Teagan

Well that went from awkward to awesome to mortifying in the space of five minutes. Did I really have to stand there and stare at him like an idiot when he shook my hand? His touch was electric, but it shouldn’t have locked me in place. I gripped his hand so hard, he had to pull it away from me. Score one for me.

Come on, Teagan. Why do you have to be so weird?

Living life unfiltered my ass. Joshua can come up with all the pretty names he wants and it still boils down to me finding a way to make each and every social interaction awkward. I grab my phone and take one last look out at the view—the glistening lake nestled at the foot of mountains set against the bluest of skies. I let out a long breath. As gorgeous as it all is, I think I’ll spend the rest of the day locked in the house where I can’t make a fool of myself again. Or maybe I’ll go for a hike. Or, go hang out with Lola. Basically, I will be anywhere but out by the pool until Mr. Build It—Joshua—is gone for good. I sigh as his name echoes through my mind and gather the rest of my things before I head towards the house, trying—and failing—not to stare at his ass as I pass.

A very familiar voice comes from the side of the house as I grip the handle on the French doors that lead inside. “What’s up, bitches?”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

“Lola?” I turn and find my friend strolling around the back of the house just like we’re still little girls in the suburban neighborhood where we grew up. “How did you get here?”

“Uh… I drove. Duh.” She tosses her hair.

“No, but how did you…?” I trail off, shaking my head. Leave it to Lola to totally disrespect the rules. And my wish to follow said rules.

She waves away the question. “It’s not like the place has a gate. I drove my happy ass right up the driveway and parked out front.” She puts her hands on her hips. “Besides, I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

“I’m not supposed to have visitors.”

“Then you shouldn’t have given me the address, now should you?” Lola looks over my shoulder and her eyes widen when she sees Joshua. “Well, hello there.” She brushes past me, flipping her hair and extending her hand. “I’m Lola.” She giggles and bats her eyes.

Joshua glares at her, nods once, and then turns back to his work, his gaze flitting to mine on the way.

“Ohhh. The strong silent type. I see.” Lola grins at me. “He’s perfect for you, Tea. You guys can be all tongue-tied together.”

“Lola…” I step closer to her, ever so aware that means I’m getting closer to Joshua as well.

She leans against his workbench, ignoring me. “Did you know that my friend Teagan here is a virgin?”

I stop in my tracks, mortification turning my blood to stone. Is she fucking kidding me right now? What did she just say? “You are not helping,” I hiss.

Joshua turns his head and stares at my friend. “I don’t think that’s any of my business.”

“Lola…” I nearly choke on her name.

Lola ignores us both. “And she thinks you’re hot. Which you are. So, that’s a plus.”

Adrenaline surges through me and I break through the terror that had me frozen in place. I grab her wrist and pull her towards the house. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

She pulls her arm from my grasp. “I think…” She smiles at Joshua. “…and this is just a wild shot in the dark here. But I think you should, you know, do her a favor and introduce her to the pleasures of passion—” she makes a suggestive face “—so she doesn’t have to go through that whole awkward first time with a fumbling man-child thing. You would be doing the world a service…”

“That’s it! Enough!” I grab Lola by the shoulders and push, forcing her away from the pergola. “I’m so sorry,” I say to Joshua and then march her back around the side of the house.

“Holy shit, Lo. What in the world has gotten into you?”

Lola wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I have your best interest at heart, as per usual. I promise you. You will thank me for that. I just did you a massive favor. Just wait. You’ll see.” She looks at the house and lets out a low whistle. “Does Mr. Kahjillionaire have anything to drink in there? Like maybe some really expensive scotch or something sexy like that?”

“You are not staying. And even if you were, I’m not drinking this man’s expensive anything. I’m here to make sure his plants stay watered and the place looks lived in while he’s gone.”

“Come on, Teagan. You spend your whole life doing what’s right. It can’t be good for you. You need to live a little while you’re still young enough to get away with it.”

“I do plenty of living, thank you very much. And I can guarantee that when we’re finally graduated from college and head out into the world, I’ll have my shit together because that’s what’s happens when you do things the way you’re supposed to.”

“Says the girl who keeps wondering if she should change her major.” Lola smiles sweetly and rubs my arm. “Whatever, Tea. You know I love you even if you are kind of a stick in the mud.”

“And you know I love you even though you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.” I wrap my arm around my friend’s shoulder and give her a squeeze. Our friendship really is a blessing, even if there are times—like this one—where she basically ruins my life trying to do what she thinks is right.

Lola leans her head against mine. “So, where are we on this drink? Can we at least have some of his non-expensive scotch?”

“Absolutely not.” I put my hands on her shoulders and finish marching her towards the driveway. “I’m not supposed to have people over and that means there will be no scotch of any kind.”

Lola shakes her head. “You’re really not going to let me hang out with you and drink expensive scotch in a billionaire’s mansion….?” She trails off looking beyond disappointed in me. “I mean, this once in a lifetime opportunity here, Tea.” She waits for me to respond and shrugs when I don’t. “Well then, the least you can do is make a move on that carpenter for me. He is one hot silver fox.”

Lola swings open the door to her cherry red convertible and twiddles her fingers at me before starting the engine and speeding away, leaving me alone with said hot silver fox and the sudden urge to find out what might happen if I do make a move.