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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Lila Monroe
Read between
January 15 - January 15, 2024
I’m done with the apps and online things. I’m tired of meeting the great-on-paper guys who end up being mediocre.”
this
Bigfoot, aka my neighbor, Zach, the hairy man-whore across the hall.
I throw up my hands with a frustrated “Mneugh!”
“Serena has some big shots in her office. Did you see?”
bigfoot
Both Arielle and I realize what she said at the same time. One team leader. One promotion.
I glance over at Arielle. She’s looking at me. And there’s nothing friendly about her expression.
Your connections won’t help you here,” he adds. Arielle flushes. It’s an open secret that she got her job because Serena went to college with Arielle’s older sister.
Can you bribe him?” “With what?” Eve asks. Zoey smirks. “Sexual favors.” I laugh. “No thank you. I don’t need to floss with all that hair, thank you very much.”
LMFAOOOO
He sighs and nods. “Fine. Under one condition.” “What?” I ask warily. A slow, mischievous smile spreads from his lips up to his amber eyes, making me fear for my life. Also, my panties a little, because a mischievous Zach is a sexy Zach. Huh. Who knew? “I get to pick an outfit for you,” he says.
“Fine,” I shrug, unconcerned. This is my favorite store, after all. “Do your worst.”
And he forgot to mention the zucchini to go along with those tomatoes. Okay, maybe the pants are way too tight if I can see all his vegetables.
“So, there’s bacon?” “Uh, yes.” I make a face. “You can’t have brunch without bacon, can you?” “No, you cannot,” he says with a smile.
“You just couldn’t see it when you were wearing the wrong sizes.” Zach coughs. “Uh, thanks?” “Learn to take a compliment,” I tell him. “Because you won’t be getting many more from me.” Zach chuckles. “That’s more like it.”
“That’s … Wow. Interesting!” I manage to say. Was he dating me to see if I was harem-friendly? Sister-wife compatible? Suddenly, Zach’s arm drapes around my shoulder, and he’s introducing himself. “Great to meet you guys.”
mean, thank you!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around his neck. Shit, why do I keep doing that?
“It may seem shallow, but sometimes all it takes is a stylish outfit to remind someone that they can be more than they imagined—really give the confidence to start over again.
Without missing a beat, Gemma plucks her from her mother and places her on her own hip, like a natural.
I know for sure I’ve been underestimating Gemma.
Like she feels my gaze, she glances over and smiles. Not one of her careful, suspicious smiles she gives me when I’m teasing her or when she’s yanking my chain. No. This is a real smile. An open smile, filled with joy. One that tells me so much about her—about a different side of her that I never imagined existed. A side that it turns out I like. Very much.
“You better give me a fucking gold star,” I grumble, and turn on the shave setting. Goodbye Bigfoot. The beard is no more.
She smiles back at me. “Good. I want you to rise to this challenge. Show me what you’ve got. I know you can shine.”
This is not yet your job, but it could be,” she adds meaningfully, “Understand?” Is that a … wink she flashes at me? Does Serena want me to win this contest? “Thank you, Serena.” I say quickly. “I won’t let you down.”
My first thought is: Oh, I would like to have at you. My second: Hello, promotion, you are all mine.
You have turned him from hairy beast into mega-hottie. You should kiss him. You should do a lot more than kiss him—you earned it.”
“I see you really don’t have hairy feet and toes. That I’d love to taste.”
Maybe it’s the wine talking, but it doesn’t take long to realize that Zach’s friends are awesome.
“Oh, honey, I can handle a stick no problem,” I tease, before I realize what I’ve said. Luckily, he’s still too asleep to catch a double entendre.
Then Zach approaches a slick, silver Jaguar convertible. He nods toward the fob in my hand. “You’ll need to unlock it.” I stop dead. “This is your car?” He nods.
He reaches over and ruffles my hair. “I’ll give you Bigfoot hands! Just drive, pretty woman.” So I do—even just to hide the smile I can’t seem to wipe off my face.
“You’ll lose like you do every year,” Julie taunts. “Not with me on his team, he won’t,” I say, smiling up at him. He grins back, his eyes smiling at me, warm amber.
Dammit, now I really am smiling. Because Gemma can be remarkably persuasive when she puts her mind to it. Persuasive, and hot.
“So, GQ, what do you say? It’s a big camp,” she sweeps her arms around. Her chest bounces slightly at the motion. Not that I’m looking.
And have fun with Gemma,” he adds meaningfully. “She’s great—we like her.”
She rolls her eyes. “Are you sorry I came?” “No,” I say immediately. She gives me a suspicious look. “More bullshit?” “Nope.” I don’t even feel so stressed anymore. I guess all the restorative powers of nature finally kicked in.
She rolls her eyes. “In the trailer. It’s in the box marked, ‘I was bullshitting’. You’ll find it right next to the bug spray I didn’t put on.”
“Lisa isn’t just my ex-girlfriend. She’s my ex-wife.”
“Like what?” I ask, feeling slightly guilty. Even though Zach agreed to this makeover project, I am kind of steamrolling him to transform him for the bet.
“We should … I mean … if you …” With a groan, he leans in and captures my lips in a searing kiss. Oh. My. God. His mouth is hot and hard against mine, his tongue sliding deep.
FINALLYYYYYYY
He groans into my mouth. Fuck, it’s so sexy.
It’s magic. It’s perfect. It’s hands-down the sexiest moment of my entire life. And then my stomach gurgles loudly. Zach pulls away, smiling. “Was that you, or a truck passing somewhere?” “Hey!” I smack him lightly. “A gentleman wouldn’t comment on it.”
I don’t mind the teasing, especially because my mind is still frazzled from our epic watery-logged makeout session. Where did he learn to kiss like that? And can he please do it again—as soon as possible?!
LOL
I just want him. I slide my arms around his neck, pulling him down for a hot, steamy kiss. Zach groans against my mouth and kisses me back, licking and nibbling my lips in a way that makes my knees weak.
The friction of his hands over the fabric makes me arch because I need so much more. “Take it off,” I whisper. He chuckles. “Soon.” He lowers his head to nuzzle me, blowing hot air at my nipple before he works it with his lips,.
“So soft,” Zach mutters. “Just like I knew you would be.” The tiny part of my consciousness that isn’t zeroed in on his touch loves that he’s been thinking about this. For how long? I wonder.
He spreads my thighs, and I squirm, the ache uncomfortable and delicious at the same time. “Zach,” I pant. “I know,” he says, watching me darkly. “I fucking know.”
this is hot
My hands go to his shorts. “Take these off,” I demand. He arches an eyebrow. “Bossy.”
Correction: in Zach’s bed in Zach’s trailer.
Maybe I’m overthinking, but it feels like there’s a weird tension between us. Or maybe it’s just me.
The only thing that would make it better would be a blanket and a glass of wine. He pops the trunk. Out comes a picnic basket and a folded blanket.
“I’m pretty sure it’s the law that when you drink wine and eat artisanal marshmallows on the beach, you have to kiss.”
