Free The Virgin Bet by Olivia Starke Page B

him.
    Tippy returned to the living room, and Brent let out a low whistle. “Nice,” he said.
    She spun a slow circle, letting him see the back view as well.
    “You’re beautiful, Tippy,” he said.
    She let out a nervous giggle. “I thought you’d want to see more skin.”
    He grinned. “Of course I would, but I don’t like the idea of our old high school friends seeing the parts of you that are reserved for my eyes only.”
    She blushed, grateful he liked her purchase. Annoyed that she wanted his approval. She returned to the bathroom, and redressed in her comfy jeans and t-shirt.
    “So have you heard who all will be at the reunion?” she asked, when Brent rejoined her in the living room, out of his uniform and dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. He sat next to her on the couch, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her across his lap, cuddling her like a small child. She snuggled close, inhaling his wonderful comforting smell.
    “My whole gang except for Mike who died a few years ago.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. She couldn’t pull Mike fully to mind, he was only a generic collection of clothing, skin tone, and hair color in her mind’s eye. “What happened?”
    “Cancer.” Brent kissed the top of her head. “There will be a memorial during the reunion for him.”
    Tippy felt bad she couldn’t remember his details, but she didn’t want to ask for a description. She tried to recall more of their classmates, and found they’d mostly faded to remnants of hairstyles and clothing choices. Outside of hanging out with a couple of nerdy friends, for the most part she stuck close to home. Just like she did now—well before Brent. And she’d never taken to social media outside of promoting her bookstore.
    A practicing shut-in, if not for her allergies, surely she’d own at least five cats by now.
    “A memorial will be nice,” Tippy commented.
    They cuddled together in silence, the TV playing in the background. They spent many evenings like this, and she couldn’t imagine life without Brent. Warning bells sounded, but she shut them off, despite a nagging bad feeling in her gut. He’ll break your heart. The voice sounded loud, and clear, but she ignored it, determined to hang on to this happiness as long as possible.
    ****
    She fit so perfectly in his arms while they cuddled on the couch. Brent nuzzled her hair, inhaling its clean apple shampoo scent. He had tried to convince himself that what he and Tippy shared was just hot sex, and nothing more. That it couldn’t be anything more profound. But he loved coming home to find her waiting for him at the end of a long trying day. He loved waking up, and having her snuggled close by his side in the mornings. He even loved how grumpy she was, until she had her morning cup of coffee.
    He couldn’t keep denying what grew within him. Love.
    It scared him that Tippy held so much control over his heart, but in their relationship she held the power. She was an enigma, at times she seemed to share in his feelings, but at other times he sensed her putting distance between them. He wasn’t willing to voice what he felt out loud. He’d face down a maniac wielding a gun, but he couldn’t say I love you to the little redhead at his side.
    She’d put ideas into his head. Notions he hadn’t had before—kids, a wife, a home that wasn’t simply a bachelor pad to crash in. Having someone there to distract him from his stressful career. Someone who could hold an intelligent conversation, and shared his views. The things that Tippy provided him. Things he was coming to rely on.
    “Oh, Tippy,” he whispered to her sleeping form snuggled against him. “You’ve done a number on me.”
     

Chapter 7
     
    Music greeted Tippy and Brent as soon as they stepped out of Brent’s SUV. Tippy swiped her sweaty palms on her dress before taking Brent’s hand. She hated the idea of seeing all of her old classmates again. A bunch of posers trying to seem more