my mom.” Haley’s anger coated every word—wrapped around her like that armor she spoke of to protect herself from the hurt.

“I’m just saying that our pasts oftentimes dictate how we react. The words that leave our mouths. Sometimes it’s involuntary, and if a person isn’t aware of their problems…”

I shrugged, deciding psychoanalyzing probably wasn’t the best thing to be doing on our first date.

“There are no excuse for lies and manipulation. Period.”

I’d finished my dinner and sat back, watching Haley’s expressive face as she continued to go off about a girl she hadn’t ever met.

Dark eyes flashing, furrowed brow, lips pouting and spouting curses…I shouldn’t have been turned on by Haley’s understandable tantrum, but she wore the pissed off look well.

“That Joshua Richards isn’t much better,” she spewed, waving her fork. “They’re a fucking match made in heaven if you ask me. Selfish prick, narcissistic bitch. They ought to just put a ring on it and be miserable together.”

I shouldn’t have been enjoying myself as she unintentionally bared herself to me, but I couldn’t bite back my grin.

Haley caught the humor on my face anyway. “What?” she snipped, fork still upright in her hand, those eyes of Jameson like liquid fire.

“You’re fucking gorgeous when you’re riled up.”

Haley narrowed her gaze, and I lost my ability to keep from laughing.

“Christ, Haley, I like your spirit. Your fire. You’re one hell of a woman.”

The pissiness leached away from her face, and she went all soft in less than two heartbeats. Yet another telling reaction I soaked the fuck up.

Haley craved edification and attention—and I had a shit ton to give if she’d let me. “You aren’t so bad yourself,” she murmured, pink on her cheeks.

“Not so bad, huh?” I raised an eyebrow, deciding I’d had enough of the serious conversations and getting to know your likes and all that shit continuation from what we’d shared on Friday and Saturday night.

She’d promised distraction, and even though she’d already delivered more than I’d expected over our dinner, she left me aching.

Wanting more.

Haley seemed to be on the same page because her focus dropped to my mouth.

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