Twist of Fate (Taking Chances #2) - Tia Louise Page 0,14

think about the future. I’m going to Hollywood to pursue the dream, long shot that it is.

Daisy wants to leave here as well, it’s all she ever talks about—traveling, buying antiques, or whatever.

I don’t know what happened back there when she kissed me. I’ve never had that experience in my life. My stomach is churning, and tightness is in my chest. I take several deep breaths and put it all into perspective. Daisy is a cute girl, she’s easy to talk to, and she’s got a very encouraging, bright personality.

We’ve known each other a long time… granted it was always as friends, but still. It’s easy to explain whatever happened back there away. We got a little ahead of ourselves—probably because we’re both healthy, active people in our twenties. Hormones happen.

I’ve made a plan, and I’m sticking with it. No reason to do otherwise.

Five

Daisy

I want to die.

Lying on my bed, I stare at the ceiling and replay what just happened in my head. I kissed his cheek, then it was like everything went off the rails. His mouth covered mine, and I tried to climb him like a tree.

“Oh, God!” I cover my flaming face with my hands.

My hands were fisted in his shirt—in his shirt! And I was pulling… I was literally trying to rip his clothes off. And ohhh, that kiss.

I can still feel it hot and hungry and possessive, his tongue curling with mine, invading my senses like a hurricane.

He erased my mind. All logic, reason… Gone.

I wanted to lick him all over from top to bottom. I wanted to bite him. I wanted to kiss his sexy stomach, lower… I wanted to kiss his sexy cock. Heat flares in my core as I think about it. I was on the verge of going total wanton sex goddess on him.

And he stopped it.

At the start, it seemed like he was right there with me. Hell, I could feel his dick hard and ready on my stomach, but just as fast, he looked into my eyes. I looked into his, and it was like instant regret.

He realized what he was about to do, and he practically ran away.

“Oh, God!” I roll onto my side, moaning louder.

Shame flashes so hard in my chest, my knees rise. I curl into a ball, wrapping my arms around them and pulling them tight to me.

Anybody will tell you I’m nowhere near his league. What in the world took over me? I was a fool letting myself fantasize about him. Of course, he stopped it. He’s going to Hollywood, for God’s sake.

My lips tighten, and my nose gets hot. I squeeze my eyes shut. No! I will not cry. Crying over Scout Dunne is the worst thing I could do.

It’s pointless.

He is every woman’s wet dream, probably even some men’s, and I’m not going to cry because he kept us from doing something majorly stupid. I’m going to be a realist and remember that I have my own dreams and plans.

I’m going to get back to reality and stop being distracted.

Banging from downstairs pulls me out of a fitful sleep. Sitting up groggily, I look down to see I’m still wearing what I had on yesterday. I didn’t even take a shower. I didn’t have dinner. My stomach growls, and I realize I’m starving.

Clinking noises greet my ears, and I wonder what the hell is going on down there.

Dull thumping on the stairs precedes the sound of my cousin’s voice. “Daisy! Are you planning to sleep all day?”

“Sly?” I throw back the covers and jump out of bed, running down the stairs.

“Hey, Daisy Kate!”

“Sly!” My voice goes high, and we throw our arms around each other, jumping up and down as we hug and laugh.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just stopping by before I head to Mom’s. She said you were fixing this place up, but damn girl!” Her arm is around my shoulder as she looks around the kitchen. “This is amazing! Are you expecting Harry and Meghan? It’s like a royal country house.”

“You think?”

“This cute little teapot, and… Is that a giant metal rooster? Where did you find that?”

“Owen’s junkyard… I got the teapot off eBay and this amazing chair from Dad’s…”

Her navy eyes widen. “If you found any of this in Owen Pepper’s junkyard, I need to get back over there.”

“How are you doing? Are you all done with school?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” She puts her hands on her hips, smiling proudly. “I’m a certified massage therapist, specializing