Dating My Best Friend: A Second Chance Romance

by Annie J. Rose

  Until I had it. Right there. In my grasp.

  Don’t screw this up, Willem.

  “Want to come over for dinner tonight?” I asked.

  She grinned up at me. “You gonna be cooking?”

  “I figured I could make us something nice, sure.”

  “Or we could order in and cuddle until the food gets here.”

  “Mmm, I like the sound of that.”

  She giggled. “Good. Delivery, it is.”

  I smiled. “Any special requests?”

  “Not pizza.”

  “Got it. ‘Not pizza,’ coming up for dinner tonight.”

  She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against mine. Which ended with us stumbling into the shower together. I covered every inch of her body in soapy suds before fucking her senseless.

  “Wow. What a morning,” Khloe said breathlessly.

  I kissed the nape of her neck. “I need to get dressed.”

  “Mmm, then you should.”

  I ran my hands down her naked torso. “But I don’t want to.”

  “You’ll lose your job if you don’t go to work.”

  I nibbled her shoulder. “And we wouldn’t want that.”

  “I’ve already called in late since I have to go home and get dressed. So, you might want to get a move on it.”

  I slapped her butt playfully, and she squealed. Yet, somehow, we managed to get dressed and get out the doors by ten ’til nine. And holy fuck, did she look good in my button-front shirt.

  “You can dress like that all the time, for all I care,” I said.

  She unlocked her car. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “See you tonight, beautiful. And wear something like that.”

  “Oh, you mean this old thing? Yeah, I’ve had it forever.”

  Her giggle washed over me like warm rain, and it settled my soul. We parted ways, and I rushed into work, charging through the doors right at nine. Kent stood there with a Styrofoam cup of terrible lounge room coffee. But I saw him staring at me, so my eyes dropped to my shirt.

  “What? Do I have food on me or something?” I asked.

  He snickered. “You’re grinning.”

  I paused. “So?”

  “A lot.”

  “And?”

  “What gives?”

  I shrugged. “Usually, people grin when they’re happy.”

  He smiled. “Uh-huh. Any reason in particular?”

  But before I could answer, a call rolled through Kent’s shoulder radio, beckoning us toward the cruiser.

  “Come on. Gonna be a long day today. We can grab more coffee on the road,” he said.

  He didn’t have to tell me twice. Because I always looked for an excuse to trash the lounge room coffee whenever I could.

  Chapter 23

  Khloe

  “I think I’m going to read Goodnight Moon again,” Matt said.

  I shelved another book. “Didn’t you read that last week?”

  “Yeah, but I’ve had so many parents email about how their kids ranted and raved about that story. I mean, give the people what they want, right?”

  I snickered. “I’m pretty sure that’s a commercialization tactic to get a consumerist society to buy more things.”

  “Or, it could just be my way of making six-year-olds happy in a consumerist society that will eventually eat them alive.”

  I turned to him. “Why are we the way we are?”

  He sighed. “I really don’t know. But I don’t hate it.”

  I smiled. “Neither do I.”

  Usually, I hated the children’s story time. I’d cordon myself in my office until it was done and over with. I didn’t get along well with kids. I mean, they flocked to me, but they were always sticky and loud and begging for things. It felt a little sad, though, this time. This was one of the few story times during the week where the officers didn’t have the time to get down here for it. So, the library had to provide its own hire-by-the-hour security for the hour-long event.

  Which meant I wouldn’t get to see Jasper.

  Which seemed odd, since I’d see him three hours ago at his place before we both parted ways. I missed him already, and I wasn’t afraid to admit that.

  To myself, at least.

  I did miss him, though. It was ridiculous to admit, but it didn’t make the statement any less true. I was getting greedy with his time. Greedy with his presence. I wanted more, needed more of him. Especially now that Piper had somehow grown on me.

  “Well, if Goodnight Moon’s the way you want to go, then I’m all for it,” I said.

  “You should get to the front desk,” Matt said.

  I furrowed my brow. “Why?”

  “Just do it. Go. Go. I’ve got this. It’s only a few more books.”

  “I don’t—what—?”

  He waved his hand at me. “Go, Khloe. Seriously.”

  And when I turned around, I saw why.

  Quinn was standing at the front desk with her fingers flying across her phone screen. I looked back over my shoulder at Matt, who proceeded to hide behind the books he was shelving. I shook my head and snickered. The man was so finicky around my sister. Well, any woman, really. Other than me, of course. Then again, he’d been pretty finicky around me, too, when I was first hired.

  Huh.

  “Hey there, Q. What’s—?”

  She pointed at me before stuffing her phone back into her purse.

  “You, me, our boys, tonight. There’s a band playing in Hartford that I like. Kent got tickets. Four, on accident. Apparently,” she said.

  I blinked. “Well, Jay and I kind of—”

  “And wear something that doesn’t look so… librarian-ish.”

  She ran her gaze down my body, and I scoffed.

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “It means find your fun side again. Because we’re going out for some fun.”

  “And you didn’t stop to ask me if I had any plans. You just rolled over them because, what? You thought you could?”

  She quirked an eyebrow. “Did you have plans?”

  “And if I did?”

  She grinned. “You did have plans! What? What were they? With Jay? Holy shit, you had plans with Jay.”

  I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter now. When and where are we meeting?”

  “Oh, no, no, no. You’re not getting off the hook that easily.”

  “Text me the details.”

  She groaned. “You suck.”

  “Love you, too, Q.”

  Quinn left on the tailwinds of the same tornado that blew her into the library. And as Matt came up to me, he made a statement that shocked the hell out of me.

  And yet made so much damn sense.

  “You need me to pull a Queer Eye magic trick?”

  I slowly looked over at him. “A what?”

  He grinned. “You know, where I take you from drab to fab?”

  I turned to face him. “I knew it.”

  He blinked. “Knew what?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing. Nothing. Uh, no. I don’t need any sort of magic trick. I’m not that far out of my twenties. I still have club clothes that fit me fine.”

  He smiled. “Good. Just make sure you’re not trying to intentionally look sixteen again. There’s a difference between looking trashy and looking classy while still going out on the town.”

  “You’re amazing, you know that?”

  “And on that note, I need to go get ready for story time.”

  I shook my head as he scurried off. Matthew. Gay. The sweet, innocent children’s librarian who cooped himself up in the same way I did. It made so much sense. Not that it was a bad thing. It was just nice to finally have that out in the open.

  Now, for the rest of my day.

  I was still a bit miffed that I wouldn’t get alone time with Jay tonight like I wanted. But I was still excited about the night’s activities. The day flew by, and I raced home, already planning my outfit in my mind. I had the perfect top and the perf
ect pair of jeans. Heels, too. Not boots, though. I knew Quinn would go with boots and some skimpy skirt she had stuffed in the back of her bursting closet.

  “Maybe some jewelry, too,” I murmured to myself.

  I skidded to a stop in front of my home and ran inside. I took a quick shower, trying to change over from librarian to hip woman out on the town for the night. I dried myself off and took the liberty of blow-drying my hair before curling it with a curling iron. It had been years since I’d done my hair up like this and splashed on this kind of makeup and pulled on jeans that were so tight they might as well have been part of me.

  It felt nice, though, getting all dolled up like this.

  I hadn’t been a huge partier as a college girl. Or, ever. But I had a few things. I pulled my jeans up before slipping into my open-toed black heels. I reached for a white tank-top and put on my only push-up bra to really accentuate my curves. Then, I finished it all off with a black overcoat, one that cinched at my waist and flared out just above my hips. Peplum, I think it was called.

  Either way, it was just the right amount of sex and class, all wrapped up into one.

  The dinging of my phone caught my ear, and I reached for it. I looked down as Jasper’s text and saw he was only ten minutes out. Thank fuck I got ready as quickly as I did. I rushed to put on some jewelry, though, a necklace that hung down perfectly into my cleavage, and studded earrings that glistened in the light. I fluffed my hair out, letting the wild curls grow as they wanted.

  Then, a knock came at my door.

  “Showtime,” I said to myself.

  And the way Jay’s jaw dropped when I opened the door made all the rushing around worth it.

  Chapter 24

  Jasper

  “Holy hell, Khloe.”

  She gave me a playful turn as my eyes ran up and down her curves, beautifully clad in tight clothes that left so much to the imagination it spun my head.

  And made me partially upset we’d be surrounded by people all night.

  “So, how do I look?” she asked.

  I had to scrape my jaw off the ground. “You look… spectacular.”

  Like every teenage boy’s dirty fantasy.

  I mean, the jeans were damn near indecent. They hugged her ass so tightly I saw the outline of her ass cheeks! And her tank top. Holy shit. White, and almost see-through. Her tits were pushed up into beautiful, wondrous mounds I wanted to lick. Her heels flexed her curves even further, giving me dips and valleys my hands wanted to sink into.

  It was ridiculous how quickly my cock rose for her.

  “See something you like, soldier?”

  I looked down quickly before I blushed. I turned my back to her and shoved my hand down into my pants. There was no hiding it now. As she giggled behind me, I made a comedic show of situating myself. Go big or go home, right? Then, I turned to face her, watching as she stepped out of her house, standing so close to me I smelled the mint of her chewing gum before she turned around to lock her damn front door.

  Which pushed her ass against my groin.

  “Oh, now you’re just asking for it,” I murmured.

  “Mmm, asking for what, handsome?”

  She practically purred it, and something inside me popped. It took every ounce of strength I had not to throw her over my shoulder and march her right back inside. But I did grip her hips. I did turn her around. I did pull her close, wrapping her up in my arms before letting my lips fall against hers.

  The moan that fell down the back of my throat made my heart soar. I pulled those delectable curves against my body, feeling her against me. She fit me perfectly, as if I had been made for her. Our tongues did battle, and my cock ached against my pants, crying out in angry glory to be set free. Damn it, I felt myself leaking against my fucking boxers. I felt like a teenage boy again, kissing his first crush.

  Hell, I was still kissing my first crush.

  Kissing the first girl I ever loved.

  “Mmm, heavenly,” I murmured.

  Khloe giggled. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  “Don’t even play. I don’t look nearly as good as you do.”

  “Oh, no, no. You don’t. But that doesn’t mean you don’t look amazing.”

  I snickered. “Nice save.”

  She smiled. “I thought so, too.”

  I captured her lips one last time before scooping her up. I carried her over to my truck before I sat her on the hood of it. My lips fell against her neck, and she gasped. Her head fell back, teasing the knuckles of my hands with the curls of her hair. I slid my teeth softly down to her breasts, kissing those mounds, nibbling them softly, watching as buds pressed against the white cloth of her tank top, showcasing to me just how much she wanted me.

  “Jay,” she whispered.

  “Mmm, Khloe.”

  She fisted my hair and ripped me up, her eyes blown wide with desperation and need.

  “Exactly how pissed is Q going to be if we skip out to use an entire box of condoms?” I asked.

  Her eyes widened before she let out the most bombastic laughter I’d ever heard from her. I smiled and laughed along with her as her forehead fell to my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close, simply enjoying the moment with her.

  “Oh, Jay. I was so angry with her when she announced that she was ruining our plans tonight.”

  I snickered. “I’m glad I wasn’t the only one.”

  Her head rose up. “But we gave our word we’d go. And this is Q’s favorite band.”

  I sighed playfully. “I know. I know. Gosh.”

  She kissed the tip of my nose. “But if you’re good tonight, maybe you’ll get a nice surprise after.”

  “Oh, and do I get a little teaser as to what the surprise might be?”

  She quirked an eyebrow before she leaned toward me, her lips only millimeters away from mine. I felt her breath against my own. My eyes closed, readying myself for another kiss. But when I felt her hand cup my raging erection, my eyes flew open.

  Wide.

  “This the type of teaser you’re wanting?” she asked.

  “Oh, you little minx,” I growled.

  I went to kiss her again, but she backed away. I fisted her hips and pulled her closer. But all she did was giggle and continue to lean back. She leaned back so far that she settled herself against the hood of my truck, where I proceeded to pin her wrists above her head.

  “Looks like you’re trapped now,” I said.

  “I guess the question is, do you want to be a good boy and get your surprise later? Or, do you want to be a bad boy and get nothing now?”

  “I love it when you take charge.”

  She smiled. “Good boy. Now, let’s get on the road. We’re already running behind as it is.”

  “And I wonder whose fault is that?”

  She leaned up. “Not my fault you can’t stop staring.”

  I helped her off the hood of my truck. “Not my fault you chose an outfit that makes me want to stare.”

  She scoffed at me, and I winked at her. And for the first time in a while, it felt like old times. New times, too. But the playful banter was finally back. I walked around and opened her car door for her, then offered my hand. I wanted to be the perfect gentleman like my mother taught me to be. I wanted to treat her to a nice night out, especially since it seemed like she hadn’t had one in a while. The drive was torment, though.

  Especially with her hand sliding up and down my thigh the entire fucking time.

  “That’s really distracting, you know,” I said.

  “Good,” she said, giggling.

  “You’re gonna be the death of me.”

  “If we could all be so lucky.”

  I grinned. “You’re just full of it tonight, aren’t you?”

  She shrugged. “Or maybe I feel like my old self again.”

  I settled my hand on top of hers and looked over at her. She looked vibrant in the flashing lights over the club’s rooftop atmosphere. I eased us into a parking
lot and sat there, simply staring at her, drawing in her stunning features and committing all of it to memory.

  “Haven’t had your fill yet, handsome?” Khloe asked.

  “Holy shit. Khloe. Is that you?”

  Kent’s voice pierced our moment before someone started knocking at my window. I looked over to see Quinn, and she smiled with delight. She ripped my door open before pulling me out of the truck. And by Khloe’s squeak, Kent had done the same.

  “I mean, I knew you cleaned up, Khloe. But wow. You look stunning,” Kent said.

  I quirked an eyebrow at Q. “Since when do you wear backless shirts?”

  She gave me a small twirl. “You like? I pulled it out of the back of my closet.”

  “Uh-huh. And how short is that skirt?” I asked.

  “Short enough for me to like the view,” Kent said.

  “Hey now, that’s my sister,” Khloe said.

  I heard Kent grunt as I turned around.

  “Yeah, the sister you set him up with,” I said.

  “Can’t get pissed at me now,” Kent said, grinning.

  “Come on, we’re going to be late. The show starts in a few minutes,” Q said.

  I reached out for Khlo as Q dragged us all across the street. My eyes scanned for all the exits, and Kent ended up taking a nice walk around the inside of the club once we got inside. I made a mental note of where they all were. How to get to them as quickly as possible. The best flow patterns possible in case an emergency popped up.

  And the more crowded the club became, the more thankful I was that I decided to holster my gun to my hip tonight.

  “You carrying?” Kent asked.

  I waved at Khlo and Q, who insisted on getting the first round of drinks.

  “Yep, you?” I asked.

  “Yep. Good to know. There’s a rooftop exit as well.”

  “Two fire escape ladders down either side.”