Free Fooled Around and Fell in Love (A New Beginning Book 2) by Connie Stephany

Fooled Around and Fell in Love
     
     
    Tom Parker was in love with his best friend.
    There. 
    He finally said it. 
    Out loud.
    To himself.
    In his car.
    He was on his way over to her house for their weekly Sunday morning routine, donuts and Caribou coffee in hand. 
    He knew everything about Colleen Toogood, and as her last name suggested, she really was too good for him. Tom loved everything about her.  But they were best friends, nothing more.
    As he pulled into her driveway, Colleen opened the front door and yelled, “Hurry up!  I want my Mint Condition before it gets cold!” 
    Colleen had a huge grin on her face.  As he looked up, he couldn’t help but notice she was still in her fuzzy pink pajama pants and bright pink tank top that hugged her luscious curves.  Her dark hair was in a messy ponytail and her blue eyes were sparkling.
    God, she’s beautiful.
    Shaking his head, he grabbed the goodies and walked up the driveway, saying “Pushy pushy!  Aren’t we impatient today?” 
    Tom handed her the drink and then watched in appreciation as Colleen took her first sip of the chocolaty, minty goodness. 
    She closed her eyes in delight and her smile got even bigger.  “Ahhhh, thank you.”
    “Better.”
    Colleen started laughing. “Sorry!  You were supposed to be here 10 minutes ago.  You cannot keep me waiting when it’s your turn to bring the coffee.  I was going crazy!”
    They walked inside Colleen’s house and made themselves comfortable in the living room on her soft gray microfiber couch.  They sat facing each other, sipping their coffee.
    “What kind of treat did you bring today?”  Colleen stared at the bag in his hands. “Was Abby there this morning?” 
    “Yes, and she says hi.” 
    Colleen grinned but didn’t reply.
    “For madam, we have a chocolate croissant.” He reached in the bag and took out the pastry, handing it to Colleen.  Tom had to admit he had a horrible French accent but continued anyway. “For monsieur, we have an apple fritter.” 
    “Thank you, monsieur.”  Colleen told him, and then took a large bite of her yummy treat.  “Ready to start the movie?”
    Tom shook his head and Colleen looked at him, raising one dark eyebrow.  He loved when she looked at him that way. 
    So. Damn. Sexy.
    He took an enormous bite of his donut to allow him to stare while he chewed.  It was all he could do not to glance down at her lovely mouth as she devoured her pastry.
    After chewing slowly, he replied, “Before we start the movie, we have to iron out our plans for this weekend.  You’re coming with me to my mom’s birthday party, right?” 
    Colleen nodded her head. “I’m planning on it, yes.”
    “Good, because I thought of the best prank to pull on my mom for April fool’s this year.” 
    Tom began rubbing his hands together and he grinned at Colleen.
    “Yeah?  It better be a good one.  She really got us last year.” 
    Tom thought back to the joke his mom had played on them the year before.  They had plans for her birthday dinner and that year was going to be at his parent’s home.  When they showed up for dinner, they learned she tripped the night before and ended up with a huge goose egg on her forehead. They were told they went urgent care shortly after it happened, where they took a CAT scan.  The CAT scan was normal, so she was sent home with pain meds and advice not to be left alone for a couple of days and to return if any symptoms worsened. 
    His dad called everyone that evening to let them know what happened and that she still insisted on having the family over the next day for her birthday. 
    When the while family showed up the next afternoon, his mom pretended she couldn’t remember any of them.  Tom didn’t question it because her forehead was black and blue and the bump on her head looked almost as big as a baseball.  She even left the house, claiming she said she didn’t belong with them. His dad followed her and convinced her to