Second(33)

Feeling everything is good.

Dean changes into a pair of swim shorts and we head straight for the water, without wasting any time.

We spend the rest of the day in the sun, side by side, just spending time together, making jokes and enjoying each other’s company. Dean tells me about the people in his life, the people who work for him, like his manager, but also his friends in LA.

“Your phone’s never going off though,” I point out. “Wouldn’t your manager and publicist etcetera be trying to contact you?”

“My phone is on silent,” he says, shrugging. “They leave a message and I get back to them when I have the time. I hardly take holidays, so when I do they don’t call much unless it’s an emergency or they need to ask me something that can’t wait. Usually they’ll just call my personal assistant and she’ll deal with it.”

“What about when your friends are trying to contact you?” I ask. “Like that Erica chick you went on a date with.”

“Erin,” he says, grabbing me and rolling me under him in the sand. “And it wasn’t a date.”

“Sounded like one to me,” I grumble. “Sounds like you were doing with her what we’re doing right now. Hanging out at the beach.”

“We weren’t alone,” he says, eyes lowering to my lips. “Did I forget to mention that part? Her brother was with us, he is also a friend of mine.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “Were you trying to make me jealous?”

“Did it work?”

“No.”

His lip twitches. “Are you sure about that? You don’t seem to like… Erica very much.”

No, I don’t.

“Well she’s just a friend, right? So why wouldn’t I like her?” I say, keeping a straight face. I’m actually not usually a jealous person. I don’t think I would have cared if he hadn’t made it sound like a date, and even though he wasn’t mine then, and I don’t even know if he’s mine now, yeah it annoyed me. But I hid it, or at least I thought I did. Jealousy isn’t cute, and although he’s finding it amusing now I don’t want him to think I’m like that. I’m not an insecure person. But damn, I don’t think any woman wants the guy they have feelings for, especially when you don’t even know where you stand, at the beach with another woman.

His eyes are filled with humour and mischief as he says, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me? Especially when you have absolutely nothing to worry about. With any woman.”

Any woman?

How is this man so amazing?

“Even Bella Reed?” I ask gently, pressing my lips to his in a quick kiss that I can’t help.

He laughs shortly, then pushes my hair off my face. “Especially her.”

I smile as his lips descend back on mine.





Chapter Seventeen

We’re back home and I’m washing our clothes from the trip while Dean is making us dinner. When someone knocks on the door I have no idea who it could be until I hear Tara’s voice. I grin and rush to the door, then pull her into my arms.

“Hello, gorgeous,” I say, squeezing her.

“How was the trip?” she asks as both of us let go.

“Amazing,” I say, leading her to the kitchen.

“Hey, Dean,” she says, smiling and awkwardly waving at him, making me laugh. She looks really cute in a floral summer dress and sandals, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun that she’s perfected over the years.

“Hey, Tara,” Dean says, flashing her a charming smile. “Stay for dinner? I’m making enough to feed an army.”

She glances at him, then back at me. “Sure, I’ll stay. I feel like I haven’t seen you in so long, and I need my Bina time.”

I love my best friend.

“Do you want to watch a movie, eat snacks, and gossip?” I ask her, already heading to the kitchen for some chips and dip to tide us over until dinner is ready. “You going to join us?” I ask Dean as I pass him, winking at him.

“No,” he says, smirking. “You go have some girl time. I’ll finish up here.”

I wrap my arms around him and kiss the side of his neck, grateful for him being so cool, and then sit on the couch with my best friend.

“Tell me everything,” she whispers, taking the chips from me and opening them. “All I get from you is a message saying you’re going away with Dean, who you slept with.” She pauses and smirks. “You lucky bitch, by the way.”

I know just how lucky I am.

I give her a very brief rundown on what has happened so far, basically that I want to give things a try with Dean, which has her smiling from ear to ear. “I’m so happy for you, Bina,” she says, patting my leg. “And can I say that I’m so proud that you’re back in the game.”