Dirty Little Secrets (Hillcrest Prep #1.5) - Trilina Pucci Page 0,13

in a small community that’s technically part of Savannah, but far enough out of town that it lends privacy. There are only a handful of other residents. Our piece of land has been in our family for generations. But the house, as it is now, was demolished and reimagined by my mother. She refused to live in a house with the kind of history a plantation home held.

Now it’s a ten-thousand-square-foot work of art—classic, yet homey, and state-of-the-art. Large weeping willows are scattered across the front of the property, flanking the quarter-mile drive from our gate to the front of the house. There are horses, a pecan orchard planted for my mother by my father as an anniversary gift, and a lake. It’s paradise.

Tonight, I plan to lay a blanket out in said orchard and woo Lilibeth Jacobs right out of her fake abstinence. I know it’s fake because she’s got a helluva way with her mouth—nobody that innocent rocks a blow job like a porn star.

I hum out the song playing on the radio, something by Sam Hunt, and tap my fingers on the steering wheel as I drive to the store to stock up on condoms, cupcakes, and champagne (if my fake ID works). If the stars align, I’ll have all the things Lilibeth likes.

It’s a lot of work for a not-quite girlfriend, but I’m determined. Even though I’m pretty sure she only started “seeing” me to try to get my family’s donation for her bid as Miss Georgia. Once she got it, she’s been fair-weather ever since. And that’s being generous.

But tonight, I’ll make my case for us to take it to the next level. I’m not tapping out yet. She’s the only girl ever to turn me down, and damn if I don’t like a challenge.

It takes thirty minutes to get into the city, but it’s the closest place I can go. I can’t go to the store fifteen minutes closer to my house because every person inside our community is awfully familiar with the Price boys. Chances are we’ve pulled some kind of prank as kids or slept with their daughters. And I say daughters because I still have very fond memories of those Smith sisters.

I park and jump out, whistling to myself as I flip the keys around my finger. The bell rings on the small upscale store door as I enter, my phone buzzing at the same time. I pull it from my jeans to see Lilibeth’s left a message but decide to wait to listen, shoving it back into my pocket.

A clerk says a friendly hello, and I return the cordialness, grabbing a shopping basket. I browse an aisle, collecting what I need, lost in my thoughts.

I have a basket full of red velvet cupcakes, a bottle of something cheap and pink, and some beef jerky for me, as I make my way to the back to grab the condoms. Another buzz from my phone reminds me I have Lilibeth’s message waiting for me, so I pull out my phone again.

The phone is warm against my ear as I wait to hear her on the recording. My eyes search over the row of small black boxes, looking for my favorite brand. I reach out, pausing to debate whether I should get “ribbed for her pleasure.” Nah, nobody’s dick’s like that in real life. How does that make any sense to buy?

It could be fun, though.

I’m staring at the box as her voice fills my ear.

Hey, Holt, babe. Sorry, but I have to do some stupid charity thing with my mom. I completely forgot. You understand. You know I’d rather be with you—another time. I promise. Kisses. Think about me.

The longer I listen, the more the scowl grows across my face. I call bullshit. Lilibeth’s mom wouldn’t know charity if it bit her stingy ass. She’s been stringing me along, and here I am with a basket of bullshit, like an asshole. I turn, grumbling to myself, and stalk up the aisle, bumping into something tiny—that can curse.

“Dammit! Watch where you’re going.”

A heap of blonde curls falls around a flushed face as a pretty mouth blows some of the stray locks from her forehead. I freeze, because damn—I’m staring at an angel. I’m still holding the phone to my ear as I stare at the girl in front of me before lowering it slowly to speak.

“I’m sorry about that.” My hands reach to steady her elbow, hoping to win her over with some