The One That I Want (Scorned Women Society Book 3) by Piper Sheldon (e book reader android txt) 📕

“Did I make it?” she asked hopefully.

“Of course.” I forced a smile on my face.

“I knew I could do it,” she said.

“I never doubted you for a second,” I whispered.

Chapter 14

Roxy

There were few things I loved more than blowing expectations out of the water. So when Sanders didn’t think I could play his little staring game, I was set to prove him wrong. Of course, it was real weird at first. I’d been so worried that he’d be able to see the truth of me: my dark past and my growing feelings for him. I couldn’t look directly at him at the best of times because I couldn’t do it in glimpses. When I looked at him, I wanted to do it for hours.

At first, I couldn’t sit still. I felt like I might crawl out of my skin. It made no sense. It was just eye contact and yet it felt like I was being forced to tell him my darkest secrets. But once I decided to just do it, I let go of the internal monologue. I simply focused on the way the cold stone felt damp through my hiking pants—incidentally, way more comfortable than my suit pants. The wind tickling my bangs across my forehead. My breath, moving in and out of my body in sync with my heartbeat.

I focused on Sanders. The bright, unclouded sky should blush in shame compared to the blue of his eyes. His face and mouth were relaxed so just the corner of one front tooth was visible. It was hard not to imagine leaning forward to close the distance between us and pressing a soft kiss on those lips. I couldn’t forget the taste of him and I thought for sure all those thoughts were playing like a movie in my eyes. But then, something about seeing him so serious in the task pushed me to take it seriously.

Time stretched and I forgot all about being self-conscious. I wasn’t sure what it proved but it definitely meant something.

I stood up and stretched, feeling more than a little pleased with myself. “What’s next? Since I obviously nailed that.”

He was slower to stand up. “You did great, Roxxo.” His smile was in place but it seemed sad almost, which was an emotion foreign on his face.

My arms dropped. He looked anywhere but at me.

“Maybe we should head back? That was a lot for one day,” he said. His voice was so casual. He would have fooled anyone else but I knew something was wrong.

“No.” I crossed my arms.

“No?”

“You dragged me all the way out here. Forced me to look at your stupid pretty face. I’m not going back yet.”

“Wait, wait.” He shook his head. “Stupid pretty? Or stupid and pretty?”

“Sanders.” I glared at him.

“I just don’t have anything else planned.” He scratched at the back of his head and looked at the trail leading back into the trees.

“You didn’t even have this planned,” I said.

“Fine. We can stay and try something else. But only because you’re stupid pretty too.”

“You can’t say stuff like that.” But there was no heat in my words. I was getting used to his bold flirting. He was like being around a plate of cookies when starving. How was I supposed to not sneak a little sugar where I could get it?

Sanders pulled out a battle-weary Nalgene water bottle covered in stickers from places like the Grand Teton National Park and the Great Wall of China. He took his time unscrewing the cap. After a few deep drinks, he smacked his lips with an “ah, better,” then carefully spun the cap back on. Everything took an eternity.

“Are you stalling?” I asked.

“Not at all,” he said giving me a look like I was crazy. Then he pulled out an apple and started polishing it on his pants. “Hungry?”

I blinked at him. “Nope.”

He took a huge bite and chewed thoughtfully.

“Sanders.” I shifted from foot to foot. “You are stalling.”

“Not at all.” He took another huge bite. The apple was already mostly gone.

“We’ve been gone a half hour.” I glared.

“Can never be too careful. Low blood sugar is dangerous,” he said through a cheekful of food.

Watching him eat was hypnotic. His jaw worked like a sleek machine. Like everything he did, his movements were so relaxed yet purposeful. His throat moved as he swallowed and it was impossible to not fantasize about biting him there and then, soothing it with a soft kiss.

I moved away and circled the small overlook. That was weird. Don’t be weird, Roxy.

The apple core went whizzing through the air and into the valley below us.

“Okay,” he said, wiping his hands on his pants. “This one is called, two truths and a lie.”

I shot him a look. “I’m familiar.”

“No holding back. Honesty.”

In Denver we hadn’t had a chance to really explore each other because we kept the details out. So what would happen this time if we pushed each other too far?

“You’re going down, Colonel,” I said.

He squinted at me.

“Colonel Sanders?” I clarified.

When my joke hit, he laughed. “It’s not a competition,” he said.

“Totally,” I said instantly. “But if it were, I’d definitely wipe the floor with you.”

“Adorable,” he muttered. “Okay, you can go first. Sit down. Your pacing is making me twitchy.”

“I’m making you twitchy?” I asked. “That’s rich.”

“Sit,” he commanded.

With anybody else, being told to do something typically made me long to do the exact opposite. But when he told me what to do, a tiny shiver ran down my spine.

“Yes, sir,” I said in a husky voice.

His pupils darkened and his nostrils flared. Those light blue eyes transformed into something more intense and I knew in that moment exactly what his eyes would look like when they looked up at me from between my thighs.

We sat back down in the same positions as a few minutes ago.

With no warning, I brought my hands up to cover the upper half of my face. I said, “I’m