Discovering Delilah (Harborside Nights, Book 2)(37)

Only I don’t want her to take a cold shower.

I want to feel her heat.

Uh-oh.

Now I’m turned on again.

Gaaaaahhhhh!

I look for her car as I walk through the lot, and when I spot it parked by the pier, my pulse quickens again. I pull out my phone and text her.

Are you inside?

She responds quickly. Yes. Where are you?

I step onto the pier and walk toward the Taproom, debating how to answer. I want to buy a few minutes to try to calm myself down. The pier is crowded with people eating ice cream from Scoops, an ice cream shop located at the end of the boardwalk. Others are walking along the pier and talking, looking out at the water as if they’re window-shopping. I know that feeling. The pier is usually so serene and calming, but tonight, by the time I reach the Taproom, my nerves are buzzing like a swarm of bees in my belly, and I’m hoping and praying that I can keep my hands and lips to myself. I take a minute to breathe deeply before responding to Ashley’s text. Be there in one sec.

It was Wyatt’s idea for me and Ashley to meet him and Cassidy for drinks tonight. He thought that if I went out with people I trusted the first time I was out in public with Ashley as her girlfriend, it would be easier for me to be open with my feelings. It’s worth a try. I want to be able to hold her hand and not be afraid of being a spectacle, and in my mind I know that I shouldn’t even worry about it, because at least in our circle of friends, no one really cares. But I do worry, thanks to my parents. I want nothing more than to walk right through the door and kiss Ashley on her beautiful lips. I want to hold her hand and cuddle up against her like Cassidy does with Wyatt. I want to be her girlfriend.

I run a nervous hand down my dress, pull my shoulders back, and give myself a pep talk before opening the door.

The noise of the crowded room fills my ears.

Tristan waves from behind the bar as I step inside. He points to a table in the back.

I can do this.

I can kiss her.

I want to kiss her.

I follow Tristan’s lead, passing tables and booths filled with patrons. Brandon’s band is already set up in the back of the bar, and there are a handful of people milling about. Brandon lifts his chin in my direction and smiles. I smile, but can’t seem to lift my hand to wave. I’m so nervous my chest burns. Wyatt and Cassidy are in a booth, facing me. Wyatt’s eyes widen as I approach the table. I smile, or at least I think I do. I can’t see Ashley, but I see her long, sexy leg slide out of the booth, and then her smokin’-hot body follows as she steps in front of me. She flips her long blond hair over her shoulder and pins me in place with a seductive stare, followed by a quick lift of her brows. Ohmygod, she’s so hot. Her skirt hugs her curves and stops midthigh. I’ve tasted those thighs, and holy smokes, I can see her bra right through her shirt. It’s lacy and pink, and the memory of her softness on my palms makes me curl my fingers up.

Stupid cold shower didn’t do squat.

“Hi,” I manage.

She reaches for my hand, and her eyes take a slow stroll down my body, making my mouth go dry. She leans forward, and my eyes quickly dart around the bar. No, no, no. I feel like there’s a spotlight on us. I close my eyes for a second, and when she kisses my cheek instead of my lips, I’m ashamed to be relieved.

“You look delicious,” she whispers.

Delicious.

How am I supposed to think when she looks like sex personified and says things like that? Her eyes fill with mischief as she leads me to the booth, obviously pleased with the way she’s left me feeling like a dog in heat.

“Wow, Dee. You look great.” Wyatt drapes an arm over Cassidy’s shoulder. “I’m sitting with the three hottest babes in the place. Lucky me.”

Ash slides into the booth and I sit beside her. She presses her thigh to mine. Our dresses are so short that we’re skin to skin. Hot skin to hot skin.

I need to distract myself, or Wyatt and Cassidy will see all the dirty things going through my mind, like remembering what Ashley looked like naked beneath me and the way she cried my name as she came apart against my mouth.

Stopitstopitstopit.

I need a distraction…

I search for something to talk about, and my eyes bounce over Brandon and Brent playing in the band, then land on Cassidy, who is whispering something to Wyatt.

“Cassidy, how’s the party planning going?” Good. Safe subject.

“Great. Brooke and I got hired for another big event in a few weeks.” Cassidy picks up her camera from the seat. “Can I get a picture of the two of you?”

“Definitely.” Ashley puts an arm over my shoulder and places her hand on my thigh. Her hand sears against my skin. I’m sure it’s going to leave a scar.