Chapter Seven-Jan
Day 3 of Block Party Prepping (7 to go)
“So, what are you doing today?” Delani asked and smirked.
I had my phone propped against a mixing bowl so I could see her and still be hands free for our video call. Yesterday, David had thrown me for a loop by being at the store first.
I knew I should call him Buck and not David, but when I thought about him, I couldn’t help myself. It just kind of slipped through.
Like this unwanted attraction I felt towards him.
Resist, Jan. You must resist.
I was trying, though. Really, I was.
That, plus the fact he’d cleaned the entire area and helped me unload my stuff had my hackles up.
Men like him weren’t nice to girls like me for no reason. I mean, yes, he needed the area cleaned as well, but he didn’t have to do the whole store.
It was nice. Too nice. And it made me suspicious.
“Do you think he’s trying to sabotage me?” I asked suddenly, and Delani made a sound somewhere between snort, laugh, and gasp.
“Buck? Why would you even think that? He’s the nicest guy in the world!”
I frowned. I didn’t think he was mean or anything, but nicest guy in the world. That seemed like a bit much.
Nice guys didn’t argue with you at every single turn.
Or ignore you when they saw you.
Nice guys didn’t finger you in a coat closet at your best friend’s wedding.
They didn’t make you come so hard your legs trembled.
They didn’t kiss you so passionately you couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks after.
And they didn’t leave you standing there while they chased their fucking date that you had no idea he’d brought to the wedding, down the hall, leaving you to pick up your panties and your dress before slinking out of there alone.
I could forgive a lot of things, but that was not okay. Anger and hurt still rolled through me whenever I thought about it. About him.
Nicest guy? No. That shit for brains was a two-timing asshat.
He’d had a date with him. At the wedding. And I let him touch me.
I was so ashamed. I didn’t want to be the other woman.
Not ever.
Okay, well, technically, I wasn’t. David, no, Buck and I had never dated. In fact, we never got along.
Any discussions we engaged in usually ended up in a fight.
But if he thought he was going to trick me into throwing this contest just because of a few thoughtful actions, he could just fuck right off.
He could bat his stupid thick eyelashes all he wanted. Flash his panty-melting grin. Walk around in shorts and too tight t-shirts, showcasing all his manly muscles—but it wouldn’t matter!
“Earth to Jan,” Delani’s voice caught my attention.
“Oh! Sorry, Del. So, I went ahead and placed an order for fresh, local, non-GMO produce with Kent Global, and it should be here any minute. I’ve got a list of flavors I want to begin today,” I replied.
“Oooh, I’ll let Rena know. She can brag to her hubby she’s bringing him clients!”
Rena was one of our close circle of friends. I didn’t know her as well as Delani did, but I liked her very much. She was sweet and fun and had recently married her high school sweetheart.
It seemed love was in the air everywhere but around me. A familiar sadness threatened to engulf me, but I pushed it down. I’d have to deal with that later.
It was time to work.
“Rena added some names to our BBILF file, by the way, have you seen?” I asked, smirking because I knew all about Del’s obsession with fictional men.
“Did she? Who?”
“He’s from the latest Z. Wolff novel. The guy is so morally gray, it should be illegal,” I told her excitedly.
Book boyfriends I could handle. It was flesh and blood men who gave me the heartburn.
“What’s his name?”
“His name is Nico, and holy hell, Del! When I tell you, this man is fine as fuck. Tattooed, sexy, gritty voice, and that whole possessive attitude you know I love. He’s just so hot. And the things he does with his mouth, and don’t get me started on what he can do with his pinky?—”
The sound of the kitchen door slamming had me spinning around. I bumped the table with my hip and my phone fell on the floor, face down.
“Oh, crap!”
I looked around for a towel. My hands were wet from washing the various utensils I was planning to work with.
Buck had just walked in, and he looked mad as hell.
What the heck was going on?
“Who the fuck are you talking about? Who’s been using his mouth and his fucking pinky on you?” Buck growled, stomping over to me.
He was invading my personal space, pushing his hard, hot body into mine. I felt the table dig into my back, but it didn’t hurt.
Not at all.
How could I even register the cold stainless steel slab when I had all six-foot whatever of Buck pressed up against me?
“W-what?” I asked, rubbing my thighs together to try to stop the sudden ache I felt between my legs.
A flash of heat swept through me that had nothing at all to do with the temperature outside, and everything to do with him.
Why was this so hot?
“Who has been using his mouth and his fucking pinky on you?” Buck growled again, his dark eyes blazing with emotion as his arms locked around me.
“N-no one,” I replied, unable to do anything except obey.
I knew the kitchen was cool. I’d turned the AC on myself when I walked in that morning.
But holy shit. I was burning up now. My skin felt hot and flushed. I was swollen and achy in places I’d neglected for way too long.
His dark, brooding gaze dropped to my lips. Before I knew what was happening, Buck leaned down, and I tipped my head back to meet his searching mouth.
He was the last guy I’d kissed, and it had been so long.
A whole month, and joke if you wanted, but it felt like forever.
“Goddamn it,” he growled before crushing my mouth beneath his.
His lips were so much softer than I expected. Soft but firm. Giving, but also demanding. By the time he lifted his head, I was trembling with need.
“David,” I moaned, unable to stop his name from spilling from my lips.
“I’m going to ask you some questions, Jan. And if you want me to keep going, you will answer them. Now, who were you just talking to?”
“Talking to? Del, I mean, that was Delani,” I whispered, my gaze riveted to his mouth.
What did I need to do to get him to kiss me again?
“Good Girl,” he grunted, licking his way back into my mouth.
Buck dragged a moan from my throat as I sucked on his invading tongue. He tasted so good.
Like cinnamon and cloves.
“Now, who were you talking about?” he asked, his lips teasing mine, but never giving me the pressure I craved.
“What?”
“Who, Jan?” he said, his mouth hovering so close, making me chase him.
Fucker pulled back every time I got near.
I groaned in frustration, my hands clutching at his waist. I squeezed my legs together again and hoped like hell I’d survive whatever this was.
“We were talking about a character from a book. We have a, well, a book club. Just some friends.”
“Oh,” he said, realization dawning behind his dark eyes. “You mean your Book Boyfriends I’d loved to Fuck Club.”
I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say, but the smile he gave me just about destroyed my panties.
“You know about that?”
My heart was pounding, and my clit was actually throbbing, but I was just stunned by this revelation.
He knew about BBILF.
Oh shit.
I narrowed my eyes. Was he going to make fun of me? Of my penchant for steamy books?
I was more than prepared to fight back, defend my honor, or whatever. But he surprised me again.
“Yeah, I know all about BBILF. Sonny told me. In fact, Del sent me a great list of books. I just started that billionaire series,” he said, and I opened my eyes even wider.
“You read romance books?”
“I read a lot of books. Thrillers, romance, whatever. As long as the story is good,” he said and shrugged. “So, you’re not dating anyone. No boyfriend, right?”
“No, no boyfriend,” I replied, still confused.
Buck nodded once as if we’d settled something before he pushed off of me. His smile was wide as he turned around and went to the front of the store.
“Good,” he said before walking out and leaving me alone in the kitchen.
What the hell was that?
Frustration, need, and a mild sort of fury filled me as I watched his arrogant ass walk away.
I wanted to hit him over the head with my colander.
The jerk.
It was none of his business who I dated or kissed or—the sound of someone whisper-screaming my name reached my flushed ears and I looked around.
What the heck?
“Shit,” said, as I found my phone on the floor where it fell after he came in and slammed the door.
“Oh my God! Did you just make out with Buck?” Delani hissed, her big eyes staring at me through the small screen.
“Shhh!” I said, holding the phone to my chest as I peeked around to see where the man was hiding.
I jogged to the bathroom, locking the door behind me so I could have my little freak out in semi-privacy.
“Oh my God, did you hear all that?” I asked Del.
“Yep, and I want all the deets. Have you started the three date check yet? What base did he get to? OMG I can’t believe you have been keeping this from me! NOW SPILL!” Del screeched.
She looked like the cat that got the canary and if I thought I was going to keep what had happened at her wedding a secret any longer, I was shit out of luck.
I closed my eyes.
Fuck.