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“When it does.” I heard him laugh again.

  “So, you want me to sit and wait by the phone for you?”

  “Yeah, and naked.”

  I snorted my laughter. “Right. Keep dreaming.”

  “But seriously, I’ll text you when they leave, and if you’re still awake, I’ll come over.”

  “Okay.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. The barista called my name, indicating my drinks were ready. I stepped forward. “Can I get a carrier?” I asked the barista. She nodded.

  “I’ll call you tonight,” Rhys stated.

  “Okay, don’t forget to watch my newscast. Ratings and shit.”

  Rhys laughed again into my ear. “I’m already on that channel.”

  We hung up, and I grabbed the light brown carrier and turned around, right into a hard body. The hot coffee fell backward and down the front of my grey, wool coat.

  “I’m so sorry,” I muttered, looking down to see the beige liquid pooling on the floor.

  “I should be the one to say sorry,” the guy stated. “I didn’t get any on me.”

  I looked up and into his brown eyes. “Yeah, but I think I ran into you. I’m really sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Let me buy you two more.”

  I smiled and looked down at the mess. “That’s okay. Really. It was my fault.”

  “Well, at least let me get your coat dry cleaned for you.”

  A Starbucks employee with a mop came up to the spill. “We’re already making you two more.” The man and I stepped away so she could clean it up.

  “See. No harm.” I took a napkin the guy was handing me. “Thank you.”

  “You’re Ashtyn Valor, right?”

  I smiled slightly and nodded as I tried to soak up the coffee from my coat. “I am.”

  “You’re even more beautiful in person.”

  My entire body flamed with embarrassment. Compliments just had that effect on me. “Thank you.”

  “Seriously, let me get your coat cleaned for you.”

  “It’s really not a problem.”

  “Then let me at least buy you dinner.”

  I glanced up and really looked at this guy. He wasn’t bad looking at all. He had short, light-brown hair and a nice smile. That was all I could see without making him take off his coat.

  “Unless you have a boyfriend.”

  I hesitated a moment. Corey and I had broken up, and Rhys and I were just … screwing. “I don’t.”

  “Then let me take you to dinner.” I opened my mouth again to protest that spilled coffee didn’t equal dinner. Instead, he continued, “This is how it works, right?”

  “What’s that?”

  “In those romance movies. The guy and the girl have a chance encounter, and it leads to them falling in love.”

  My eyes widened in surprise at his romance movie reference. Men usually didn’t watch love stories unless they were forced by women in their lives, and then they usually liked them, but more than likely they’d never admit it. Was this guy saying he liked romance movies? I did, especially when my favorite romance novel was turned into a movie.

  “I’m kidding. But seriously, I would like to take you to dinner.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Philip.”

  I took his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  The barista called my name again, and after I grabbed the carrier, I slowly turned around. I was about to tell him no thank you, but he said, “Everyone’s gotta eat.”

  I paused another moment and thought about what was actually happening. He was right, and maybe those people who made up hopeless romantic stories really did know what they were talking about. Maybe this was how I was to meet the next person I was supposed to date. And by Philip’s knowledge, fall in love.

  “Sure. Let me give you my number. I really need to head back to the studio.”

  “Right.” He smiled and dug into his pocket for his phone. “You do the nightly news.” I nodded and then rattled off my direct line at the studio as he saved it into his phone. “I’ll call you to set it up, and sorry again about the coffee.”

  “It really wasn’t your fault.”

  I opened the door and headed back to work. On the way back, I realized Philip looked familiar to me. I couldn’t place where I knew him from, but I had a feeling I’d seen him before.

  My phone buzzed, waking me up. I grabbed it from the nightstand, squinting to read the screen.

  Rhys: You awake, Cupcake?

  I smiled and texted back.

  No.

  Rhys: Are you naked?

  I laughed, remembering how that question just the other night had turned into so much more.

  Me: No.

  Rhys: Do you want to be?

  Me: What did you have in mind?

  Rhys: I’ll be there in three minutes and show you.

  I chuckled to myself. It took him longer than three minutes to walk across the street last time.

  Me: I’ll be waiting.

  Six minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I walked to it wearing only a long T-shirt with no pants, no panties, and no bra. If I weren’t worried a neighbor might walk by when I opened the door, I would answer it naked.

  “Cupcake,” Rhys greeted and stepped forward.

  I stepped back, pulling on his shirt to bring him inside. He shut the door behind him, but we didn’t move.

  “You still thinking about him?”

  “No.” It was true, but only because I was sleeping. The entire evening, I’d thought about what Corey must have thought when he saw me. Or at least a part of me hoped that seeing me had tripped him up too.

  “Because you were sleeping?”

  I laughed. Seemed Rhys knew me better than I thought he did. “Maybe.”

  “You really want to do this?”

  I bit my lip. “Well … I’m not wearing any panties.”

  Rhys’s blue eyes dropped to look down as though he could see through my sleep shirt. Before I knew it, he was lifting me in the air and my legs went around his waist as he carried me to my bedroom. No more words were spoken until he set me on the bed and we both started to strip ourselves of our clothes.

  “On all fours.”

  I smiled and turned, moving to be on my hands and knees. There was no foreplay. No needing to make sure the other was ready. All systems were a go as I spread my legs a little and waited for the bed to dip behind me.

  “I kinda love having you across the street from me.”

  I chuckled. “It is coming in handy, huh?”

  The bed dipped, and Rhys grabbed a palm full of my butt cheek. “So handy.” He ran his fingers along the slit of my pussy. “You sure you weren’t having naughty dreams about me?”

  I shook my head.

  “So you’re always wet?”

  “Only when it comes to you.” That was true. In the past, I’d always need at least kissing and rubbing to turn me on, but thinking of Rhys and hearing how cocky he was, made me ready.

  He groaned. “Christ. Don’t tell me that or I’ll be waiting at your doorstep every night.”

  “Will you just fuck me already?”

  Rhys groaned his response and then I heard him rip open a condom wrapper. It didn’t take him long before he grabbed my hips and slammed into me. I cried out as he filled me, enjoying the ride and the pleasure building inside me with each drive of his shaft. We were no longer having stranger sex, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t embarrassed by anything that was happening right now. All I was thinking about was how good Rhys’s cock felt as it hit the spot that made me moan.

  “Hearing you moan is enough to make me come,” Rhys grunted, still thrusting into me.

  “Close,” I panted.

  He reached around with one hand, kneading my breast and then pinched my nipple. It sent a spark of electricity down my spine, straight to my toes, where a cool sensation started to build from my feet up. It was weird because even though my body was hot and there was a light sheen across my skin, the cool sensation was the spark I needed
before coming apart. Rhys grunted a few more times and then he stilled, spilling into the condom.

  Rhys leaned forward and placed a kiss in the middle of my back and then slid out. He went to the bathroom, and a few seconds later returned and reached for his boxers.

  “Wait,” I said.

  He looked up at me.

  “Do you want to stay the night?”

  Rhys stared at me as I lay with the sheet draped across me. “Only if you sleep naked.”

  I smiled and lifted the covers to show him I was still without clothes. He threw his boxers back on the floor and grinned as he climbed in behind me.

  I didn’t know what was happening between us, but if it was only friends with benefits, I was definitely loving the benefits.

  The next morning, I woke to the sun shining through the blinds and a warm hand caressing my inner thigh. I also thought I smelled coffee.

  “Did you have coffee without me?” I mumbled, looking over at Rhys.

  He rolled over toward the nightstand. “You mean this coffee?”

  I sat up, smiling. “Yes.”

  Rhys handed me the warm cup of heaven. “Is this the way to your heart?”

  I paused, my hand halting the mug at my mouth. “Are you after it?”

  It was Rhys’s turn to take a moment to respond. “I love what we’re doing, Cupcake, but I don’t think we’re both ready for that.”

  I nodded and took a sip of the java before responding. “I agree. So, are we doing a don’t ask/don’t tell situation?”

  “Meaning?”

  I shrugged. “Are we going to date other people?”

  “Do you want to?”

  “I’m not sure.” I took another sip of my coffee, and so did Rhys. “But I was asked out last night.”

  “You were?”

  I told Rhys about Philip. If he did call, would I go?

  “While I don’t want what we have going on to end, I think maybe you should go out with this guy. He could be what you’re looking for.”

  The thought of not continuing whatever it was that we had together made me sad. “If he even calls.”

  “No guy in his right mind would pass up the chance to go out with you.”

  Except Corey. I wasn’t enough for him. “We’ll see. I’m not even sure I want to date yet.” He nodded his understanding and then I asked, “Want to go to breakfast?”

  “I would love that, but I have brunch with my folks before I need to head in for tonight’s game.”

  “Oh!” I perked up. “What did your mom say about us hanging out?”

  Rhys laughed. “Haven’t told her.”

  “She didn’t see our picture?”

  “She doesn’t use Facebook.”

  “So she doesn’t know you’re sleeping with Ashtyn Valor?” I teased.

  He laughed. “No, and I have no plans to tell my mother who I’m sleeping with.”

  I smiled. “I’m going to jump in the shower. Want to join me? You know, save water and all that?”

  “I will never turn that offer down.”

  Ashtyn went to get the shower ready while I finished my cup of coffee. I was on my final sip when she started to sing, her voice carrying into her bedroom. It was some rap song I couldn’t remember the name of, but hearing her stumble through the words made me smile. Everything about this woman made me smile.

  Except when she told me she was asked out on a date.

  I tried to play it cool, but on the inside, I was jealous. I wanted to be the one to take her on a real date. Sure we went on a booze cruise, but I wanted to take her to dinner and then take her back to my place. My blood started to boil at the thought that she might go home with this dude. Fuck. I thought that she wasn’t ready to date. I thought I wasn’t either, but now …

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  The only chance I had was that the date would suck and she’d come running back to me.

  Running back to use me.

  Use me to forget about every other guy in her life.

  Now though, I wasn’t using her. Who was Bridgette again? Maybe I needed to go on a date?

  My phone on the nightstand buzzed with a text. I grabbed it and groaned deep in my throat. And now I remembered who Bridgette was.

  Bridgette: I made a mistake. I’m sorry. Please call me.

  I didn’t respond. Instead, I drank the last sip of my coffee and joined Ashtyn. Saving water had turned into something so much more.

  I spotted my parents at the packed restaurant where we had brunch once a month. It was our thing. They lived in my childhood home, forty-five minutes away and with my schedule during hockey season, I saw them less and less, but we made sure to meet at least once a month. Plus, my sister, Romi, and her husband, Shane, always came, too.

  Mom saw me first. She stood, moving past my father, and engulfed me in a hug. “It’s good to see you, sweetie.”

  “You too, Mom.” We broke apart, and I hugged my father. “Dad.” People say I looked like my dad, and I could see it. We both had the same facial features, but I had the color of my Mom’s hair—or at least before she started turning grey.

  The three of us sat down at the wood table of the rustic breakfast joint and while we waited for the waitress so we could order, I asked, “Where’s Romi and Shane?”

  “She wasn’t feeling well, so they aren’t coming,” Mom stated.

  I shrugged. It was probably better they didn’t come because my mother always asked when I was getting married when I was around them. My mother wanted to have a slew of grandchildren, and apparently, that entailed me getting married in her eyes. However, she never did ask me in front of Bridgette, and she had never asked me when I was going to propose to Bridgette.

  “Where’s your girlfriend?” Dad asked. It had never struck me until now that they never referred to her by her name.

  “We broke up.” I took a sip of my water that was already on the table.

  “Oh, thank heaven,” my mother breathed.

  I smiled. “You’re glad I’m single?”

  “I’m glad you finally saw you could do better.”

  “Like Ashtyn Valor?” I asked, knowing full well that my mother would be happy if I were dating Ashtyn.

  Mom’s blue eyes grew wide. “Yes. Are you dating her?”

  I shook my head. “No, but I’m friends with her.”

  Mother leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table and her chin in the palm of her hand. “What’s she like?”

  My mother always watched Ashtyn’s broadcast, saying that the other anchors bugged her. Maybe it was the class Ashtyn brought to the news or how her smile made you feel as though she was generally happy about the story she was reporting. I was always captivated when I saw the airing of her broadcast when I was at my parents’ place for dinner because Ashtyn was hot. Plain and simple. I’d wait until after the news was over to drive home just so I could watch her.

  And now I was sleeping with her.

  “She’s everything you’ve imagined her to be and then some.”

  “So you are dating her?” Dad asked.

  I smiled, thinking about this morning … and last night. “No. We’re really just friends. She actually lives across the street from me.”

  Dad eyed me curiously as though he knew what I really meant.

  “Can I meet her?” Mom asked.

  I nodded. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

  “When?”

  That was a good question because if Ashtyn had her date soon, then there was a chance all of this would go away. “Well, I need a date for the Emmys now.”

  Every year the News & Documentary Emmy Award was present by the National Academy of Television Arts & Science. It was typically held in the fall, but Chicago and the Midwest were having the ceremony in early December.

  “I’ll buy my dress this week.”

  Dad shook his head. I figured he was annoyed because he knew my mother’s true motives. It wasn’t because she wanted to meet A
shtyn. It was because she wanted to meet any women she could set me up with.

  “Can we stop talking about his love life now and start talking about the Hawk’s season? You think they’re going to bring home the cup this year?”

  Bridgette: Can we talk?

  I stared at my phone as I sat at my desk going over the stats for tonight’s game. If I didn’t respond, the texts would keep coming.

  Me: I’m busy.

  Of course, she texted back right away.

  Bridgette: Can I come over after the game?

  I snorted.

  Me: No.

  Bridgette: Please! I want to talk.

  Me: There’s nothing to talk about. Please stop texting me.

  I threw my phone in my desk drawer and got ready for my broadcast.

  I was exhausted. The game had gone into overtime, and I wanted to do nothing but crawl into bed.

  Crawl into bed with Ashtyn.

  This was not how friends with benefits worked, was it? I didn’t care. I texted Ashtyn before driving away from the studio.

  Me: You awake, Cupcake?

  By the time I arrived home, Ashtyn had texted me a few times.

  Ashtyn: Yes.

  Ashtyn: I’m at Judy’s with Jaime.

  Ashtyn: Come join us for a drink.

  I didn’t text her back. Instead, I made my way down the few blocks to Judy’s. Once I entered the warm bar, I saw Ashtyn laughing with her friend, and it instantly put a smile on my face. Was this what pussy whipped was like? Fuck it. Ashtyn’s pussy was like heroin to me. I knew I’d heard that quote somewhere before, but now I got it. It was more than just sex. I craved her.

  I walked up behind Ashtyn and whispered into her ear, “Cupcake.”

  Ashtyn turned, a smile on her lips. “You made it.”

  I slid onto the stool next to her. “I did. It’s nice to see you again, Jaime.”

  Jaime grinned. “You too.”

  “You’re not drinking?” Ashtyn asked.

  “Nah, I’m beat.”

  “Tell me about it.” Ashtyn nodded. “I took a nap on the couch after lunch.”

  “Something you two want to fill me in on?”

  We both turned to look at Jaime, but Ashtyn spoke. “You already know. Stop acting like you haven’t grilled me this entire night.”