Hating the Book Boyfriend (Book Boyfriend Builders)

17. JoJo

CHAPTER 17

JoJo

T he sound of Snowball barking has my eyelids fluttering open before my mind catches up with where I'm at and with who. As realization sets in, I slam them shut. I'm completely naked. The only warmth surrounding me is the man at my back and his weighted flannel over the top of us. Oh my god, I slept with Colton Callahan. I let the thought settle. I wanted every second of it, and I still do. I'm not sure when it happened, but somewhere over the past month, I fell hard for the man I've only ever hated.

Lips gently kiss my bare shoulder. "How long do you plan on pretending to sleep?"

"I don't know," I answer quietly with my eyes closed.

His fingers gently trace my collarbone, making my skin pebble in their wake. "Are you pretending because you don't want this to end or are you having regrets?"

"You could still walk away. We could forget any of this ever happened." The last thing I want to do is walk away, but I have to put it on the table. I have to give him an out before I fall irrevocably in love with him.

He pulls my chin toward him. "Open your eyes, Josephine." I shake my head, scared of what I may or may not see. His thumb glides over my bottom lip, and he softly pleads, "Please." His muted petition grips my heart, and I can't refuse him. When my eyes open and his dark pools settle on mine, he asks, "Do you regret me?"

"No," I subtly nod my head.

"Good. Then you don't get to forget me," he says right before he takes my lips with his in a tender kiss that quickly turns passionate. His tongue dives deep as his hand slides down to my breast, where he palms its weight with a groan and presses his hard length against my ass.

Snowball barks again, and I break our kiss. "We should probably go before we get caught. If the dog is outside, that means Archie is awake."

His lips trail my jaw before he sucks the sensitive skin at the base of my ear into his mouth. "Then we'll make it quick," he nips my lobe.

I turn in his arms and press my hand into his chest, pushing him back. "Colton, this means we're telling him right? No more hiding?"

His eyes narrow slightly before he runs his hand through my hair. "No more hiding."

"Okay," I say before claiming his mouth once more. His hand finds my jaw, and I know it's lame, but something about a man choosing that spot over my body speaks to my soul. I release him sooner than I want to. I'd much rather stay in this truck with him for hours, but I'm also ready to step into my future, and that can't happen without first telling my brother that I've fallen for his best friend. "Come on," I push him back again, and he groans in discontent. "Help me find my clothes."

"I prefer you without them."

I swat his chest and prop myself up on my elbow. "I'm serious." His shirt falls off us, and I see the chiseled abs my hands spent hours exploring in the dark last night, and I bite my lip. He's so damn sexy. My eyes can't help but follow his happy trail and the length that brought me multiple happy endings last night.

"Like what you see," he taunts, and my insides clench.

I more than like what I see, and since I have no idea how Archie is going to take the news, I stroke his length over his boxers. "Make it quick."

The next thing I know, I'm straddling him, and he's slapping my cheek. "Fuck yeah! Ride it, baby."

T he second we open the front door, Archie is there. It's hard for him not to be. The farmhouse is open concept living with the living room, kitchen, and dining all open to each other.

"There you are. I've been looking for you. I went to the barn after you didn't answer and found your phone on the table where I left it to play the music last night. Where were you?" he asks as Snowball jumps on my chest.

"Hey, buddy," I say, grateful for the small distraction. As we walked up the hill to the house, I thought of all the things I would start with, but now that I'm standing here looking for an answer, nothing comes to mind. However, it’s time.

As I search for my words, Colton says, "Posey fell asleep at her computer again in the barn. I ran into her while walking the tree lot, noting what needed to be cleaned up before we opened it tonight."

I close my eyes and swallow down the hurt. In the truck, we agreed no more hiding, and here he is still telling lies. "I need to feed Snowball," I say as I stomp off toward my room, where I've been keeping his food, uncaring of what Archer needed. I'm so mad I can barely see straight. I want to scream at him. I want to call him out and say, "Are you fucking serious right now?" And I would if I didn't think it would hurt my brother.

"JoJo, wait up. I need to tell you something," Archie says as he follows me to my bedroom.

"Can it wait until I've showered and changed?" I'm suddenly desperate to wash every inch of my body with scalding hot water.

"Not really. A car will be here any minute to pick me up," he says as he follows me into my room.

"What do you mean you're leaving?" I say as I pull Snowball's food out of my closet and pour it into his bowl.

"I'm flying to Nashville. Remember that news I had for you last night? This is it."

I stand and cross my arms as I try to piece together what he's saying. "Does this have to do with some of the hops contracts you were working on?"

"Yes, Urban Chestnut sent over a contract for firm bulk quantities for the next five years."

"Are you serious?" I squeal, unable to hide the excitement in my voice. "That's huge."

"But that's not all. They loved this season's holiday brew. They agreed to produce and distribute, as a seasonal offering with Estes Peak branding on it."

"Oh my god, Archie. That's… that's… I'm at a loss for words. I can't believe it. This is a really big deal. Do Mom and Dad know?"

He rolls his lips. "Not yet, I haven't signed on the line. I sent the contract to our lawyer yesterday and told Urban Chestnut I wanted to come down and tour the facility before I accepted. It's our brand, and you, more than anyone, know how important it is to ensure we do our research. Yes, they are a reputable name in the industry, but what if they have practices behind the scenes that we don't agree with?" His chest deflates, and he rocks back on his heels. "I just want to make sure it's not too good to be true. It feels like I swung for the stars and landed on the moon."

"You got this. If it's not meant to be, it's because something better is waiting behind the next door." I sit on my bed. "So you're leaving today. When do you expect to get back?"

He grimaces before he says, "I'll be gone for a week."

"A week!" I repeat, unable to hide my anxiety. This is literally our busiest week of the year.

"I know. I hate to do this to you now, and for the record, the invitation was extended to you as well, but I knew we both couldn't be gone. I promise I'll make it up to you–"

I hold up my hand. "There's nothing to make up for. This is a requirement. The timing just sucks. Don't worry about me. The place will still be standing when you return."

He rubs his jaw. "You have Colton to help out until I get back, and I'll call Kieran on my way to the airport."

"I got this Archer. I don't need a man to help me."

His eyes study mine, and I can tell he has more to say, but whatever it is will have to wait because the sound of a horn blowing in the driveway has him patting his pockets. "Okay, well. I think I have everything. Call me if you need anything, and if shit gets too crazy, I can always come home early."

"Go," I say as I get off the bed and push him out of my room. "I'll be fine, the house will still be standing and trees will be sold. I plan on beating your record while you're away." He sold one hundred and ninety-eight trees on opening weekend last year.

"Are we counting wreaths too? If so, you'll need to sell one hundred and ten."

I give him one last push on the shoulder. "Wreaths too, now go." I shoo him with my hand before closing the door. Great. I have so much work to do, but first I need a shower.

I 've showered, dressed, and put on more makeup than usual for a day of working on the farm, but you better believe I dressed to kill. If I must be around Colton, I'm going to make him regret every second of keeping me a secret. We had talked about coming clean to Archie, and he lied again. I don't understand it, but I'm past trying to figure it out. My heart hurts, and I'm more than capable of picking up the pieces. I'll be fine. I just want him to go. It's that thought that had me hurrying out the back door instead of lingering. I haven't even made it halfway across the lawn before I hear him call my name.

"Josephine, wait," he yells as I hear his boots hit the stairs.

"Go home, Colton," I call out, not bothering to stop my stride or give him my eyes.

"Josephine, stop," he snatches my wrist.

"Let me go," I scold.

"No." His intense glare holds mine and the anger I see in it rivals my own. "We need to talk."

"We have absolutely nothing to discuss. You said we'd tell Archie, and guess what? You didn't. You were right there, and you chose to lie once again. You got what you were looking for, now you can leave." I tug my arm free of his grip.

Before I can take a step, he cuts me off. "Will you stop?" His eyes are wild as his chest heaves. "I'm going to act like you didn't just infer that last night was simply a quick fuck. Do I want to talk to Archie? Yes, but this morning was not the right time."

"There will never be a right time."

I step to the side to go around him, but he throws out his arm. "We'll have to agree to disagree. I can tell you the absolute wrong time to talk to him is with his sister's juices coating my dick and my cum leaking into her jeans." The vulgarity of his words has my insides clenching. Stupid libido. She doesn't know when to sit the fuck down. "It's important he believes me, Posey… I'm not this guy. I don't do relationships, and there's no chance he would have heard a word I had to say this morning if he'd suspected for one second that we spent the night together." I squeeze my eyes shut. I know he's right. "How can I expect your brother to believe me if you don't? I want to try Posey. I want to try with you."

"I'm sorry," I say, swallowing my pride.

He pulls me into his arms. "Don't be sorry. Just promise me you'll stop running. If I mess up, which I will, I need you to talk to me." He holds me tight and kisses the top of my head.

"Okay," I nod in agreement.

His hands frame my face before he pulls my head back, his eyes searching mine to ensure we're good before saying, "Let's go clean up. You have a record to break." Then releasing me, he slaps my ass.

"Wait… No make-up kiss? One of the best parts of fighting is the making-up part."

He smiles. "If I start kissing you, I won't be able to stop."

"Fine," I shrug before walking backward toward the barn and adding. "I'm sure you'll piss me off again between now and bedtime. You can make it up to me later."

He lunges, and I take off in a sprint. Colton Callahan spent years teasing me. Now, it's my turn.