SWEET SPOT

I

ight – you don't know your budget and

ealtor's voice as we stood in the e

ng windows and a commercial kitchen ready to go in the b

was

hallway and I hadn't slept much. On the ni

t around that hour and tried desperately to eavesdrop for an

ing about how his lips alone were bett

'd gotten visual confirmation that he'd left the building.

hile I tried to tell myself the crazy bra

ince the one I'd felt Lukas's body on mine with every, and

ia

g that deal, I'm projecting to afford a monthly rent between the ranges of, um – " I tore through my purse looki

even secured th

t offic

ered small business loans

my credit 'cause my ex – " Nope. Wasn'

just meet another time, Miss Pope. Alright?" She left me

by the time you decide to figure your – " She

gure your shit out, that was h

t grader as she held the door open for me to leave. "Thank

ing me that deliberately fake realtor smile before leaving

strutted up the street, already laughing on th

yself on the sidewalk, in awe of w

olely mine because I couldn't frickin' focus. I couldn't gather the pie

uching me. Sucking on me. I was sure Abby had actually caught me

o myself, fishing throu

d. I had to nip it in the bud before it claimed another day or even an

a answered on

eed

k to

r as I turned on Houston, warding

p me set an actual

okay.

nig

hought you said you needed time to

ft up a business proposal and pitch it to the investor this week and I need

hed too if he kissed me

not he

I still think neighbor-with-benefits

w much I'd lose if I actually had sex with him," I protested. "So please, pretty

g him know you ca

nk y

clock wor

round till I heard a little ping o

her excitement. But I could practically hear her bouncing

athed out, letting

Probably around the 9PM mark," Sara giggled. "Y

as I gave my co

imbing in to get h

– probably because the last remotely cool or sexy event I'd atte

to a quick coffee in the afternoon o

a came over and drank wine all day while watching me make truffles, hawk

nt, I couldn't afford to ha

ght was

stment because I needed this date to sc

ouple new things and let myself have a few hours to get ready, trying on a dozen old dre

the bathroom mirror, looking at myself for

ra..." I murmu

ure how she ever fit into this dress. It must've been

ve just felt that way

e little white dress I had on, I felt myself veering into vixen territory – definitely a road l

orgetting lipstick. Also if you're we

ise text that happened

r a nude lip or doe

ip is perfec

wine. No need to get shit

you WATC

ot the BFF ESP. Y

ou kn

t be. You'

l to save you. I can be there in 20

my phone aside and busting out the fancy m

ner instead of using full-blown lipstick but I did l

chugging another glass of wine before thr

alm upon running int

halfway down the steps as he stood frozen at t

his face. It made him feel for once unguarded – stripped o

at, or I

rail as I watched his blue-green eyes lock tight on my ankles

hide my dress, he looked back

trying to do t

you so I c

n the stairs, walking bac

you on this d

N

y n

meone's exp

el on

e, Lukas. I'm not

nd along his ja

ere are y

m. Lower

te a quizzical f

s.

ever bee

th my friend – it's a long story," I explained hastily o

hook hi

ed for you. They have beds instead of couches and

o hear that but I

Just to let you know, I have had sex before. In fact, I've had a lot of it. Was it all with one guy? Yes.

you d

I wobbled. "I'm j

ng me up and down again before groaning.

t? W

ant you to fuck th

he reason you got yourself hammered so you could force enough attraction to sleep

have known each other for le

not act like I'm just some stranger off the street," Lukas said, annoyed. Palming the back of

our dress on – it can still be a date but we can just order pizza or Ch

put off giving my answer because the one at the tip of my tongue was "okay"

is phone interrupted. When he glanced down with

ead the name "Useless Gold Digger Bitch" off his

y retch for Lukas, just to show him how phenomen

the worst, but instead I swallowed my temptation and simply thanked the universe for reminding me t

call a girl." I shot

e you have a great night," I added tersely, shaking my head