Somebody Like You: A Small Town Single Mom Romance (The Heartbreak Brothers Book 4) by Carrie Elks (best love story novels in english .txt) 📗

“But you did it.”

“Yeah. I guess I thought the hard part was done, you know? I was ready to enjoy life, to finally relax, spend time with my family, really throw myself into the business. And then he left.”

“Like I said, he’s a damn idiot.”

“Maybe I was the idiot for believing we had an unwritten deal. For thinking that good things came to those who put in the work.”

“Life’s a bitch like that, isn’t it?” Cam said, taking a mouthful of wine. He held the glass out. “You sure you don’t want another sip?”

She bit on her lip. “Maybe just a little one.”

Grinning, he passed her the glass, watching as she lifted it to her lips. The same glass he’d touched against his own. For some reason, it felt erotic.

Forbidden.

“Oh god.” She sighed. “So good.”

The blood shot right between his groin. He crossed his legs, trying to hide his growing erection.

“Have you dated since the breakup?” he asked her.

Mia looked up, her face a little flushed. “Nope. Haven’t had the time or the inclination.”

She was eighteen when she met her husband. Pregnant within a year. “How old is Michael again?” he asked her.

She tipped her head to the side, her hair gleaming beneath the lights. “Nearly fifteen. He’s old for his year.”

“Which makes you, what, mid thirties?”

“I don’t know whether to hit you or congratulate you on your math. Didn’t anybody ever tell you it’s rude to ask a woman’s age?” From the amusement in her voice, he could tell she was kidding.

“So you haven’t been with another man for fifteen years?” He blew out a mouthful of air. “Wow.”

Her eyes sparkled as she leaned forward. “That’s normal. It’s what people do. Or what they’re supposed to do. Meet someone, get married, spend the rest of their lives only sleeping with them.”

“Not the people I know.” Cam shrugged.

“That’s because you’re all too busy chasing supermodels.”

So she had been checking him out on the internet. Interesting.

“You really haven’t touched anybody else since you were eighteen? No kisses, no gropes? Nothing?”

“I believe that’s how marriage works.” She lifted an eyebrow.

“Yeah, but you’re not married anymore. Aren’t you curious to know what it would feel like to be with another guy? You’re young, are you planning on living like a nun for the rest of your life?”

She pressed her fingertip against her lip, her brows dipping as though she was remembering something. “I hadn’t really thought about it. Kisses aren’t on the top of my priority list.”

He looked at her, taking in the intensity of her green eyes, and the softness of her blonde hair as it cascaded in waves to her shoulders. “If you were mine, kissing would be right at the top.” He gave her a wicked grin. “No, make that second from the top. Sex would take first.”

“It’s a good thing I’m not yours then,” she said lightly.

She was playing the game. Flirting. And damn if that didn’t make him harder than ever. Cam took the last bite of his burger, ate the final handful of fries, then wiped his face with one of the free napkins the diner had put in the bag, before dropping it on the empty plate. Taking a long, cool sip of wine, he looked at her again. She’d already finished eating.

“You’re fast.”

“I come from a family of quick eaters. If you didn’t eat what was on your plate, somebody else would.” She shrugged.

He gave her a speculative glance. “You should kiss someone. Get it over with. Like riding a bike or something.”

Mia laughed, her eyes crinkling. “You sound like my cousin.”

“What did your cousin say?” He smiled back at her, and a blush stole up her face.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, come on.” He turned in his stool, so he was directly facing her. “You can’t tease me like that and not follow through.”

“It was stupid, and she has a big mouth. You’ll laugh at me.”

He leaned forward, his eyes catching hers. “Now you have to tell me. Come on, just spit it out. I can guarantee I’ve heard worse in the locker room.”

Mia sighed. “You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”

“Nope. I’m a sportsman. I never let anything go. If I want something, I go for it. And I don’t give up until I get it.”

She was silent for a moment. The air crackled between them. She looked at him through those thick, pretty lashes.

“She said I need to get under a guy to get over the breakup. That I should use…um…somebody as a rehab guy. To get me ready for dating.”

“A rehab guy?”

“She’s stupid. And young.”

“Like sex rehab?” He grinned at her, propping his chin on his elbow as he leaned closer. He rested his foot on the rung of her stool. “I get that. Kind of like when I get an injury.” Or most injuries, but he wasn’t going to think about that. “We go to physio, keep working it until the injury’s gone, then we get back on the field.”

“I guess that’s what she meant. As I said, she’s an idiot.” Her hair fell in front of her face again. This time he reached out and tucked it behind her ear, his fingers trailing along the soft skin of her neck.

Her breathing hitched and she looked up at him, her pupils dilating.

Yeah, she felt this. Whatever it was between them. The air around them was so thick he could almost touch it.

“You want to try it now?” he asked softly.

“What?” Her voice was thick. Low.

“A kiss. Just one. See if you’re ready to move on.” He played with the ends of her hair, rubbing the glossy locks between his fingers. “Nothing more than that. Unless you want more.”

Her gaze dipped to his lips, and she bit down on her own. “It won’t mean anything?”

“Nothing at all. Just a little rehab. That’s all.”

“Okay.” She blushed. “Yeah, I could do that.”

He slid his foot around the leg of her