Page 88 of Hard Hitter

I laughed low, without humor. “I don’t know. Loneliness. Stupidity. Hope.”

“At least the last one is a good reason. Though I doubt it will do you much good if you’re hoping for a reunion with Eva.”

Blue knew more than I’d anticipated. Had Eva been talking about me? Hurt tried to slice me open before I squashed it flat. Eva and I were done. She’d made it perfectly clear she had no interest in a romantic relationship beyond a good dicking when she felt the urge.

As if she could read my mind, Blue frowned again. “Sorry. I’m not good with sensitive subjects.”

Instead of sinking into the defeat and anger and hurt, I found myself coming up with ways to erase the frustration from Blue’s face. I hadn’t seen her smile yet, and I desperately wanted to make it happen. I wanted to see her full lips curl just for me.

My dick twitched at the thought, and despite the little voice yellinghallelujah!, I tried not to stare at her mouth.

Tried and failed. A faint blush lit Blue’s cheeks, and she caught her bottom lip with her teeth. The tension ratcheted up, and I went from twitching to rock hard in seconds.

“If you’re looking for sympathy, you’re better off spending time with anyone outside.” Even her voice had gone soft and breathy.

I stepped closer to her, narrowing the distance between us to mere inches, unable to stop myself from testing the reaction. “I don’t want to spend time with them—I want to spend time with you.”

Her lips parted on an indrawn breath, quick and surprised, and her tropical eyes darkened with hunger. My pulse rocketed to match. Huh. My attraction to Blue wasn’t exactly a surprise—smokeshow—but she felt it too.

The slow-spreading heat, the subtle buzz of electricity, the urge to do something supremely stupid.

Blue hauled in a deep breath, and in true form, blurted out the truth. “Friends with benefits seems like a bad idea with Eva between us.”

Fuck. Yes, it did. I ordered Big Mac to stand down and scrubbed a hand down my face. She didn’t move, as if she hadn’t convinced herself either. I could simply turn and walk away. Go back to my sad existence where everyone was afraid to whisper Eva’s name in my vicinity.

A vivid memory of Blue’s legs peeking out from under a short black dress at one of my Sunday karaoke deals flashed across my mind, followed by the image of her glaring down at the beanbags like they’d personally offended her.

To hell with walking away. It wasn’t about Eva or my miserable ass. I’d gotten a taste of the real Blue, and I wanted more.

“How about friends without benefits? Keep me company this summer. I need to expand my inner circle, and I’m choosing you.” I tried not to let the plea sneak into my words, but when her eyes narrowed, I was pretty sure I’d failed.

“If this is a ploy, I want you to know I have no problem using my pepper spray to make a point.”

And just like that, my life became interesting again. I smiled at her threat, though I was one hundred percent certain she was serious. Hardcore, unfiltered truth.

“No need for your pepper spray, sunshine, only your refreshing company.” I shoved the benefits to the back of my mind. Blue hit every box for me, but I’d learned my lesson about mixing friendship with pleasure.

She blew out a breath. “Fine. Friends without benefits. At least until Eva comes back.”

The major victory I’d just won felt strangely hollow, but I wasn’t going to miss my chance to feel like myself for a few months.

“Fair warning, I’m a cuddler.” With a wicked grin, I pulled her close for a hug. A platonic hug. Purely to see how she’d react. Touching was my love language, after all.

Blue stiffened for a split second, then relaxed in my arms. We were immediately treading dangerous territory, but my girl came up with the save once again.

She looked up at me and patted my bicep. “Fair warning, when startled, I punch first and ask questions later.”

I laughed, a long, loud, unrestrained belly laugh, but I didn’t let her go. She was mine for the summer, and I wasn’t wasting a second.

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