Slope of Love (Love in Bloom: The Remingtons) Read Free

of that fact, or would ever admit it to anyone except herself.
    “Earth to Jayla.” Marcus waved his hand at her. “Eyes on him again?”
    She’d fantasized about being one of the women who shared Rush’s bed, what it might feel like to have his big hands on her body, his chest pressed against hers, and then—thankfully—sanity would find her again. The last thing she needed was to be a notch in Rush Remington’s belt and risk ruining their friendship. Being his friend was safer, easier. She got the best parts of him.
    Well, almost…
    She shifted her gaze to Marcus and exhaled. Why was it that when it came to Marcus she was a wallflower and when it came to everyone else in her life she was anything but?
    “No.”
    “Let’s hope not. I’ll go get you checked in,” Marcus said and headed for the registration desk.
    She watched Marcus lean on the registration desk and pictured his eyes wandering over the attractive blond receptionist’s perky breasts. The blonde smiled and fiddled with her necklace. She was sure Marcus thought she didn’t know about his wandering eye or the way he flirted with anyone in a skirt. Or jeans. Or snow pants. She turned away just as Rush, Teri, and Kia disappeared out the back door that led to the private cabins they’d booked. A spear of jealousy shot through her. She’d give just about anything to be with them.
    Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket and she read the text as Marcus crossed the lobby toward her. Her heart stilled when she saw Rush’s name on the screen and quickly read the text. Sneak out later? Like camp?
    She laughed beneath her breath and texted back. Can’t.
    She’d been can’ting for weeks because of Marcus. She should have taken her sister Jennifer’s advice and dumped him right away—or she should have called her other sister, Mia, and had her force her to do it. Hindsight might be twenty-twenty, but it feels like shit.
    “Okay, you’re all set.” Marcus held up a key.
    She reached for it, and he flicked his wrist, burying the key in his palm. She had to end this—upcoming race or not—before she kneed him in the groin and told him exactly what she thought of his controlling ways.
    She sighed, thinking about Marcus and Rush—and Rush’s revolving bedroom door. She’d gone out with Marcus looking for something more. A real relationship, and maybe even to finally try to get past her feelings for Rush. She was starting to believe that her girlfriends were right. Maybe she should consider doing what they did. A few free drinks, a night of pleasure, and never look back. That’s the last thing she wanted to do. Maybe all men really are assholes. She felt her heart squeeze. Even Rush Remington .
     
    CAN’T . RUSH WAS so sick of Jayla saying or texting can’t that he could puke. He flopped onto the king-sized bed in his luxurious cabin and crossed his hands behind his head. Blake Carter’s cousin, Treat Braden, owned the resort, and true to his reputation, it was nicer than most of the resorts Rush had stayed in recent months. The spacious cabin had cathedral ceilings with exposed wooden beams in the living room, kitchen, and the bedroom suite. The living room had a propane fireplace, oversized sofa, comfortable reading chair, and a big-screen television. He let his mind drift to Jayla. He wondered if she was calculating how much practice time she could fit in, as they used to do in her pre-Marcus days, or if she was thinking of him.
    His chest clenched at the situation. Goddamn, sweet, funny Jayla with her beautiful brown eyes, long brown hair, and those kissable, cupid lips. The thought of her lips touching Marcus’s made his gut twist. He and Jayla were securely entrenched in the friend zone. Until about a year ago, when something his brother Jack had said and one of Jayla’s comments about his revolving bedroom door had finally opened his eyes, he’d thought that was right where they belonged. He was wrong. Damn wrong.
    His muscles tensed as