Complicated Girl Read Free Page A

whole face.
    I don’t know why I’m suddenly such a freak. This kind of instant crush and weird face-licking fetish has never happened to me before, I swear.
    I feel the way I did the first time I watched Dirty Dancing .
    Drew keeps looking at me like he feels it, too.
    Yes, this attraction is real, and it’s bigger than both of us.

Chapter 3

    My insides are fluttering for the second time of the day when the formal part of tonight’s session ends.
    We have twelve members present tonight, but they sound like three times as many when they stampede to the back table for refreshments. Everyone dives into the snacks and thermos of half-decaffeinated (or half-caffeinated, if you’re an optimist) coffee.
    The cinnamon buns are a hit. As usual, people joke about calling our little group Carbohydrate Lovers Anonymous.
    Abbie wields a shining spatula, her big grin taking ten years off her face. “I’m Abbie, and I’m a Carboholic! Oh, Meenie, you spoil us so good.”
    The object of my Patrick-Swayze-like affection, Drew, pauses mid-pour of a half-decaf. His brown eyes twinkle as he says to Abbie, “Excuse me, but did you just call this nice girl a meanie ?”
    Abbie excavates cinnamon buns and distributes them on paper plates. “She’s Meenie with two E’s.” She blinks at me, frowning. “Sorry, love, I don’t remember if that’s your real name or a nickname. Is it ethnic? You don’t look ethnic to me, but I don’t see color. I adore everyone. Unlike my sister, who has a problem with the kinds of ethnic people working at the seniors facility.”
    Feather interrupts to remind Abbie that we don’t talk about our big issues during the coffee chat. This time is supposed to be for pleasantries only.
    After Feather leaves the area, Drew walks right over to me and leans in close. Is he smelling my hair? He’s practically touching his beautiful chiseled cheekbone to mine.
    His voice low and rumbling, he murmurs, “Did you hear that? We’d better stick to pleasantries, or we’ll get in trouble.” He leans back and gives me another dimpled grin. “She runs a tight ship.”
    “But she is a great coach. You made a good choice coming here. She’ll definitely help you with your issues, which are…”
    He gives me a devious look. “You’re trying to get me in trouble.”
    I roll my eyes. “I know you’re not here for booze or gambling, because there are dedicated groups down the hall.”
    He brings the paper cup of watered down coffee up to his lips and takes a sip. This gives me a special moment to enjoy looking at his mouth, which is certainly no disappointment.
    Around us, everyone chatters happily over the food and coffee. I look up at the top of Drew’s head, at his lush, dark brown hair. Unlike Duncan, there’s nothing short about him. I have to look way up at him, so he’s well over six feet tall. The impeccable dark blue suit makes him look even taller.
    I turn away to grab a bottle of orange juice from the table. When I turn back around, I see he’s followed me.
    He moves toward me, his elbows nudging out at his sides to make him wide like a wall. I step back. He grins and keeps moving, tacking from side to side.
    “Are you herding me?” I ask.
    “Woof.”
    I keep backing up, terrified that if I stop moving, he’ll collide into me and I’ll spontaneously climax from his touch and let out embarrassing coitus moans. I haven’t known the lust of a man in quite some time, let alone a HOTTT with 3 T’s man.
    “I’m not a sheep,” I tell him. “I’m the opposite of a sheep, or lamb, or whatever. I’m very opinionated, and I have a unique sense of humor that most guys can’t handle.”
    He keeps herding me, pushing me away from the herd. “Woof.”
    He doesn’t stop until we’re by the window, overlooking the courtyard. The sun has set, and the shrubs and garden are brightly lit by security lights and strings of white fairy lights.
    I stop with my back to the window. There’s nowhere left to