Voyeur - Lacey Alexander [109]
Taking a deep breath, she hit reply.
Karen—so glad you like the book! I’m really proud of it and, like you, feel I know Riley even better than I did before writing it. About Sloane, I’m not sure. I had envisioned Riley being changed by their affair—perhaps more outgoing, more sexually confident, and more determined than ever to prove herself—but I hadn’t considered bringing him back in the future. Let me mull it over. Laura
She sighed at having been forced to think about Braden this early in the morning. Not even 8 A.M., and there he was, on the brain, where he would likely stay all day now. She sometimes thought he filled her thoughts as much as he had when she’d been at the house in Vail. The only difference was, instead of being able to fuck him at night, she only lay down in her bed and remembered. Every touch. Every penetration. Every spine-tingling, soul-stirring kiss.
The next e-mail she opened was from Monica.
Well? Are you going out with the Starbucks dude?
Laura actually shivered. A cute guy who hung at the Starbucks a few blocks away had asked her out last week, and she hadn’t exactly given him an answer, even as Monica had stood elbowing her and telling the guy how much Laura loved Mexican food.
A couple of months ago, she would have definitely accepted the invitation. He was good-looking, had a great smile, and whatever he did for a living, it required wearing a well-cut suit and tie. But for some reason she hadn’t been able to put her finger on, she’d hesitated, telling him she’d have to get back to him. Now, having thought about it, she could put her finger on what the problem was—she didn’t feel especially comfortable with the idea of anyone touching her but Braden. And since dating customarily led to touching, it just seemed like a bad idea.
She e-mailed Monica back.
I don’t think so.
The next thing she knew, an IM box popped up from her friend.
SEXYPSYCHIATRIST: Are you out of your freaking mind? He’s a total hottie.
RILEY: I’m just . . . not into dating anyone right now.
SEXYPSYCHIATRIST: Oh God. Please don’t tell me you’re hung up on my cousin.
Laura sighed. Then lied. RILEY: It’s not that. It’s just that I need a break from guys. First there was David. Then Braden. I’m not ready for another big thing just yet.
SEXY PSYCHIATRIST: Hmm, let’s see. You’d broken up with David at least a month before Braden came along. And it’s been a few weeks since you came home from Vail. And I’m not sure a date qualifies as a “big thing.”
Whereas Laura would normally just continue to argue, she instead stopped to consider Monica’s words. She’d hoped her affair with Braden would make her bolder, more outgoing—not less so. And yet, she was turning Mr. Starbucks down for no good reason. And Monica was right—he was a hottie. Not as hot as Braden, certainly, but still a very handsome guy. And unlike Braden, she did want to marry someday, and for all she knew, Mr. Starbucks would turn out to be her soul mate.
RILEY: Okay, you talked me into it.
The screen stayed blank for longer than usual before Monica’s answer popped up. SEXY PSYCHIATRIST: Okay, now I’m scared. Since when do you see reason?
RILEY: Since now. The next time I see the coffee hottie, I’ll tell him yes.
SEXY PSYCHIATRIST: Wow! That’s my girl.
She still didn’t really want to tell him yes, deep down inside. But she doubted Braden was sitting around pining over her—so maybe it was time to really be Riley. Riley wasn’t going to let Sloane’s departure hold her back—she was going to let their affair change her for the better. Laura felt a fresh determination to do the same thing, her heart be damned.
Braden opened his eyes—fresh from a nice, naughty dream—and turned in bed expecting to find Laura beside him.
But the space next