Bombshell. “You’re glowing.”
“It’s a three day tan,” Adele said, hoping she wouldn’t blush, knowing it was a lost cause.
With her fair skin, she’d been unable to control the stupid, incriminating blushes since she’d been a kid, standing in front of the principal trying to explain why she was late for the fifth week in a row.
Caring for an alcoholic mom from the time her dad had abandoned them when she’d been seven meant she’d tolerated a lot of school inquisitions, equating to a ton of blushes. Beyond annoying.
“Tan my ass.” Chantal scrunched the empty peanut bag and threw it in the trash. “That’s a sex glow.”
The heat flushing Adele’s cheeks increased. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” Chantal winked. “I happen to remember a certain accountant disappearing toward the end of the wedding reception with a certain politician.”
“Reid and I took a walk on the beach.”
And ended up having stupendously great sex, but that was strictly on a need to know basis.
Chantal smirked. “Don’t you mean you and Reid had sex on the beach?”
Adele shot Chantal a death glare and her boss laughed. “Come on, Del, share a little something with your single friend.”
Adele waggled a finger at her. “You wouldn’t be single if you worked less and dated more.”
“Could say the same about you, sweetie.” Chantal made cutesy puckering noises. “Or is that about to change now Reid’s on the scene?”
“He’s not,” Adele said, hating how a teensy weensy piece of her heart ached at the thought. “He’s got a campaign to run in LA.”
“Two words for you.” Chantal held up two fingers. “Long distance.”
If only. But Adele wasn’t a fool. After their incredible encounter on the beach at Prince Island, she’d kissed Reid goodbye and walked away with her head held high, wishing all the while he’d call her back. He didn’t. And she pragmatically accepted the truth. They’d had an unforgettable one-night stand and that’s where it ended.
He’d been running from unspoken demons that night, she’d been drowning her sorrows in him rather than a bottle. Never a bottle. Not a chance in hell she’d end up like her mom.
Ironic, the happiest day of Zazz’s life had been one of the saddest for Adele. The loneliness had crept up on her as she’d watched her friend marry Dorian, their obvious joy and infatuation with one another bringing tears to her eyes.
She wanted that. Deep down, in the soft part of her heart she’d locked away years earlier, she craved unconditional love. And a family.
But she was resigned to it not happening. How could it, when loving someone that much meant revealing her secrets and a past she’d rather forget?
No, she couldn’t reveal her shame to anyone and that’s what true intimacy entailed.
Hence the dogged, soul-destroying loneliness that made her do something totally uncharacteristic and have sex with a guy she’d only just met.
Not just any guy.
Reid Harper. Sex lord extraordinaire.
Chantal wolf-whistled. “He was that good, huh?”
“Better,” Adele reluctantly admitted, knowing she’d never forget the best sex of her life. “Imagine what he could’ve done if we’d had a room?”
Chantal tsked-tsked. “You could’ve hung a scarf on our door handle or something.”
“What are we, in college?”
Chantal shrugged. “Hey, you’re the one who could’ve had even more sensational sex if you’d had a room.”
Adele sighed and pushed away the cooling latte on her desk. “Want to hear something crazy?”
Chantal wiggled her fingers in a give-it-to-me gesture. “Crazy’s my middle name. Spill.”
“If we’d had a room, I was scared I wouldn’t want to leave.”
“What’s wrong with that? The guy’s a babe.”
“A babe who’s on his way to the senate. A guy who lives in LA. A guy would wouldn’t be seen dead with an ex-Bombshell on his arm.”
Chantal waved away her concerns.
Daven Hiskey, Today I Found Out.com