Summer Fling (Players of Marycliff University Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Jerica MacMillan
Abby kept the thought to herself and her mouth full of pie so she wouldn't have to answer. She didn't really like to talk about the issues with her mom that kept her close to home. From the way her mother acted, you'd think Abby lived on the other side of the world rather than 45 minutes away. And she certainly didn't want to get into all that with Lance on this weird . . . whatever this was.
She was acutely aware that she was wearing this random guy's shirt. Every time she moved, the combined scent of Lance's laundry detergent and cologne wafted up to tickle her nose. But she couldn't tell if he was interested in her, or if he just viewed her as a convenient companion so that he didn't have to hang out at home by himself. It didn't make sense to her that he wouldn't be able to find someone to hang out with if he wanted to, though.
He was hot. That was the only word for it. His black hair was a little long, like he needed a haircut. It wasn't all gunked up with gel or whatever like some guys did. It kept falling in his eyes, making her want to brush it back, run her fingers through it, and see if it was as soft as it looked. His eyes were a rich brown that lit up when he smiled. And that smile was enough to turn any girl on, which was why she kept being snarky at him whenever he flashed it at her. She didn't normally react to guys like she did to him.
When the corner of his mouth quirked up, Abby realized that she was staring at his lips. She jerked her gaze to his eyes, her face heating up. His smile widened, and she looked down at her plate, shoving the forkful of pie in her mouth that she'd been holding in the air while she stared at him. Damn, her pie was almost gone. She ate the last few bites as slowly as she could without looking ridiculous, even scraping all the chocolate and whipped cream from the plate with the edge of her fork.
She risked a look at Lance. He was leaning back with his hands folded across his stomach, his pie gone as well. "Enjoy your pie?"
Abby blushed again, though she wasn't really sure why. "Yes."
He smiled at her. "I wondered if you were going to lick your plate next to get all the crumbs." Abby's blush deepened. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, his face serious, his voice low and reassuring. "Don't worry, I have to stop myself from licking the plates clean too. Their pie is the best." Lance smiled again and sat back. "So, what do you want to do next?"
Abby shrugged. "I think I'd like to just go home. I'm getting tired."
Lance studied her face for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Let me pay for our pie and I'll take you home."
"Thanks. I can pay for my own pie, though."
Lance waved away her protest. "No, I made you come have pie with me. I'm paying."
Without the pie to keep them occupied, Abby felt the silence between them growing more awkward. She cast about for a safe topic of conversation. Work seemed like a safe subject. "So you said you have an internship this summer?" Lance nodded. "Where?"
That seemed to be all the prompting he needed. He told her all about the internship that he'd started in May, shortly after graduation. He talked about the different projects he was helping with and how he hoped he'd get to take the lead on a small campaign or two before the end of the summer.
The waitress came with the check, interrupting their conversation. Abby prompted Lance again with another question and he kept enthusiastically talking about himself, keeping the focus off her. She was most comfortable listening to him talk, and barely even noticed that he'd extended his legs under the table so they were caging hers in. She bumped against him once. She'd muttered an apology and he'd just grinned and rubbed his foot against her calf once before continuing with their conversation.
When the waitress returned with his credit card, Lance signed the slip, and they both got up to leave. Abby could feel the heat of his hand on the small of her back
She was acutely aware that she was wearing this random guy's shirt. Every time she moved, the combined scent of Lance's laundry detergent and cologne wafted up to tickle her nose. But she couldn't tell if he was interested in her, or if he just viewed her as a convenient companion so that he didn't have to hang out at home by himself. It didn't make sense to her that he wouldn't be able to find someone to hang out with if he wanted to, though.
He was hot. That was the only word for it. His black hair was a little long, like he needed a haircut. It wasn't all gunked up with gel or whatever like some guys did. It kept falling in his eyes, making her want to brush it back, run her fingers through it, and see if it was as soft as it looked. His eyes were a rich brown that lit up when he smiled. And that smile was enough to turn any girl on, which was why she kept being snarky at him whenever he flashed it at her. She didn't normally react to guys like she did to him.
When the corner of his mouth quirked up, Abby realized that she was staring at his lips. She jerked her gaze to his eyes, her face heating up. His smile widened, and she looked down at her plate, shoving the forkful of pie in her mouth that she'd been holding in the air while she stared at him. Damn, her pie was almost gone. She ate the last few bites as slowly as she could without looking ridiculous, even scraping all the chocolate and whipped cream from the plate with the edge of her fork.
She risked a look at Lance. He was leaning back with his hands folded across his stomach, his pie gone as well. "Enjoy your pie?"
Abby blushed again, though she wasn't really sure why. "Yes."
He smiled at her. "I wondered if you were going to lick your plate next to get all the crumbs." Abby's blush deepened. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, his face serious, his voice low and reassuring. "Don't worry, I have to stop myself from licking the plates clean too. Their pie is the best." Lance smiled again and sat back. "So, what do you want to do next?"
Abby shrugged. "I think I'd like to just go home. I'm getting tired."
Lance studied her face for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Let me pay for our pie and I'll take you home."
"Thanks. I can pay for my own pie, though."
Lance waved away her protest. "No, I made you come have pie with me. I'm paying."
Without the pie to keep them occupied, Abby felt the silence between them growing more awkward. She cast about for a safe topic of conversation. Work seemed like a safe subject. "So you said you have an internship this summer?" Lance nodded. "Where?"
That seemed to be all the prompting he needed. He told her all about the internship that he'd started in May, shortly after graduation. He talked about the different projects he was helping with and how he hoped he'd get to take the lead on a small campaign or two before the end of the summer.
The waitress came with the check, interrupting their conversation. Abby prompted Lance again with another question and he kept enthusiastically talking about himself, keeping the focus off her. She was most comfortable listening to him talk, and barely even noticed that he'd extended his legs under the table so they were caging hers in. She bumped against him once. She'd muttered an apology and he'd just grinned and rubbed his foot against her calf once before continuing with their conversation.
When the waitress returned with his credit card, Lance signed the slip, and they both got up to leave. Abby could feel the heat of his hand on the small of her back
Readers choose
Jessica Linden
Anya Allyn
Kate McMullan
Alan Burt Akers
Ichabod Temperance
Chris Stewart, Elizabeth Smart
Jeff Jacobson
Karen Chance
Simon Hall
Justine Elyot