Read Online Straddling the Fence by Annie Evans - Free Book Online Page A

with us for sharing that amongst
ourselves. It won’t go any further, I swear. And for the record, Eli didn’t
divulge any sordid details, just said the same thing you basically did, and
that he was disappointed when he came back to the room and you were gone.”
    “He says he left a note, and I do believe him, but to be
honest, I didn’t look for one. When I woke up alone, I thought—”
    “That he’d slunk out to avoid facing you in the morning.”
    “The walk of shame, yeah.”
    “Except that’s not what either of you intended,” Kai said.
    “Well, I went into it with no expectations, or so I told
myself. It didn’t feel that way the next morning, though. I was disappointed
too, when he wasn’t there.”
    “So now that you’ve hopefully sorted the miscommunication
part out, what’s the problem?”
    “Three condoms,” Bellamy said bluntly. “I’ve never known a
man to carry three condoms around with him. One, I totally get. Two…maybe. But three ?
Come on.”
    “You think Eli’s a player?”
    Bellamy frowned at the harsh word. “Not a player, no, but a
natural-born charmer? Yeah. And I know that sounds hypocritical, given the
nature of the night we spent together. I mean, I was there too, and I sure as
hell wasn’t resisting. ’Course, I can’t see how any single woman in her right
mind would push Eli away. But I just can’t help where my thoughts went. That’s
my own insecurities showing, I guess. Manifesting themselves in three used
condoms and an empty motel room after a night of mind-blowing sex.”
    “I imagine it’s pretty normal to go there after thinking he
ditched you. Maybe it’s some sort of self-protective reflex kicking in. You
probably don’t make a habit out of having one-night stands.”
    “I might’ve had a couple while in college, but that’s it.
And the guys never up and disappeared on me afterward.”
    Kai nodded. “Try the apple butter.”
    Bellamy scooped some onto a cracker and popped it into her
mouth. The flavors of apple, spices, sugar and vanilla exploded across her
taste buds. She hummed her approval and polished off the rest of the sample
with another cracker.
    “I understand your worries, Bellamy, and I think they’re
merited, all things considered. But Eli is…something special.” A genuine look
of deep affection stole across Kai’s face. “He’s sweet and easygoing and
hardworking. Honestly, between him, Fritz and Sage, you won’t find better men.
Now—is he oversexed? Absolutely. And I think it’s because girls have been
throwing themselves at him since grade school.”
    “I don’t doubt that.”
    “A lot of how boys handle that sort of thing lies in their
personalities. Fritz is quieter and more subdued with the charm and
flirtatiousness. Sage is practically a recluse when he’s not working, yet he
still manages to get himself laid quite often, from what I hear. Eli is
outgoing and quick with the come-ons. Sexual confidence rolls off him in waves.
When the teenage hormones kicked in and the girls started responding, he ran
with it instead of shying away. Unfortunately, it makes you wonder if he knows
how to connect with someone on a deeper level. That might be what you’re
wondering—should I take a risk and trust that he’s not playing games with me?”
    “That’s exactly what I’m asking myself.”
    “And I can’t answer that for you, although my gut says no.
All I can tell you for sure is, I’ve never known him to say two words
about a girl he’s been with in the past, good or bad. The fact that he’s
opened up to Fritz about you speaks volumes.”
    Bellamy finished the yummy peach wine then sighed. “I like
him a lot, Kai.”
    “He’s a really great guy, and I’m not saying that just
because he’s my future brother-in-law. I’ve known Eli since we were kids. He’s
always been that way.”
    Bellamy’s intuition told her the same thing. Now if she
could only convince her heart to listen. “Let me see your engagement