NONE OF US speak the entire way to Ashley’s house, and it doesn’t take a genius to realize—Frank knows. The awkward silence has me replaying the last twelve hours in my head. While I don’t regret them for a single second, I do wonder if maybe we could have been a little more discreet. It’s embarrassing to think that he might have heard me in the middle of an orgasm. Though, that, too, is a fleeting thought. I’ve come more times in the last day than I have in all my life. Who could blame me for getting excited?
When Leo pulls into the driveway, Frank clears his throat—obviously masking his laughter—and makes his way inside without delay. I watch him go before turning to look at Leo, curious about what he might be thinking. Even merely seeing his profile, I can tell that he’s not exactly amused, but that’s not saying much. Then he looks at me, his eyes dancing around my face before he dips down and captures my bottom lip between his teeth.
I gasp as he bites me before licking across my now tender flesh. After he lets me go, he presses his mouth against mine in a firm, swift kiss before he pulls away abruptly, nodding toward the door. “Let’s eat. I’m fucking starved.”
I nod, not trusting my voice, and then hop out of the cart, headed for the garage. I step into the house, which is now becoming somewhat familiar, and I can sense Leo right on my heels. We make our way through the laundry room, take a left down the hallway that opens up into the living space, and hang one more left into the kitchen. I spot Corie right away, standing in front of the fridge.
“Hey, babe,” I say in greeting, propping my hip against the island counter.
“Hi.” Her eyes shift over to Leo, and she waves before she tells him, “The guys are out on the deck.”
He doesn’t say a word in reply, but when I look back at him from over my shoulder, I see it as he lifts his chin in acknowledgment before stepping outside. I can’t help but stare at him a moment longer, admiring his backside, remembering what all that man feels like—his power, his strength, his endurance. Sure that if I don’t shake away my thoughts, I’ll do something to embarrass myself, I blink and focus my attention on Corie.
“So, where’ve you been?” I ask, wondering what allowed me the chance to spend most of my morning in bed. “Leo said Ashley had a surprise for you. He’s full of those this weekend, huh?”
“Uh, yeah,” she starts to say, moving toward me. She mimics my stance, resting her hip against the counter, studying me curiously as she explains, “He bought me a wedding present. Well, sort of. It’s for both of us, but it’s his gift to me.”
Laughing anxiously, I’m quick to keep her talking, not exactly sure how I’m going to tell her about Leo. “Well, are you going to tell me what it was or not?”
She pauses a moment, and I know she’s trying to get a read on me. When she called me to tell me they had returned, inviting us up for lunch, I told her I had something to tell her. She’s obviously growing impatient.
Finally, she answers, “He bought some land. We’re going to build a house. Our house.”
“Corie, that’s great!” I exclaim, my excitement genuine.
She and Ashley have been hopping from Nashville to New York City over the last several months, staying in places he previously owned. I know that as much as she feels welcome in his residences, they’re still his and not exactly theirs. I’m glad to learn that Ashley knows how to take care of his woman, and he’s gifted her with something that will truly mean a lot—not just to her, but to their relationship.
“Mmhmm,” she hums in agreement. “Yeah. It’s beautiful and beyond huge—but it’ll be secluded and quiet.”
“Babe,” I laugh, playfully kicking at her feet. “What’s the matter? You don’t seem very excited.”
“What’s your news? You’re acting funny. Is everything okay?”
“Oh.” I cough out a laugh, my cheeks heating in a blush as I reach up to sweep my hair behind my ears. I should have practiced this confession, but I didn’t. Now, I’m not sure how to explain it. It being the wildest thing I’ve ever done. Clearing my throat softly, I reply, “Yeah. Everything’s great. Don’t worry. You have nothing to worry about.”
She forces a smile, informing me, “You prefacing your news like that actually has the opposite effect. Is this about Ashley? Did something happen that we should know about?”
I cringe, feeling guilty that her thoughts would jump there right away. It’s not a completely invalid question. A couple of months ago, when Ashley proposed, she told me the news the very next day. In my excitement, I posted a picture she sent to my Instagram account. I meant no harm, and I really didn’t think very many people would see it, aside from our small circle of family and friends. Nevertheless, when I woke up, it had gone completely viral.
“No, no, nothing like that,” I assure her. “I just have to tell you something and I don’t want you to freak out.”
“Jill!”
“I had sex with Leo last night.”
She gasps, her head jerking back in shock before she screeches, “You—”
My hand claps over her mouth before she can finish her question, and I nod my reply in answer to her unfinished inquiry.
“Twice,” I clarify. “And then again this morning. Um, three times.”
Taking hold of my wrist, she yanks my hand away from her face and hisses, “Jill Magnolia Stevens!”
“I know!” I gush, grabbing hold of her fingers as I take a step closer to her. Speaking in a low voice, I say, “It was unexpected. It was reckless. It was—so good, Corie. So good.”
She stares at me in awe, then turns her gaze outside, out on the deck, where Leo stands with his back toward us. Her gaze still trained out the window, she murmurs, “Leo’s a good guy. I mean, I don’t know much about him, he’s pretty quiet—but he’s good. He means a lot to Ashley, and I can tell that Ashley means a lot to him, too. He respects the both of us, and I think he’s great.” Shaking her head, she turns to look into my eyes as she goes on to say, “But he’s here. With us. Wherever we are. And you’re—you’re in Dillon. I just, I don’t want you to get hurt. You don’t normally—”
“I don’t normally do anything,” I interrupt, squeezing her hands tighter as I press up against her in excitement. “I’m twenty-five years old with a community college education and a job working with my dad at his little coffee shop. I’m not like you, babe. We grew up together, and you’re my best friend, but you have always been destined for more than Dillon. And maybe there was a time when I should have left—” I shake my head, not wishing to dwell on what might have been, and then go on to say, “—but then mom died and I couldn’t leave dad. I can’t leave him. He’d be all alone. He’s always made sure that I’ve had everything that I could ever need. I know how lucky I am to have him. But you—I know your story. I’m in your story—and I don’t have a reason to run.”
Sneaking a peek outside, I whisper, “I know it didn’t mean anything. What you said is right. He’s here and I’m there and we’ll never amount to anything. But he wanted me. That guy—that guy, Corie!” Speaking through a giggle, I add, “Hot guys like that don’t exist in Dillon. Granted, it’s possible that at one point, while they were going through their weird adolescent years, we inhabited the same town—but the hot guys always leave. Seriously, the last hot guy who stepped foot into Dillon was the same guy who stole your heart and took you away. So when Leo came-on to me, I couldn’t say no. When is this ever going to happen to me again?”
“Jill, you’re going to find someone. You are. You’re too incredible not to.”
I smile at her, hoping she’s right. Though, after a night with Leo, I’m beginning to question whether or not I think it’s actually possible. No one has ever made my body respond to his touch the way that Leo has. I’m not convinced I’ll find another like him.
I don’t let my thoughts wander down that path, sure that it’ll lead me no place good. Instead, I reply, “I hope you’re right. I do. But until then, for this one weekend, I can be the girl who’s bigger than Dillon. I can be the girl a guy like Leo wants. Come Wednesday morning, I’ll go back to reality. I won’t get hurt,” I declare, a determined expression pulling at my brow. “I promise. I won’t get attached. There’s nothing to get attached to. It was just sex. Really great, sweaty sex.”
I spare her the rest of the adjectives, but there were more—so many more.
“So,” she starts to say, pulling me from my thoughts. “Five times, huh?”
Grinning, I admit, “Oh, yeah.”
She laughs, pulling away from me and returning to the fridge. Taking out what looks like ingredients for a salad, she demands, “Okay—I’m going to need you to start from the beginning.”