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

by Kylie Gilmore

  I’m more than halfway in love with him. I’m all the way.

  This is not good. I don’t think he’s feeling the same way. If he did, he’d say something like let’s be exclusive or ask me to be his girlfriend, something official like that. Nothing.

  I’m fully aware of the irony, telling him I wanted casual and now feeling differently. But that was before we spent so much time together. I smooth out my red and white polka-dotted sundress over my knees. Adam’s driving us over to Wyatt’s house for a Fourth of July barbecue. Adam and I need to have a serious talk. I’ve been postponing it because if he doesn’t return my feelings, I just know that will be the end of us. He’ll cut ties, or I’ll be too devastated to enjoy what we do have, and I’m just not ready to go there yet. Soon.

  I sigh. We see each other every night, either at his place or at mine on my break. And it’s not just us slamming together, mouths fused with burning passion. Though, there’s plenty of that. We go on walks together, fishing twice, and I took him to Clover Park for the best ice cream in the world, where we hung out in the gazebo in the park, talking about anything and everything.

  What have I done? Ruined our wonderful friendship by demanding he help me get rid of my virginity. All this sexy stuff has messed with my head big time.

  I glance over at Adam in profile, his scruffy jaw and kissable lips so dear to me now. Actually, his jaw looks tight. “Everything okay?”

  He glances at me. “Wyatt can’t know we’ve been fooling around.”

  Fooling around. Definitely casual in his mind. I push down the hurt. “Like I’d tell my brother. It’s none of his business.”

  He laughs mirthlessly. “Yeah. Let’s keep it that way. You have to make it look like we’re just friends. Don’t do…”

  “What?”

  He shoots me an exasperated look. “Don’t hug me and stuff.”

  “Friends can hug. He knows I’m an affectionate person.”

  “He’ll take it wrong.”

  “Did he say something to you?” I ask, suddenly alarmed. Wyatt’s always been my protector, but this is embarrassing. As far as Wyatt knows, Adam and I are good friends pretending to be engaged. Is that why Adam holds me at a distance?

  He glances at me, looking guilty. “Just that…look, I didn’t want to say anything, but when he saw us dancing at his wedding, he assumed you were propositioning me—”

  “What!”

  “Which you did later, so he wasn’t far off, but at the time you were just inviting me to be your fake fiancé…” He trails off. “This is so fucked up. I don’t think we should’ve arrived together.”

  I’m so irked by the men in my life trying to determine what’s okay and not okay for me to do. “So I shouldn’t tell him you fucked me with your mouth?”

  He jerks. “Kayla.”

  “Or that you won’t let me fuck you with my mouth? You always hold me back from true physical intimacy. We’re like friends with half a benefit. It’s not normal!” And I’m still an effing virgin with way too many feelings to pretend we’re just friends.

  “Nothing about this friendship has ever been normal,” he returns.

  I seethe in silence as he pulls up the hill to Wyatt’s house. To think I have real feelings for this man who only sees me as a friend. An abnormal friendship at that.

  I get out of the car the moment he parks. Then I lean back in the open passenger door. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell him we’re abnormal friends who only let one of us get naked.”

  “Don’t say anything at all.”

  I gently shut the door, so it’s not obvious we’re fighting, and walk to the backyard to join everyone. Wyatt’s place used to be a farm. The old farmhouse with gray clapboard siding has been completely renovated with a large addition on the back. In addition to acres of flat land, rolling hills, and woodland, the property also has the unusual feature of a water tower made over to look like a lighthouse. A landlocked lighthouse. My brother appreciated the irony, which is why he bought the place.

  Adam will be a few minutes, getting Tank from the back seat. Wyatt was okay with Tank having a doggie playdate with Snowball (his shih tzu) and Rexie (his pit bull). Wyatt’s dogs are female, so this should be interesting for Tank.

  I spot a small green canopy set up with a fan in the corner and water dishes for the dogs. Wyatt’s such a good doggy dad. He’s been a dad to me too since our dad died. Wyatt’s six years older than me. One day he’ll be a great dad to his own kids, though I know that’s a few years off. Sydney says she wants to enjoy some time together just the two of them as a married couple. I swear, those two. Relationship goals. If I had that kind of mutual adoration, I’d be one happy camper.

  I glance over my shoulder at a scowling Adam. Instead I have a man who wants to pretend he barely knows me at a barbecue, even though we’ve spent every spare minute together for more than a month. Plus we had that fake-fiancé date, and a very nice time the week before that at Wyatt’s wedding. Why, it’s practically been two months we’ve been together and months before that as friends.

  Why did I have to let my heart get involved?

  Honestly, how could I not? Any woman would fall for Adam after spending as much time with him as I have. He’s generous and kind and undeniably sexy. I can’t expect him to meet me where I’m at when we both went into this as a casual thing. Right? That’s, like, the one rule.

  This sucks! I can’t believe I let this happen. I nearly want to go into Wyatt’s house and hide. Pretending to barely know each other at a party feels wrong. And my feelings are bruised and tender too.

  Jenna approaches, her arms wide to me. She’s wearing a cute white sundress that ends mid-thigh with white wedge sandals. “There you are, lady!”

  I smile and hug her.

  She looks over my shoulder. “And you brought your grumpy guy.”

  I wave toward Adam, who’s definitely looking put out as he walks toward us, a six-pack of beer in one hand and Tank’s leash in the other. “He’s not my guy, believe me.”

  “Still no go?” she whispers.

  “We’re just friends,” I say, nearly choking on the words. At Jenna’s concerned look, I add, “It’s fine. I’m happy.”

  “Liar.” She hooks her arm in mine and leads me over to the group. Wyatt invited the whole Robinson family, Sydney and her four brothers—Drew, Eli, Caleb, and grumpy Adam. I also spot our tamale-making mailman, Bill (he delivers tamales with the mail in the spring and fall), and his wife, Paula, the local shopkeeper Nicholas, who looks just like Santa, and some of the regulars from the bar.

  I smile and wave. “Hi, everyone!”

  Wyatt turns at my voice. “Finally. What took you so long, runt?” His thick brown hair is getting longer with an unruly wave on top. He walks over and throws an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close and kissing the top of my head. “Snowball couldn’t wait to meet her new bulldog boyfriend. I’ll go get her. She’s lounging inside with Rexie.”

  “I’ll get her.” That could make a nice escape from tense Adam.

  “It’s no problem.”

  He leaves, striding toward the house, and my cowardly attempt to hide is thwarted. It’s just that I’m so agitated about Adam and want to put space between us before I give myself away. I’m supposed to pretend we’re nothing to each other as he requested. The jerk.

  I hug Sydney, exclaiming over her tanned skin. Normally, she doesn’t tan at all, but between her honeymoon and the long weekend she just spent with Wyatt at a rented beach house in the Hamptons, she has some color. Sydney’s tough and speaks her mind like my sister Paige. I think they’d get along swimmingly. They even both have auburn hair, though Paige’s color is from the salon.

  Sydney lowers her voice. “Are you and Adam fighting? He looks cranky, and you seem wired.”

  “Nothing’s changed at all. Still sort of friends, sort of not. And for some reason he doesn’t want Wyatt to know we’re anything at all.”

  She glances toward the house, probably
checking for Wyatt. “Come on, you know Wyatt looks out for you. I’m sure if you were honest with him, he’d be fine with the two of you.”

  I purse my lips. “Adam says Wyatt warned him away from me. And, actually, Wyatt advised me not to play the fake-engagement game so I wouldn’t get hurt, but if I listened to him, I never would’ve had this special time with Adam.” My voice chokes over the lump of emotion lodged in my throat.

  She narrows her eyes, which means she’s getting pissed at Wyatt.

  I grab her arm. “Don’t say a word to Wyatt. It’s a nonissue. Seriously. Adam doesn’t feel that way about me.” My eyes get hot. “And I’m fine.”

  “Oh, Kayla,” she starts.

  I shake my head, not wanting sympathy. I might cry, and then Adam would see, and Wyatt would raise hell on my behalf.

  Audrey appears by my side. Her long black hair is up in a messy bun. Her outfit today is unusual for her. Typically she’ll wear neat blouses with Peter Pan collars and tailored trousers, maybe a loose tunic and leggings for casual wear, but today she’s wearing a tight red T-shirt and a blue plaid miniskirt with flip-flops. She’s rocking the outfit. “Did you read Marriage Fellows?” she asks. That’s our book club selection.

  “Sorry, I haven’t gotten to it yet, but I swear I will by our Tuesday meeting.” I lean close to whisper, “Cute outfit. Are you on one of your first dates?”

  She’s been sharing all the nitty-gritty of her dates with me. It makes me appreciate Adam even more. One guy told her he liked how short she was for several sexual reasons, which he shared in explicit detail. On their first date. Needless to say, she was so appalled, she left immediately. Just got up in the middle of dinner and walked out.

  She sighs. “No. I meant what I said before. I’m taking a break from eLoveMatch.”

  “But I thought you were determined to keep searching no matter what.” She’s been adamant that she wants a serious relationship. She says she’s more than ready for marriage and kids.

  “No sparks,” she says with a shrug. “Frankly, I’m exhausted by the whole dating scene.”

  “Translation no sex,” Sydney puts in, giving Audrey’s arm a squeeze.

  “That too,” Audrey says, even as she blushes.

  I’d like to assure Audrey that sex is overrated to make us both feel better, but I don’t know that for a fact. What Adam does do to me is fantastic—mind-blowing orgasms the likes of which I never knew existed. I can’t say that either, even though it’s just us girls. I like keeping that mind-blowing part between me and Adam. Maybe sex isn’t overrated if you’re with the right person. Adam and I have a strong bond formed in friendship. Dammit. I’m definitely missing out on sex.

  Jenna joins us with a glass of something fruity. “Sangria is delicious, Syd. What’re we talking about over here?”

  “Sex,” Sydney says.

  “Ah, who’s not getting any and who is,” Jenna says knowledgably. “Consider me caught up.” She winks at Sydney.

  Audrey and I exchange a look. Clearly, we’re the only two not getting any, though I believe I’m experiencing far more than Audrey. It’s too bad she’s hung up on a clueless man. I glance over at Drew, who’s setting up a volleyball net with Caleb. Okay, I see the appeal. Drew’s in a dark green sleeveless shirt that displays his bulging biceps nicely, his brown hair on the longish side with scruff on his jaw. He’s got a bit of a tough rebel vibe going on there. Though I don’t quite get why bookish librarian Audrey is hung up on him. Wouldn’t she be happier with a bookish guy? Drew’s way into martial arts, and he was in the military before that. He’s all about the body, and she’s all about the mind. Hmm…

  Caleb, with his crew cut of light brown hair and clean-shaven face, seems more like Audrey’s type. Cheerful guy that he is, Caleb is talking away to Drew, who barely acknowledges him with more than a jerk of the chin. I bet Drew hasn’t even noticed Audrey’s wearing a curve-revealing outfit today.

  I tune back into my friends as Jenna shares about her bakery’s latest flavors for ice cream sandwiches made with cake layers. She brought lemon cake with vanilla ice cream and passion fruit cake with coconut ice cream. Summer is the big season for cake sandwiches at her shop.

  I glance around, looking for Adam. He’s crouched next to Tank under the shade of the green canopy. He’s avoiding me. Guess he doesn’t want to tangle with me in front of everyone. I sense a fight coming. I’m just so agitated, and he’s so, so frustrating.

  Wyatt returns with Snowball and Rexie on leashes, and they bark up a storm, racing toward Tank.

  And that big tough-looking bulldog looks alarmed. He makes a growling sound to warn them off. Adam takes over, stroking a hand over his head. “Sit.” Tank sits, his big eyes still glued to the strange dogs.

  Wyatt guides his dogs over and hands a small biscuit to Tank and then to Snowball and Rexie. He starts talking to Adam, and the dogs sniff each other, making a funny, twisty circle as they sniff each other’s butts.

  Adam’s gaze meets mine and holds for an intense moment.

  What does that mean? Does he want me to go to him? Is he still mad? I can’t tell. The man is a frigging mystery. It must be all my emotions getting in the way of translating Adam speak like I used to.

  Wyatt’s gaze follows Adam’s, and he jerks his chin at me in acknowledgment. They can have their manly conversation without me. I’m just fine with Sydney, Jenna, and Audrey.

  I do my best to focus on the conversation, but my eyes trail to Adam over and over. He’s mostly hanging with Wyatt, the two of them talking with a beer in hand. Adam smiles, and I realize he must really like my brother. Adam doesn’t smile all that much. Except with me.

  A short while later, we all help ourselves to lunch. Adam sits across from me at a long glass patio table, his gaze heated. I instantly flush. That’s all it takes between us—one hot look.

  I avoid his eyes as I eat my lunch, a grilled chicken sandwich and salad. I do my best to talk to Audrey by my side, but I can feel his eyes on me.

  When I finish eating, I look up.

  Adam gestures with his head toward the house, his kissable lips curving up slightly. I read that signal loud and clear. Nope. We’re not going to fool around now. First of all, we’re at a party. Second, Wyatt’s not supposed to know about us for some insane reason. Like it’s horrible that I have fun with a man. Third, I’m mad at Adam for…I don’t know. Everything! Not letting me get close physically, being casual now when we’ve been spending so much time together. I can’t be the only one with feelings in this thing, can I?

  “I thought you were mad at me,” I whisper to Adam.

  Conversation quiets around us as ears perk up.

  He stands, clearing his plate and plastic flatware. “I was never mad at you,” he mutters before heading toward the house.

  I do the same, following him. I hear Wyatt ask, “Why would Adam be mad at her?”

  Sydney’s reply is quiet, but she must’ve said something that sounded reasonable to Wyatt’s ears because he doesn’t follow me.

  I catch up with Adam in the kitchen, which is a bright modern space with white cabinets, a huge granite-topped island, and stainless steel appliances. Adam looks out of place in his black T-shirt and jeans. I can almost see the tool belt normally hanging low on his hips. He belongs in a workshop space or standing in sawdust. My whole life I’ve been drawn to intellectual types, yet only Adam sparks passion in me. And so much more.

  His back is to me as he closes the under-cabinet trash bin. I join him, and he slides it open for me and closes it again.

  He slants a sideways look at me. “You were mad at me, not the other way round.”

  I keep my voice low. “You said our friendship was abnormal.”

  “You said the way we fool around was abnormal.”

  Audrey wanders in. “Great weather we’re having, huh?” Her voice sounds high and overly cheerful. She must’ve overheard and is trying to cover up the awkward. She tosses her plate in the bin and helps hersel
f to a spiked seltzer from the refrigerator.

  “Sure is,” I say to Audrey, playing along. Audrey and I are beyond talking about the weather between us.

  I gesture for Adam to follow me to the library in the next room. It’s where our friendship began. Adam built most of it, from the bookshelves to the cabinetry, crown molding, wall trim, and a ladder that rolls on wheels. He even restored the hardwood floor, replacing some planks and making them blend seamlessly. He’s a true artist.

  I step into the room and hear the door shut behind me. A shiver of excitement races down my spine. We’re alone. No, you are not here to make out with him. It’s time you had a talk. A serious talk. He needs to know I don’t want to be friends with half a benefit anymore. I want to share everything with him, physically, emotionally. I want it all.

  He steps close, his eyes smoldering into mine, and my mind goes blank. He pins me against the door, his fingers spearing through my hair, holding me in place as his mouth plunders. A rush of lust makes me woozy. His mouth trails to my neck as his hand slides up my dress. I should stop him, but I’m weak with lust. Desire pools between my legs, and he pushes my panties to the side, his mouth covering mine as his fingers stroke me intimately.

  I’m caught on the Adam ride, pleasure rocketing through me as I race to release. He swallows my soft cries, his knowing fingers working me. I jerk as the orgasm hits, rocking mindlessly against his hand. He guides me all the way to the last spark of pleasure until I go limp.

  I lean back against the door, panting, as he adjusts my dress.

  He kisses my throat, his teeth scraping against the cord of my neck before whispering in my ear, “Normal is overrated.”