Three Broken Promises (One Week Girlfriend #3)(32)
Author: Monica Murphy

Great question. One I don’t have an answer for. “I guess it’s back to . . . plan A.” Whatever plan A is.

“And that is . . . ?” Her voice trails off as she raises a brow.

The girl can make anyone sweat with one lift of an eyebrow, I’ll give her that. Poor Drew. And poor Owen. Neither of them stood a chance in a fight with Fable. “Um, back to the job hunt. And the apartment hunt. I’m checking out the roommate options on Craigslist.”

“You’re going to room with someone you don’t know? Are you crazy?” Fable shakes her head. “What if they’re a serial killer looking for their next victim and you fit their profile?”

“You worry too much.” I sigh. I can’t stress about that shit and besides, I’ll find someone, a girl who’s close to my age and maybe a college student. I’ve been scanning the listings the last few days and stumbled upon a few good possibilities that I already contacted. I haven’t heard back from them yet, though.

Maybe I’m the one who looks and sounds like a serial killer . . .

Ha ha. I’m funny.

“But Jen . . .”

“Look, Fable.” I round on her, stopping her in her tracks. I’m not angry, but I’m tired of everyone trying to tell me what to do. “I know what I’m doing. It may look risky but I’m not that stupid, trust me. I’m taking all of the proper precautions.”

Fable scrunches her eyebrows together. “I never said you were stupid. I just . . .”

“You’re worried about me. Yeah, I totally get it. I’d be worried about me too. But I’ll land on my feet. I always land on my feet. I’m like a cat.”

“A cat who’s always eventually caught and set on her feet by a certain someone named Colin Wilder,” Fable mutters.

I part my lips, ready to say something sarcastic right back, when I realize he’s nearby. I feel his overwhelming presence. He’s standing behind me—I can smell his intoxicating woodsy clean scent, feel the heat of his body penetrating mine as he steps even closer. I swear his hand brushes against my backside in a discreet caress and a wave of desire crashes through me.

“Someone say my name?” He sounds amused. His deep voice causes tingles to sweep over my skin and I press my lips together, almost afraid to turn and face him.

Afraid I might melt if I see that particular gleam in his eyes. The one that says he knows exactly what I look like naked and he can’t wait to get me in that state again.

“Speak of the devil.” Fable flashes him a saucy smile. “Your little waif here was telling me she didn’t find a job yesterday when you two went to Sacramento.”

Did she really just call me a little waif? If anyone’s a waif it’s Fable. She’s so short it’s ridiculous.

“Unfortunately, the people who interviewed her were idiots.” Colin moves so he’s standing beside me, his arm brushing mine. I press my lips together so I don’t gasp at the contact, because wow. I felt that simple brush right down to my toes. “They didn’t see her full potential.”

Fable looks from me to Colin then back at me again, both eyebrows raised now. Damn it. “And are you saying you see her full potential, boss man?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “I do. I’ve always seen Jen’s potential.” We both happen to look at each other at the same time. Big mistake. Is that adoration reflected in his gaze? I look away before Fable reads too much into it, but too late. Her eyes are narrowed and she’s smirking at me. I’d know that sly look anywhere.

And it is the absolute last thing I want to deal with.

“Time to get to work, girls,” he says, reaching out to squeeze my arm gently before he walks away. “I’m opening the doors now.”

I watch him go, my arm still tingling from where he touched me, my eyes focused on his perfect butt encased in those perfect black trousers. I had my hands all over that butt last night. It’s solid, rock-hard muscle and I loved feeling it flex as he pushed deep inside me . . .

“You banged him, didn’t you.”

Fable’s soft voice breaks through my dirty thoughts and I turn to her, ready to protest, but she shakes her head.

“Don’t bother denying it. You two are so obvious. Oh my God, no wonder you’re glowing.” She steps closer to me, lowering her voice. “You had sex. With Colin. Holy. Shit!”

“Stop.” I grab hold of her arm and steer her out of the dining room, which is filling up with employees and dinner guests fast. I take her to the back hallway that leads out to the alley. “Don’t say anything, okay? I don’t want it to get out and I don’t want Colin to know that you know, either.”

“I’m not going to tell anyone. You can trust me. I’m the best secret keeper around. Ask Drew.” She purses her lips and shakes her head, a mysterious light filling her eyes for the briefest second. Sometimes I can’t really figure her out. But I can’t worry about it at the moment. “And why don’t you want Colin to know that I know you two are having sex?”

She hisses the last word out and I roll my eyes. I can’t believe I’m having this conversation. We’re closer than I’ve ever been with another friend before, but I am definitely not one to talk about my sexual escapades. I’m a very private person, especially when it comes to sex. The good and the bad kind. “Stop saying it like that.”

“Stop acting like it’s a bad thing.” Her easy acceptance fills me with relief. “I can’t believe you two finally caved and did it. It’s about damn time.” She nudges me. “So. Is he any good?”

My cheeks heat as I remember the way he buried his face between my legs in the freaking kitchen and made me come so hard I yelled out his name, nearly falling off the counter.

“Don’t bother answering. Your face says it all.” Fable laughs. “He’s pretty damn good.”

He’s amazing, but I don’t want to kiss and tell. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

I’d rather keep all that amazingness to myself.

Colin

I try my best to ignore her but it’s f**king hard. Or more like, I’m f**king hard, watching Jen while she works all night in that short, clingy black dress that’s the standard uniform for the waitresses. Somehow, she’s the sexiest thing in this place, in that dress. Her legs look a mile long, what with those black stiletto sandals she’s wearing. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail, showing off the delicately beautiful butterfly tattoo that graces her nape. The tattoo that represents her need for freedom from her past, freedom for her future.