CHAPTER ONE
Evie
Two Months Earlier
“Would you ever have a threesome?”
For the last thirty-five minutes, my date had been having a one-sided conversation with my tits, and this was the question he’d managed to come up with just now.
It had to be the worst date I’d been on yet—which was saying something, considering how many I’d endured in the last two months. But Oakley, or whatever his weird tree name was, truly might have set a new low.
We weren’t even at a real restaurant. We were at a food truck with four picnic tables out front on the side of the highway. It smelled like beer and cigarettes, and between bites of his greasy brisket sandwich, Oakley managed to ask me a whole three questions while ogling my tits.
Granted, my tits were glorious. But I still expected some kind of tact on a first date.
What size bra do you wear? Do you actually run your own business? Would you ever have a threesome?
Why was I even putting up with this? I got all dressed up, and for what?This?I deserved way better, especially after putting in extra hours of work at my bakery so I could shut down early and make it to this date on time.
The worst part of living in a small town had to be the lack of dating choices. I’d set the area for my dating profile wider to try and better my odds, but that just meant I often found myself driving two hours out of the way for a boring conversation with someone who just wanted to rip my shirt off. And while Ireally, reallywanted to get laid, I’d yet to take anyone up on that, because we couldn’t get past the first few questions without some sort of disaster.
I was picky. At least, that’s what three of my most recent dates had said.You want too much. How do you expect someone to live up to your standards? You’re intimidating.
I’d heard it all. But I wasn’t going to settle for less than what I wanted. I knew it was possible. My two best friends had proven that much with their partners. Avery and June were off living their sexily ever afters, and while I was so thrilled for them, I was a little jealous.
“Did you hear me, Evie?”
“What?” I asked. “Sorry, I zoned out for a sec’.”
Oakley looked offended. As if he hadn’t zoned out every time I spoke.
“I asked if you would have a threesome.”
A soft grunt behind me set my spine straight. It’d almost sounded like a growl. I kept my eyes forward, though, focusing on tree-beard. “Yes,” I answered honestly.
I let the hope survive in his eyes for less than a second before shooting him down.
“But not with you,” I said. “I prefer to be fucked by men who don’t ask me my bra size on the first date. I think we’re done here.”
Oakley gawked. “What? You have huge tits. They have to be at least?—”
A shadow fell over the table from behind me. Oakley looked up, his eyes widening.
“She said you’re done.” The stranger’s voice was deep and firm, and oddly familiar. For a moment, I had the guilty thought of—what if it’s him?What if the man I’d wanted for years finally came to his senses, found out I was having another date tonight, and rushed out to rescue me?
But no. It wasn’t Austin. I’d know his voice anywhere.
Oakley sputtered. “Who the fuck are you? Mind your fucking business?—”
“Do you want me to make him go, Evie?”
My breath hitched and I turned around, finally meeting the dark eyes of the stranger behind me.
Oh my god.
“Nick?” I whispered in shock.
My high school wet dream was standing right in front of me.