The Next Day (Foothills Book 2) by Carrie Thorne (christmas read aloud TXT) 📕

me at my worst and I’ve seen him at his worst and we know when to leave well enough alone. And the other is ground to dust in a tin can in my fucking closet. That’s it. Because I’m always doing or saying something stupid.” He hesitated at the base of the steps to his apartment. “Hell, my foot’s in my mouth more often than not. So I try to just keep my damn mouth shut.”

She reached into the truck and grabbed the bag with his breakfast that had gone cold long ago. A soft smile on her face, she stopped inches in front of him. Those fierce blue eyes danced with that mystery he just couldn’t place.

Stepping close, her hand burned into his chest as she anchored him. Holding his breath, his skin prickled in anticipation. She brushed her lips over his and pulled away before he could kiss her back.

“I’m sorry I got defensive. I’ve been that some woman and latched on to someone that didn’t want me. More than once. Asher was right to bring you here. Give it another month, then tell me how many friends you have, and how many people have your back.”

She flashed him a sultry smile, handed him his food, then turned away. An extra swing in her hips, her skirt swaying with each confident step, she seemed intent on tormenting him. What was that kiss all about?

Unsatisfied, craving more, he resisted the urge to run over and drag her back against him and taste her again. Yep, that had been her precise intent. His temper dissolved and nothing but lust was left buzzing in his veins.

The corners of his mouth turning up, he didn’t fight the smile.

5

Virgin Alarm

Freya chucked the charcoal over the hillside, the stubby thing disappearing into the shrubs like a frightened bunny. She’d just managed to whip together a moody sketch for the damn wedding, but had spent the rest of the day madly sketching and resketching until she was satisfied.

Growling under her breath, she glared at the easel in front of her. Coming up from behind her, an unmarked beer bottle covered her vision. Sophie laughed, “Getting frustrated?” Settling onto the bench next to Freya, Sophie nodded to the sketch.

Taking a swig, Freya scowled. “Yes.”

“I think it’s a great portrait. What don’t you like about it?”

Gesturing to the sketch that didn’t quite capture the restrained fury that Zane worked so hard to keep in check, Freya bitched, “Look at him. He’s all rugged SEAL meets Norse god meets Italian model.”

Sophie leaned back and took a sip of her own unmarked brew. “He is a looker, I’ll give you that. But he seems really nice. Quiet, but decent.”

Snorting, Freya leaned back, keeping her eyes on her sketch. Why couldn’t she get that face out of her brain? Those earthy green eyes were so haunted, lips so freaking savory and generous. And that jawline. “I have to go to my cousin’s wedding.”

“Which one? Asher didn’t mention anything about a wedding.”

“My dad’s side of the family. At Lake Tahoe.”

“Is it Zane or the wedding eating at you?”

Taking another gulp of the hoppy brew, she looked into the glass, trying to figure out what the spicy undertone was. “Both. My mom thinks I should bring a date, since I haven’t seen Dad’s family since I left Randy at the altar when I was my cousin Lulu’s age. You know, make it look like I’m not lonely and desperate.”

“Are you lonely and desperate?”

“No, but I would really like to make my parents proud. In a massive family of strait-laced normal people, I am too often the oddball that everyone gossips about.”

“I would never have pegged you as an outsider when I saw you with your parents and your extended family at Pippa’s wedding.”

“That’s the good side of the family; we’re all oddballs.”

“And a date would make you look normal?”

“Sort of. I just want to give my parents some bragging rights. Instead of, Freya broke off another engagement and got homesick so she’s renting out a bedroom in her cousin’s girlfriend’s house and hoping her career doesn’t tank, I’m going for, Freya’s art is being sold all over the world, and she’s happy and successful.”

“You know? I’ve never had to worry about that.”

Freya’s heart stumbled as she realized she’d been ranting about the woes of pleasing parents and impressing a huge extended family, when Sophie only had one horrible aunt and had lost her parents and grandparents as a kid. “I’m such a bitch. I’m sorry, Sophie.”

Sophie leaned into Freya. “It’s okay. I now have Asher, and soon, my best friend for a sister, fierce parents in Denise and Paul, and,” she tipped her head against Freya’s, “you for a cousin.”

“Damn right. I’ll just be me at this stupid wedding. They can see the Freya that will tell them to fuck off if they don’t approve.”

Laughing, Sophie took a drink of her beer and nodded to the picture, “And what about Zane?”

Stepping back a few paces, Freya slumped onto the bench and took a long, long pull on the beer, letting the bubbles ping and pop in her mouth before speaking. “I like him.”

“And the problem is?” Sophie joined her and leaned back.

The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, and Freya’s stomach rumbled, reminding her she’d skipped lunch and was well on her way to missing dinner. Nearly done with the beer, she was already feeling the buzz on her empty stomach. “I don’t want to like him that way. I’d love to fool around with him, as, well, he’s gorgeous and is comprised completely of Freya-friendly pheromones. But, well, I’ve been there, done that, bought the freaking t-shirt, and I’m not going down that road again.”

Sophie laughed under her