Chapter 9
FORD
I could see the determination written in her eyes.
I didn’t have a doubt she wanted to win.
Probably felt like she had to so this evening could end before anything came of it.
But she underestimated just how much I wanted to win, too.
Because even though she’d tried hard to maintain her standard level of aloofness tonight, there was no denying I was getting under her skin. That wasn’t anything new between us.
But tonight, it felt different.
Without taking even a breath between her statements, probably in an effort not to give herself away, she ticked them off on her fingers. “I gave a lap dance to a male stripper at a bachelorette party, I attended my first-choice college for undergrad, and I haven’t had sex in three years.”
Jesus.
Fuck.
I knew she’d play hardball. I’d anticipated that.
But what I hadn’t anticipated was the heavy sexual undertone in her statements.
It made sense, though, especially when she was trying to throw me off my game.
Which meant I needed to weigh these three statements carefully, while also trying to rein in my dick’s interest in them.
I tipped my head to the side, eyes narrowed on her as I ran a hand along the rough stubble on my jaw. My gaze was assessing as I stared at her, and I had no doubt she’d be able to read the heat in it if she looked hard enough.
I’d been walking around half hard this whole night, but now? After her delivering the image of her writhing in someone’s lap—let’s be real, I was definitely picturing it happening in my lap—I was completely fucked.
And the idea that she hadn’t had sex in three years? Regardless of the fact that it was no doubt false—no one could go that long without it—the thought of her being so needy for it made me nearly groan aloud.
My cock pressed hard against my zipper, desperate to break free from my jeans, especially since this was the most action he had seen in months.
And yes, I knew how fucking sad that was.
That just a few words from her gorgeous mouth paired with the conjured-up images from them was enough to get me worked up like this, as if I was a teenager all over again.
I needed to restrain that shit though, because I was not losing this. Tonight was the first time she’d voluntarily been in my presence for longer than five minutes, and the fact that she hadn’t yet strangled me was promising.
Thankfully, I knew one of her truths right off the bat—obviously, she’d attended her first-choice college.
She was the smartest person I knew, and the only reason I’d beaten her for valedictorian had been because she had stuffed her schedule with all AP courses, while I’d decided to take it easy our senior year.
So that just left the other two…
Affecting an indifference I knew she didn’t feel, Quinn took her turn, and I felt some satisfaction when she threw her worst toss of the night.
“You’re good, kitten,” I said as she walked back toward me.
“I’ll give you that. I know one of your truths right out of the gate, but the other two…
” I shook my head as I stared at her, trying to ground myself in this moment and not get lost in the thoughts those other statements conjured.
“It was tricky, but the lie has to be no sex in three years. I can see you letting loose at a bachelorette party after a few drinks and getting talked into giving a lap dance. But no sex for that long? Not possible.”
She swung her axe into the stump next to mine. “I can assure you it is.”
Her words took a few moments to register, but when they did, my mouth dropped open, and I couldn’t hope to hide the emotions that crossed my face. Jesus, did that mean… “Don’t tell me you haven’t come in three years.”
She raised a brow. “Oh, you sweet summer child. Who said I had to have a man to come? In my experience, it’s a lot easier without one. They make toys for a reason.”
Jesusfuck , the woman was trying to kill me.
Just straight up murder me where I stood.
I thought it would be a little more obvious—like an axe to the skull—but I should’ve known better than that.
She was smooth, calculating… She’d play the long game, for sure.
Could a man die from lack of blood circulating?
Because God knew all of mine was currently pooling in my dick.
She avoided my gaze as she said, “Since it was a draw, we should probably just call it a night, right?”
I laughed, the sound way too low and throaty to hide the fact that I was turned the fuck on by none other than Quinn Cartwright. “Nice try. We’ll do a coin toss and let fate decide.” I pulled a quarter from my pocket and rested it on my thumb, ready to flip. “You call it. No take backs.”
As soon as it twisted in the air, she called out heads, then seemed to hold her breath.
I caught the quarter in my palm and slapped it down on the back of my other hand.
Then, with my eyes locked on hers, I lifted my palm and watched the emotions flit across her face—excitement, nerves, and trepidation—and knew how it had landed without even looking down.
* * *
Group text with Brady, Aiden, Beck, Levi, Addison
5:48 p.m.
Addison:
Why am I hearing reports that you literally dragged Quinn through Kick Some Axe, Ford?
Um, hello?
I’m gonna need a check-in
Like, immediately
And what’s this I heard about lube???
* * *
Text thread with Everly
6:11 p.m.
Everly:
How are things going with Quinn? Are you having fun? Is she?
* * *
Group text with Brady, Aiden, Beck, Levi, Addison
6:23 p.m.
Addison:
I swear to god, Ford, if you’ve scared off Quinn, I will literally murder you
LITERALLY
Levi will help me bury the body
There’s a bare patch of land close to where Beck and Everly’s place will be
That way, your twin can visit your dead ass
I’m not a monster
But I’m also not joking
I need Quinn here
In Starlight Cove
Taking over the clinic
NEED
I’m tired of the old jackass doctor blaming everything on my period
Beck:
Ford, text Everly back.
I mean it.
Addison:
What about me?
Shouldn’t he text me back??
Beck:
You’re on your own. Everly’s mine to worry about, and she thinks this is all her fault since the money was for her. I don’t want her feeling guilty when we break ground for the house and clinic next week.
Fix it, Ford.
Aiden:
I thought we agreed we wouldn’t blow up the group text with stupid shit.
Levi:
obviously that’s not true
Brady:
Since there’s no emergency and there was mention of murder, I’m muting this until tomorrow for plausible deniability.
Addison:
HELLO!
There IS an emergency!
If Ford scares off the one good doctor we’ve had in this town in my lifetime, I’m going to make every single one of you come with me to my future appointments
Then you can listen to that idiot tell me that bleeding from my vagina once a month is the reason for an earache
Or a sinus infection
Or the fucking flu
All because my uterus sheds its lining every 28 days
Does that sound fun to any of you?
Does it???
Levi:
Jesus
Aiden:
Ford. Make it stop.
Addison:
If it’s painful for you guys to hear about it, imagine how it feels for me TO ACTUALLY LIVE IT
That’s why I need Quinn
And why I never should’ve let Ford go out with her
Ford:
Appreciate the vote of confidence, little D
And shit, I’m out of pocket for an hour, and you all lose your minds? Wtf
Addison:
Don’t call me little D
And we’re losing our minds for good reason
Your history speaks volumes
Ford:
I already told you I’m not typing out little dictator in every text. And considering what you just did for my ego, little D stays, little D.
Addison:
Like you need any help with your ego
Now I need an update!
Tell me how it went
Do you still have all your fingers or did she get friendly with the axe?
Ford:
Yes, I still have all my fucking fingers
Addison:
Hurry up and get back to the resort so you can tell me everything
Ford:
Can’t. We’re going to dinner.
Addison:
Wait, what?
No, seriously
WHAT?
She actually agreed to this??
Like, of her own free will???
Where are you taking her?
Ford?
Hello????
* * *
Text thread with Everly
6:46 p.m.
Ford:
I think Quinn probably had more fun than me, considering she handed me my ass. We’re heading to dinner now.
Everly:
Dinner too?!? I like it! Makes me feel better about how much she paid to help me. Try not to goad her too much. You might actually have a good time. :)