Slade had wanted to do a victory dance when her date had got up and left. He sat down in her sitting room, waiting for his iced cold beer that she’d promised him. His shoes were already kicked off, and he placed his feet on the coffee table in front of him.

They had sat in her sitting room many times eating a box of cheesy chips, and drinking a cold beer.

Cassie entered, carrying two bottles of beer, and a tub of chocolate ice cream.

“Hold on a second.”

He watched as she kicked her shoes off and sighed as she made her way toward him. She handed him a beer and a spoon, taking a seat beside him. Her bottle of beer was on the coffee table. Her feet were curled up underneath her. She rested the ice cream tub on a pillow, and then they were diving in.

“I don’t even know why I let myself be talked into it.”

“You wanted to date,” he said.

“That wasn’t it.”

Slade looked at her, and he saw her cheeks were already bright red. “You can’t just say something like that and not elaborate. I’m a guy. I don’t know what the whole blushing thing means.”

“It doesn’t matter. Forget I said anything.”

He sighed. “What is it? If it wasn’t for the date, then what was it for?”

She took a bite of chocolate ice cream, and her brown eyes stared at him. He saw the conflict in her gaze, and he held his hands up.

“You can say whatever you like, and I won’t judge. I won’t say anything. I’ll keep my opinions to myself.”

“You promise?”

“I promise. I don’t say shit I don’t mean.”

She bit her lip, and he watched as she squared her shoulders. “I’m twenty-five years old.”

“I know.”

“I’ve only been with one guy, and he completely smashed my heart.”

Slade stared at her. “You’re looking for someone to fuck?”

She nodded her head, surprising him. “I’m a woman. I have needs just like everyone else. I don’t want, nor do I need, forever. I just … I want to make memories, different ones than what I remember with Andrew. He wasn’t that great, and I was blinded by lies. I want to feel something. I heard you with those women out back. It sounded like it felt good, and I guess, I don’t know, I figured I’d find someone to do it with.”

Slade honestly didn’t know what to say. His cock was rock fucking hard. Hearing Cassie’s need, and knowing what she wanted, it turned him on.

Sitting at the bar tonight watching her with another man, it had made him assess his own feelings for her. He wasn’t in love with her, and he didn’t for a second see a marriage in their future. She was his friend, and he didn’t want that to change.

What he couldn’t do was deny that she aroused him. He was attracted to her, and had been for a long time, even before they were friends.

Putting his hand on her thigh, he stared into her eyes.

She was never going to take that next step, and it was down to him to make the move. He took the ice cream and the pillow from her, placing them on the floor.

Cassie didn’t stop him.