Page 30 of Rum & Coke

“I was craving a giant salad, so I figured I’d bring you one too.”

I slid into a chair across from her. “Is that the only reason?”

She furrowed her brow. “Yeah, why?”

I tsked and rolled my eyes.

“What?” she asked with a smirk. “I’ve brought you lunch before. I’m being nice.”

I chuckled. “I know you have, and you are, but I also know you, and I know your real motives.”

“And what are those?” She handed me the box with my favorite salad—spring greens with chicken, blue cheese, slices of pears, walnuts, and a pear vinaigrette.

“You want to know about yesterday and Sunday.”

She grinned. “Well, I was here when you were freaking out before he showed up Saturday night.”

“I was not.” I totally was. I’d never gone on a weekend trip with a guy before. It didn’t matter that we had two separate rooms because I wasn’t sure what to expect. But being with Vinny was like being with someone I’d known my entire life. He made me feel comfortable. He made me happy. He made me excited, and he made me feel like a woman and not another pair of tits to stare at.

“Please. You couldn’t sit still while you waited for him to pick you up. You like him, and I know you like him as more than a friend.”

I took a deep breath and sighed. “I do.”

“I knew it. I knew it. I knew it.” Melony stabbed a piece of chicken from her salad.

“But I can’t do anything about it.”

“Why not? Because of Colt?”

I took another deep breath. “No. He’s great with Colton. I mean, of course he is since he’s a special ed kindergarten teacher.” After I found out about Vinny being a teacher, I’d told Melony. Hell, I’d told her everything because she was the only true friend I had in Vegas and I could trust her with anything.

“Then why not? He’s hot.”

“I know he’s hot.”

God, he sure the hell was. His buzzed, short brown hair looked soft, and every single time I saw him, I wanted to run my hand across his head. I swore his chocolate brown eyes twinkled when he looked at me. I wanted to feel his fucking perfect lips pressed to mine. Even his thick neck and Adam’s apple turned me on. I had no idea why. Maybe it was because I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck while he fucked me against a wall—any wall. I knew he’d have no problem because his arms looked strong. I also knew—even though I’d only seen it in pictures on the S&R website—that he had at least a six-pack, maybe even an eight-pack, and said abs were dusted with dark hair that went all the way into his pants. And the V. Good Lord, the V. I wanted to run my tongue down his entire body as I explored every inch of him and found where that V pointed to.

Melony snapped her fingers in front of me. “Did you hear me?”

I blinked as I focused on her. “Um, no?” I was too busy daydreaming about the man who seemed to be perfect in every way.

“I said that since you know he’s hot, and he’s obviously interested in you, why aren’t you riding him?”

I forked a piece of lettuce and a piece of pear. “Because other women do.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders fell. “Right.”

“Yep. Just thinking about it makes me sad because I would want to be the only woman even if he doesn’t have feelings for any of them.”

“I totally get it,” she agreed around a mouthful of food. “But let’s say he quits and is just a teacher. Do you think he’d be okay with you showing your tits and giving other guys lap dances every night?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Usher seems to be okay with it.”

Melony stared at me for a beat, and then we burst into laughter at my reference to Usher’s song, “I Don’t Mind.” “Maybe you should talk to him?” she suggested.

I took another bite of salad. “I can’t.” I wasn’t sure if I’d be okay if he didn’t sleep with his clients and only took them on the dates.

“Why not?”