of alcohol. At least I could blame my actions on being drunk. The first time had been after a night out at the bar when both Lily and Presley abandoned me for their men. I’d had one too many tequila shots, because Forrest kept buying them for me, and ended up riding him in the front seat of his Tesla.
Who the hell was a big enough asshole to drive a Tesla around Fawn Hill? Forrest Nash, that’s who.
And then, after Keaton and Presley’s wedding, I’d been so wrapped up in both the celebration of love and feeling sorry for myself that Travis was gone, that I fell into bed with him again. And if I were being honest with myself, the sex was hot. I remembered that about the car hook up and wanted another taste at the wedding.
But that was that. The end. No more. It had been months ago, and I’d both tried to ignore Forrest and give him shit when we were in public.
“Good morning, Georgia. I’ll call up when I’m ready to have the sick list,” I call over Forrest’s shoulder and begin to walk off.
After I got my morning emails out of the way and set up the medication cups for the morning, I always call down to the office to see which students were out sick. If it was the second or third day, I checked in with parents just to see if I could help. It wasn’t something all school nurses did, but I took a real interest in my community and the kids I looked after.
A large hand catches me by the elbow as I turn the first hallway. “What’s the problem, Pen?”
I turn to see Forrest grinning at me and grit my teeth. “Why are you even here?”
“Police business.” He waggles his eyebrows at me as if he’s important.
“So get to it. Pretty sure the department isn’t paying you to annoy the shit out of me.”
“Don’t you have to watch your language in this place?” he teases.
“Only when interacting with children. Oh, wait …”
Forrest’s blue eyes flare with temper. I twist the knife about our age difference because I know it pisses him off. Always has, ever since I brushed him off as a pesky little boy during my high school years.
“Funny, that’s not what you were saying the night of Keaton’s wedding. So, after I’m done with my deep dive on the computer system, maybe I can stop by the nurse’s office and do a deep dive on your network?”
The way his tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip has me almost considering the proposal. And then I shake my head, disgusted by the balls on this guy. He had the nerve to corner me after the wedding, sleep with me for a second time, and then never call me after. Not that I wanted anything with Forrest Nash, but what kind of man doesn’t even follow up with a woman he’s just fucked?
Again, an asshole, that’s who.
“In your dreams, Little Nash.” I throw out the insulting nickname and walk off without a backward glance.
“You’re right. I do dream about it, P. A lot.”
Forrest’s husky voice echoes down the hall and I duck my head, hoping to God no one heard that or glimpsed the scarlet blush on my cheeks.
3
Forrest
Watching Penelope Briggs’ sweet ass walk away from me is something I am getting all too familiar with.
The woman is a knockout, with curves like a back road, long, silky blond hair, skin the color of smooth buttermilk and eyes so green, they almost look fake. Putting my hands on her was one of the single most arousing moments of my life, and I wasn’t lying when I said I dreamed about it. Often.
I’ve had a crush on Penelope since … well, since I could remember. I first met her at one of Bowen’s summer league baseball games. She was there with her best friend Lily, who is now my sister-in-law, to watch my brother strut around the field like the egotistical player that he was. I was eleven, and she was seventeen. Which meant Penelope was completely out of my league, but as the typical young boy who hadn’t been rejected by women or the world yet, I thought I had every chance.
Even then, she’d been with Travis. I hadn’t understood what that meant, even when they got married. All thirteen-year-old Forrest knew was that her guy left her alone, and that left the door open for me. I