Page 34 of The Bachelor

“Hold on a sec.” I returned my phone to the top of my back pocket. “Macon, Macon … I know him. He was at your apartment the night of your housewarming party, right?” I said to Camden.

Camden nodded, but his eyes had changed since the mention of his best friend’s name.

They’d darkened.

Almost like he was giving me a warning.

And then he lifted his phone and read my text, his thumbs hitting the screen to type his reply.

“Did you find him cute?” Hannah asked me.

I smiled at Hannah. “Cute? More like incredibly handsome. He was tall with dark hair and these striking green eyes, if I remember correctly.”

I knew I couldn’t make Camden jealous; he wasn’t into me at all—at least not in the way where he’d care if I found another guy attractive. Plus, I wasn’t trying to make him jealous. I was just speaking the obvious.

Macon Spade was a really good-looking man.

“He fits your physical criteria—that’s for damn sure,” Hannah said.

“I think when we met, he was telling me about some exotic vacation he’d just gone on,” I told her. “A guy who enjoys traveling—that’s definitely a bonus.”

“His job is another bonus. He’s one of the top executives at Spade Hotels.” Hannah put her arm around my shoulders, turned her face in the same direction as mine so we were both looking out toward the crowded bar, and pressed our cheeks together. “Can you imagine the perks? Let’s envision them, shall we? Dreamy, five-star hotels all over the world. The best room service ever. Fuzzy slippers. Spa days.”

“Sign. Me. Up.” I giggled.

“You two are ridiculous,” Camden said. “You don’t need an executive at a hotel brand to provide those perks. You just need to date someone who can afford to take you on that kind of trip. Like Declan.”

“And Macon,” Hannah offered.

She released my arm, and I carefully snuck into my pocket and checked out his text.

Camden

That was a lesson for me. I made that clear.

Me

When I could have simply just told you what I liked—something I made clear.

“Excuse me,” I quickly butted in. “I actually don’t need a man to provide those perks. I can certainly afford to take myself on one of those trips.”

Hannah shook my shoulder. “Heck yeah, you can, girl. You’re a badass—there’s no doubt about that. But still, wouldn’t it be fun if you had someone delicious lying in bed next to you?”

She reached across me and pinched her brother’s arm even though Camden was back on his phone, probably replying to me. “Let’s set them up anyway. It’ll be a great match. They’re both dedicated to their jobs. They like to travel. They’re both beautiful. It’ll be a home run.”

There was no way I could complete these sexual lessons with Camden and then go out on a date with his best friend. I just wouldn’t feel right about it. And ending things with Camden wasn’t an option.

He was the man I wanted to give my virginity to.

There were zero doubts in my mind about that.

But that meant I had to get Hannah off this track, and to do that, I had to bring up the obvious.

Before I did that, I checked my phone.

Camden

What makes you think that the lesson was only about learning what you liked? How do you know it wasn’t for another reason? Something I didn’t tell you?

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