Dashing: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Unleashed Romance, Book 2)

by Kylie Gilmore

  I beam. “See you tomorrow!”

  I walk back to the restaurant, feeling his eyes on me. I hope that means he likes what he sees.

  But when I get back to my tiny apartment and review our conversation, I start to see tonight differently. If he doesn’t normally date and he’s not celibate, then that means he only has hookups. So why is he insisting on a month of slow seduction with me? Am I special to him, or is he just trying to delay my goal in the hopes that I’ll give up? Hmm…neither seems to fit. It must be because I’m a virgin. He’s taking it slow to make sure I’m comfortable.

  What a great guy!

  5

  Adam

  I am the worst. Leading Kayla on, keeping my distance, only to turn her down in the end. I’m not going through with her sexy plan, but I don’t want her with someone who won’t treat her right.

  I’m looking out for her as a friend. I shouldn’t feel so guilty.

  “Come on, Tank. Time to be a buffer.” Tank is a four-year-old English bulldog with protruding lower teeth, drooly jowls, and wide haunches. He was originally Amelia’s puppy when I first got together with her. She gave him to me because tropical heat and bulldogs don’t get along. I love this dog. He’s the only good thing from the relationship implosion. His short coat is fawn brown with white on one ear, his forehead, muzzle, and chest.

  Tank doesn’t move at my command. He’s the laziest creature ever. Instead he looks up at me with his big brown eyes with an expression that says again with going outside? He’s really an indoor cat. I lift him out the front door and set him down on the front lawn. He moves slowly toward my car in the driveway, where I lift him into the back seat and put his dog seatbelt on. Then I start the car and power down the windows to keep him cool.

  I’m picking up Kayla and driving to the far side of the lake, where there’s parkland and lots of shade for Tank. The thing is, if I don’t delay Kayla’s plan by at least pretending to go along with it, there are other single guys in town she could secretly approach. She seems very determined. Who knows, maybe she’d privately meet up with Spencer, the new chef Sydney hired. It would be easy to sneak him up to her room. He’s not the only single guy either. The vet in town is divorced. Good guy around my age. A couple of teachers at the high school.

  I turn down Lakeshore Drive. Actually, now that I think about it, Kayla often goes to Clover Park, a town over the border from us in Connecticut, when she has time off. There’s a bar there with a name that makes it sound like it’s crawling with single guys trolling for a pickup—Happy Endings. I always go further afield so I don’t chance running into my hookups again, but Kayla—what am I doing? Making a list of potential guys to take her virginity? Hell no!

  Besides, we’re supposed to be engaged. The woman makes me crazy with all her sex talk. Doesn’t she see she’s perfect just the way she is?

  I pull into The Horseman Inn parking lot, and she’s already standing outside, holding a red cooler with our picnic lunch. Her hair’s up in a cute ponytail, making her look even younger, sweet and innocent. Virginal. My heart bucks harder. She smiles and waves.

  I lift a hand in greeting and park, getting out to help her with the cooler. She’s in an olive green blouse that hangs loosely on her, ending at the elbows, nothing tempting there, but her black shorts are short. Bare silky smooth legs in flat sandals. Her toenails are painted pink.

  My mouth goes dry, words failing me. All I can do is take the cooler from her and gesture toward the car.

  She kisses my cheek. “Hello, stranger.”

  “Hi.”

  No danger of her falling for me with my complete lack of game. I’m usually much smoother. I can’t even string together enough words for a compliment. What would I say, great legs? Better to keep my mouth shut.

  I put the cooler in the trunk and get in the driver’s side. She’s already in the car, talking to Tank. “I hope you like bacon.”

  He leans toward her, sniffing like crazy. She holds out her palm, and he tries to lick it. She pulls her hand back, laughing, and then she meets my eyes, hers sparkling with delight.

  I’m hypnotized.

  “Hope it’s okay to give him a little bacon,” she says. “I thought he should enjoy the picnic too.”

  I give myself a mental shake, start the car, and pull out of the lot. “Yeah, that’s fine.”

  “Which park are we going to? I’ve seen several around town, mostly on the outskirts.”

  “The founders made sure to preserve a lot of land when they first settled here in the sixties. I thought we’d go to the far side of the lake where there’s a park.”

  “Oh, we could’ve taken a rowboat across the lake just like in a romantic movie. Do you have a life vest for Tank?”

  “Yes, but it’s easier to drive.”

  “Next time we should take a boat, get the full lake experience. If you don’t have one—”

  “I have one. Nearly everyone in town has a rowboat or canoe.”

  “I’m terrible at canoeing. I went on a field trip in high school once, and we tipped over three times. You have to balance two people just right in coordinated strokes.”

  My mind immediately goes to a dirty place—two people, rhythmic strokes. This is bad.

  “Have you scheduled any interviews?” I ask. There. The sooner she moves to her new job, the sooner she can find a nerdy scientist type to marry and sex it up with.

  “I have one in the city on Wednesday.” New York City being the only city worth mentioning around here. “I’m not crazy about commuting to the city, and rent is so expensive there, so it’s not my first choice. But you never know. I’m keeping an open mind. I think it’s important to find a job that fits since that’s where you spend most of your time, you know?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Can I ask you a personal question?”

  I tense. She’s going to circle back to the sex thing. Worse than Tank with a bone. He snuffles in the back seat, probably smelling the bacon in the cooler in the trunk.

  “Is it hot in here?” I ask.

  “I’m comfortable. Maybe you should’ve worn shorts instead of jeans. Do you want to go back and change?”

  “I’m fine.”

  She rubs the short sleeve of my black T-shirt, her soft fingers grazing my arm. “The fabric feels breathable, so I don’t think the shirt’s a problem.”

  It’s definitely hot in here. I power the windows up and blast the air conditioner. I check the rearview and see Tank leaning toward the breeze from the vent.

  “Tell me about all the places you applied for a job,” I say.

  “But I had a question for you.”

  “It’s my turn to get to know you. Remember?”

  She sighs. “Okay, but I don’t see the point of telling you all the places I applied. I don’t even know if they’ll want me for an interview. It’s a competitive process with few positions.”

  “Tell me anyway.”

  So she does, and I let out a breath of relief. Nice neutral conversation about pharmaceutical research and the kinds of treatments they’re working on all over the country. One thing I learn is that she doesn’t want to go too far from her family. Her mom and sister Brooke live in New Jersey, her other sister Paige lives in the city, and Wyatt is here. She wants to be within driving distance of them.

  “Indiana’s not driving distance,” I point out.

  “Eleven and a half hours,” she says. “I checked. It’s a short flight, though. It’s not ideal, but my college roommate lives out there, so I’d have a friend at least. Anyway, that’s all up in the air.”

  “Well, keep me posted. Every interview, every offer. I want to know.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course.”

  “Okay,” she says warmly. “And you keep me posted on your projects too. I just love your work.”

  A flush creeps up my neck. She’s my biggest fan. “Thanks, I will.”

  She beams at me. “I’m so glad we’re helping each other out like t
his. What are friends for, right?”

  I grunt. The woman will hate me soon enough for faking her out.

  Kayla

  Adam found a great spot under some beech and sugar maple trees for our picnic. I didn’t get to ask him if he’s going slow because I’m a virgin, but that’s okay. I’m pretty sure that’s the reason. I was hoping to talk it out, and then I could assure him I’m really fine and we don’t need to go slow. In fact, going faster would probably lessen my nerves, but he seems uncomfortable talking openly about sex. Who knew the inexperienced one of us would be fine talking about it while Mr. Experience over here can’t wait to change the subject?

  Anyway, I do like spending time with him. Today I learned he’s into fishing, and he promised to take me out for my first fishing trip. I watch as he lays out an old navy comforter for us, and Tank immediately makes himself comfortable in the center of it.

  “Not so fast,” Adam says, shifting him to the corner of the blanket. Tank lifts his head, makes a soft snuffling sound, and settles down again.

  “Can you get lunch out?” Adam asks. “I’m going to get water for him.”

  “You got it.” I had some help with lunch from the restaurant’s new chef, Spencer. He’s super flirty and cute too, but it’s nothing personal. He’s like that with everyone.

  Soon we’re settled with plates of rotisserie chicken, field greens salad, and freshly baked baguette. Tank lifts his head, sniffing the air.

  I set my plate down and get a slice of bacon from the cooler. “I didn’t forget you, buddy.” I crawl over to him and offer the bacon. He takes it gently from my hand and then wolfs it down. I pat his head, and he twists around to sniff my hand and tries to lick it. I pull my hand back. “Don’t need a dog bath before eating, thank you very much.”

  I glance over my shoulder at Adam and catch him ogling my ass. I smile. Short shorts are doing the job. He whips his head away, almost like he’s shy. Is he shy? He is quiet, but I just assumed he wasn’t a big talker.

  I crawl back over to him and tickle him.

  He doesn’t crack a smile, his eyes smoldering at me. “Not ticklish.”

  “I’m insanely ticklish. Don’t even go there.” Touch me.

  “Noted.”

  I repress a sigh and settle back with my lunch, turning to the view of the gently lapping lake. There’s a few Sunfish boats out there in the distance with bright white sails, along with a pair of kayaks. Probably more people are on the opposite shore around the bend.

  Adam’s quiet, so I have plenty of time to think about next steps. If he’s shy, he won’t be quick to seduce. On the other hand, if all he has are hookups, then he must know how to close the deal, so to speak. It’s a paradox. I really wish I knew what was going on in his head. I thought I knew him so well before we entered sexy territory.

  “What are you thinking about?” I ask.

  “Nothing at all.”

  “I’m thinking about you. You’re a paradox. You implied you only have hookups since your broken engagement, yet—”

  “Tell me what it was like growing up the youngest of the family.”

  He always asks me about myself when he doesn’t want to talk about himself. Welp, if it makes him feel more comfortable seducing me, I guess I can share. So I tell him about Wyatt and how he was kinda like a dad to me after our dad died. He taught me to ride a bike and gave me loads of advice about school and also taught me self-defense. Then there’s my oldest sister, Paige, who used to boss me endlessly, but still lent me her favorite dress for my eighth-grade dance. Brooke and Paige used to fight like cats and dogs and then confided in little me how horrible the other girl was. I was just happy to be included.

  “Cool,” he says.

  That’s all he says after I shared all the way through lunch. I put our dishes back in the cooler and throw out the leftover bits of food in a garbage can across the way by the bike path.

  When I get back, Adam’s lying on his back, his hands behind his head, looking up at the sky through the tree branches. His dark green T-shirt stretches enticingly across his chest. I’m tempted to lie next to him, but I have a feeling he’d sit up immediately. Instead I pluck a buttercup and take a seat next to him, sitting with my legs crisscrossed.

  “For you, shy guy.” I slide the flower into his hair right above his ear.

  He grabs it and sits up, staring at it. “You put a flower in my hair?”

  I nod.

  He slides it into my hair above my ear. “Guys don’t wear flowers. And I’m not shy.”

  I shift to look at him, our eyes meeting up close. My breath hitches. There’s golden specks in the brown irises of his eyes. “Good.”

  His gaze drops to my mouth. “What’s good?”

  I slide my fingers into the soft hair at the nape of his neck. “That you’re not shy.”

  His head lowers, and I close my eyes, nearly vibrating in anticipation. He places a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. A jolt goes through me at the touch.

  “Adam?” a feminine voice says.

  He stiffens and slowly turns toward a pretty woman with long blond hair, wearing a red tank top, denim shorts, and flip-flops. She’s standing at the edge of our blanket. “Hey, Amelia.”

  It’s the villainous ex who broke off their engagement to run away with another guy to Panama! I immediately move into adoring-fiancée mode, leaning against Adam’s side.

  She pushes her white-framed sunglasses up and stares at me while talking to Adam. “I was driving by and thought I recognized your car.” She flashes a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “You must be the new fiancée.”

  I smile and hold up my hand to show off my sister’s sparkly diamond engagement ring. “That’s me. I’m Kayla. Nice to meet you, Amelia.”

  Her lips purse. “How long were you dating before he proposed?”

  I turn to Adam, smiling. His turn to answer.

  Adam takes my hand, entwining our fingers together. “Why does it matter? We’re engaged. End of story.”

  She crouches down to rub Tank’s big side, where he’s sleeping. “Guess a quick proposal points to a rush. You were never one to rush, Adam. It’s one of the things I liked best about you. The way you take your time guarantees satisfaction.” Her voice sounds husky on that last part.

  I narrow my eyes. She’s playing the sex card, reminding us both what they had. “I certainly have no complaints in the bedroom.” Because we haven’t made it there yet. Ha-ha.

  She huffs and rises to her feet. “So crass.”

  Adam grins. “Kayla’s very open and honest. It’s one of the things I like best about her.”

  Unlike you, cheater Amelia!

  “Aww, thank you.” I give him a soft kiss on the lips and instantly want more. Our gazes collide in a moment of electric attraction. This is so happening.

  Tank whimpers. I look over, and Amelia is striding back to a red Corvette.

  “I think your plan worked,” I say.

  He watches her leave. “You don’t know Amelia. She’s in sales and knows how to be aggressive to close the deal.”

  “Is that how she closed the deal with you?”

  We both watch as her car roars off down the road.

  “Not at all. It was casual between us for the summer, and then I followed up. She played hard to get, and it only made me pursue her more. I never saw her for what she really was. Manipulative, careless about people—”

  “And her dog.”

  He looks over at Tank. “He was collateral damage in her quest for adventure. She wouldn’t have been happy with me long term, so I guess, in hindsight, it was for the best.”

  I wrap my arms around his middle and hug him. He drapes an arm around my shoulders and kisses the top of my head. It’s so unfair to him to be blindsided like that after four years as a couple.

  I lean back to look at him. “I hate that she hurt you.”

  He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “I survived.”

  “Do you think she moved on, o
r should we keep doing the engaged-couple thing?”

  The backs of his fingertips graze my cheek. “We have to do it all summer because that’s how long she’s here. If she thought we broke up, she’d probably show up at my place again.”

  My eyes widen. “Again?”

  He traces a line down the side of my neck, leaving a tingly trail that makes it hard to focus. “Yeah, she still had my key and let herself in last Sunday.”

  I blink a few times. “Wait. She broke into your house? She sounds off. Why wouldn’t she just call or knock on the door to be invited in?”

  His words run hot over my lips. “I don’t want to talk about her.”

  My breath hitches a second before his mouth covers mine in a whisper of a kiss. His hand cups the back of my neck as he deepens the kiss, fitting his lips to mine more firmly, and then another kiss and another. Each kiss finding the perfect angle to how we fit together. Electric heat floods me.

  And then he’s lowering me to the blanket, his fingers spearing through my hair as his lips press harder, opening me to his exploration, his tongue thrusting inside. I wrap my arms around him, stroking his broad back and shoulders, aching to feel his weight on me. He holds himself over me, his kisses becoming more demanding. Raw lust races through me in a dizzying rush. This is the passion I’ve craved. Desire pools low in my belly; an instinctive need to get closer has me pulling at his shoulders, craving full-body contact.

  He breaks the kiss, both of us breathing hard. His forehead drops to mine, his eyes closing. “Kayla.”

  “Stage one unlocked,” I whisper. “We perfected the kiss. Now it’s time for touching.”

  He groans and sits up. “I should take Tank for a walk.”

  “Not yet.”

  He glances down at himself, muttering, “Yeah, I’ll wait.” He’s got a sizable bulge in his jeans.

  I make my way over to straddle his lap and grin. “Now no one can see.”

  He groans, his hands going to my waist. “You’re not helping.”