AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What?”
“Like mushrooms or something.”
“Oh,” I say, with a laugh. “It’s my car.” Another laugh, and I can’t stop smiling. “It got damaged in the storm.”
“Now,” Belle says, taking me by the arm and leading me back toward my car, “don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s kind of a strange thing to get excited about.”
“I’m not excited,” I say, grabbing my keys and phone. I pop open my trunk and grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder, still smiling.
“You’re not excited.” Belle tucks dark curls behind one ear. She’s pale, with crimson lips, and I’ve always thought of her as Sleeping Beauty. With a little bit more sass. And less weird guys trying to kiss her while she’s asleep.
“No.”
“But you’re smiling from…” Belle’s eyes go wide. “You little—” She grabs me by the arm and tugs me close, peering into my eyes.
“What are you?—?”
“You had sex.”
“I… What?”
“You. Had. Sex. I can see it in your eyes.”
“That is a seriously strange talent to have,” I say.
“So, you admit you had sex.” Belle smiles at me. “Man, I’m good.” And then her eyes go wide as dinner plates. “Are you kidding me? Did you… You and Savage?”
I press a finger to my lips and shush her like there are people trying to eavesdrop on my conversation.
“No. Way.” Belle does a little happy dance on the spot. “I can’t believe it. It finally happened?”
“Let’s talk about this upstairs,” I say.
Belle and I walk up the stairs together, and she shoots questions at me. Once we’re inside, I send Carter a quick message, then put my phone on the coffee table and plop down on my floral-print sofa.
Belle sits down next to me, grinning. She looks so well put together, the big city girl in her professional attire, sitting on the edge of my sofa. She’s out of place in Heatstroke, but I don’t care, because she is the kindest, sweetest person I know. And she throws a mean left hook.
When we were at college, a guy grabbed my ass on a night out and Belle clocked him on the nose so hard, he had to go to the ER.
“Okay, so, are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?” Belle asks, clapping her hands excitedly. “Do I need to break out the wine and the tissues?”
“It’s meant to be a secret,” I say.
“Ninety percent of my job is keeping secrets,” she says, fluttering long lashes at me. “Come onnnn. I won’t tell anybody.”
“Why are we even talking about me? How about the fact that you’re in town. And here. In my living room. I haven’t seen you in, like, six months. And Facetiming most days doesn’t count.”
Belle pulls a face. “It’s work-related.”
“Wait, you’re in Heatstroke for work?”
“Enough about my chaotic life,” she says, trying to brush it aside. “What about you? And your new older hunky mountain man?”
“He doesn’t live near a mountain.”
“It still counts.”
“You are hiding something,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her. “Do you want to tell me over coffee?”
