Read Online Almost in Love by Kylie Gilmore - Free Book Online Page B

basically. He had a lot of time to make up for in his celibate state, and he’d had a perpetual hard-on for Amber since the day they met.
    He thought about the other C, confidence. They had mentioned confidence in Cosmo when he stumbled upon an issue online. He’d tried that with the whole looking-good thing, though, and it hadn’t helped.
    Barry’s shoulders slumped. “It’s hard to have confidence when you keep getting shot down.” Or when you watch an alpha have clothes-on sex with your date on the dance floor , he added silently.
    Ian got up and helped himself to a glass of water. “You gotta act like you’re all that. Then they’ll want some. Got any chips?”
    “There’s pretzels in the cabinet next to the fridge.”
    Ian made a face, but grabbed the bag of pretzels anyway. “Wait, I got it. Remember how you had those girls all over you senior year when you starred in Grease ?”
    “Yeah.”
    Ah, memories. It wasn’t just The Pink Ladies and Sandy all over him. Half the girls in the senior class had a crush on him when he played Danny. He was that good. Of course, once the show was over, he was back to being regular old computer-nerd Barry. His girlfriend, Becky, who’d played Sandy, dumped him right after the cast party on the last night of the show. He’d been in love with her, and she’d been in love with Danny. Heartbroken, he’d moped around the house for a month.
    Ian spoke around a mouthful of pretzels. “Do something like that.”
    He shoved a hand through his hair. “I haven’t done any theater since high school. I’m too rusty.”
    “You’ve got the chops. Just find some community theater, rehearse a bit, and audition.” Ian snapped his fingers. “Women galore. Especially if it’s Grease .”
    “Maybe,” Barry allowed.
    “You got any better ideas?”
    “Nope.”
    “All right, then, we’ve got a plan. Theater equals confidence. I’m starving. Let’s go grab a bite.”
    “Sure.”
    They headed out the door and passed Amber and Daisy O’Hare on their way in.
    “Hi, Barry, how are you?” Daisy asked. She wore a tank top that showed her pregnant belly and a flowing skirt that ended at her ankles.
    “Good. How are you?” He glanced at Amber, who immediately turned away. First step, get the woman to look at you.
    “Who is this pretty lady?” Ian asked with a charming smile as he got up close and personal with Daisy.
    “Daisy,” Barry said, “meet my brother Ian. And this is Amber.”
    Ian only had eyes for Daisy. He lifted her hand and kissed it. “I hope to see a lot more of you, beautiful.”
    Daisy raised a brow. Barry pulled his brother away from Daisy. “She’s married and pregnant. Move on.”
    Daisy shook her head and smiled. “Thanks anyway, cutie.”
    “How are you?” Barry asked Amber.
    “Fine.” Amber’s expression was hard to read, not angry, but not friendly either.
    Ian turned his attention to Amber, his eyes lingering on her bare midriff. “You are smokin’. Woo!”
    Amber’s eyes flashed. “Get lost, twerp.”
    “Feisty, I like it,” Ian said with a grin.
    A smile tugged at her lips. “Shut up,” she said with no real force behind it.
    Barry pulled his brother down the hall toward the stairs. “We’ll see you later.”
    Ian stopped and turned. “Hey, you ladies want to grab a bite?”
    Daisy giggled. “No, thanks. Bye!”
    The brothers headed downstairs and out to the parking lot. Barry waited until they were in the car to ream his brother out.
    “Didn’t I tell you Amber was the one I was interested in?” he barked.
    “Yeah, so?”
    “So that was Amber you were flirting with!”
    He pulled out of the lot and headed to Eastman for dinner. He wouldn’t stand a chance with Amber if Ian was going for her too.
    “That was the Amber?” Ian asked. “She’s hot.”
    “No kidding.”
    “No offense, bro, but she’s way out of your league.”
    “Thanks.”
    “She lives across the hall?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay if I hit