Ready or Not (Aspen Ridge Holiday Novellas)

6. Lily

Chapter Six

LILY

I hustle across the street to my best friend as she crosses her arms and pushes out her hip, giving me a knowing smile. I loop my arm through hers, dragging her down the sidewalk, and give one last look behind us to find Wes still sitting at the picnic table, his eyes following us, with a smirk plastered on his gorgeous face. Emma starts to pull herself away from me but I tighten my hold on the menace.

“What are you doing? Let’s go back! I want to have cider with Mr. Sexy.”

“Don’t you dare! Emma!”

I pull at her arm, refusing to let go of my grasp. The last thing I need is her going over to Wes and asking him a bunch of inappropriate questions. She gives in to me, belly laughing at my expense as I drag her away and up the street to different vendors.

“So sensitive, babe! I wasn’t really going to talk to him. But seeing your reaction was well worth the threat. You’re totally blushing by the way. It looked like you two were lost in your own little bubble.”

It’s hard not to get defensive. There’s nothing going on between Wes and I—as much as I wish otherwise—it’s completely one-sided, no matter how flirty his behavior can be sometimes.

“We were not. We ran into each other again and he offered to buy me a drink. I was heading to get one anyway.”

“So you decided to have a little picnic together after?”

“It wasn’t like that. Emma, there is nothing going on there, so no more fishing for tea that isn’t there.”

Her head tilts to the side, her eyes narrowing as she studies me, and I know I’m fucked.

“Oh. My. God. You’re actually into him. Like more than just physical.”

“What? Are you insane? That couldn’t be further from the truth.” But even as I say the words, they turn to ash on my tongue. She sees right through my bullshit, too.

“Look, babe, I just want you to be happy and enjoy the type of relationship you want and deserve. No more asshats like Adam.”

“You’re ridiculous, but I love you for it. Now, I’m craving some of Bean Haven’s maple bacon donuts.”

“Some as in more than one? Those things are huge.”

“I said what I said, now let’s go find their tent.”

Emma and I stay at the harvest festival into the late evening, eating a ridiculous amount of autumn-inspired food and drinks. Around midnight, I walk down Main Street to the very end of downtown and grab my keys from my purse to unlock the door. Once inside my apartment, I kick off my boots, my feet sore from being on them the entire day, and head straight to my bathroom for a shower to warm up my body. I walk through my apartment, looking around for any sign of an intruder, or a sign that they were here while I was out, but come up short. For some reason, disappointment washes over me. A part of me hoped for another rose or sign.

Stripping my clothes off and throwing them into the laundry basket in my closet, I turn the shower on as hot as it will go, letting my bathroom fill with steam while I tie up my hair in a high bun to keep it from getting wet. I step in, adjusting the temperature, and relax into the hot water as it cascades over my body, my mind drifting from my possible stalker to Wes. There’s something about him that pulls me in, and it’s hard to explain. I don’t realize I go through my days on edge, uptight and on my game, projecting the good girl image that my parents expect of me. Most days I feel like a circus monkey, simply showing my face and doing what I’m told. When I’m with Wes, I feel whole, my truest self. Emma was right, it’s like our own little bubble. Once I step inside, I don’t have to be anything but myself. He looks at me like he sees right through all of the bullshit without judgment. It’s so freeing to just be able to exist .

I finish my shower and step out, drying myself with a fluffy towel, moisturizing, and completing my nighttime routine. I climb into my warm bed, pulling just a sheet over me since the heat in my apartment bakes my second-floor bedroom. Suddenly, my phone chimes with a text notification.

D.I.L.F:

You looked beautiful tonight.

My cheeks flame and my heartbeat picks up its pace.

Me:

Thank you. You looked pretty good yourself, old man.

D.I.L.F:

Little girl, I’m far from old

Little girl. Why do I like that so much? I read over it three more times, each time bringing a wave of arousal over me. I wonder what it would be like to hear those words straight from his lips.

Me:

You’re almost 20 years older than me, I’d say that’s kinda old

D.I.L.F:

Experienced is a better word.

My pussy throbs.

Me:

You definitely look like you know a thing or two . . .

D.I.L.F:

Oh, I promise you I do. Things that would blow your mind

Holy hell. There’s no misinterpreting the innuendo here. Wes Draven is flirting with me. I melt into my mattress. Before I have the nerve to respond, he texts again.

D.I.L.F:

Sleep well, Lilith. I hope you have good dreams.

I fall asleep feeling needy, my head looping thoughts of Wes on repeat.