Read Online Three Little Words by Lauren Hawkeye - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lauren Hawkeye
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packet of the neon powdered drink mix and two plastic cups. I mixed the powder with water, then presented her a cup with a flourish.
“Thanks,” she said, lifting it to her lips for a sip. Her lips twisted into a grimace as she swallowed, one that she quite clearly fought to turn into a smile.
“What’s wrong with it?” Concerned, I chugged from my own cup, and promptly winced at the bitter taste. “What the fuck? Isn’t this shit supposed to be, like, pure sugar?”
Adele placed a hand in front of her lips, and for one tense moment I thought she was going to be sick. Then a giggle escaped her, and I realized that she was trying not to laugh.
“You have to add sugar to Kool-Aide. The drink mix, sugar and water.” She giggled again, then bravely took another sip. “It’s not that bad. Not if you’re expecting it.”
“Ugh. I’m sorry.” I glared at the offensive cup. I wished I had something better to offer her, some fancy wine or something. Oh, except she didn’t drink anymore.
Shit. I was so in over my head.
Incredibly, the crappy Kool-Aide seemed to have finally broken the ice. Adele leaned back into the couch, hugging her knees to her chest.
“Well, clearly culinary school is out. Guess I’ll stick to law.” I grinned, continuing to study her, slightly afraid that I was going to creep her out. But...
Something was really different about her, something beyond the obvious changes to her physical appearance, but it took a long moment before I could figure out what it was.
“You’re still forging ahead with law school, then?” She smiled, a look tinged with sadness. “You always did know what you wanted to do.”
“Yeah. It’s a good fit, I guess.” My heart felt it was being squeezed in a very unmanly way when I put words to my thoughts. I’d been surprised to find that law school was what I truly wanted to do, even once my dad’s wishes had been removed from the equation. And seeing Adele again was a similar realization.
I wanted her. I’d never stopped wanting her. And I didn’t care who knew it.
But she’d changed, and I had no idea what she was thinking. Once upon a time, this gorgeous woman had been carefree, her every movement easy and relaxed. Now she seemed guarded, tense even though she’d thawed a bit since entering my apartment.
I knew I had hurt her with our break up, but I wasn’t such an egocentric jerk that I thought my stupidity had caused that wariness.
Well, not all of it, anyway.
“And what about you? Are you working at the hospital?” I was referring to the general hospital that was a couple of miles away. A nursing student, she should be finished with school and employed in the field by now. Nurses were in high demand.
The thought of Adele in scrubs, a syringe in hand, was so hot it made me squirm in my seat. The scrubs I understood... the syringe, not so much.
Clearly I was a kinkier bastard than I’d thought.
I was caught up in the sexy mental picture, and didn’t notice the clouds forming over Adele’s face until the storm was ready to break.
“Nope. I’m not a nurse.” Her tone was completely flat—damn it, I was trying to be so careful, but I kept bumbling into things that were clearly touchy subjects.
“What?” I blurted, amazed. She might not have had her panties in a knot over grades like I had when we’d known each other before, but she’d been strong in her belief that nursing was what she was meant to do.
Her chin raised in
“Thanks,” she said, lifting it to her lips for a sip. Her lips twisted into a grimace as she swallowed, one that she quite clearly fought to turn into a smile.
“What’s wrong with it?” Concerned, I chugged from my own cup, and promptly winced at the bitter taste. “What the fuck? Isn’t this shit supposed to be, like, pure sugar?”
Adele placed a hand in front of her lips, and for one tense moment I thought she was going to be sick. Then a giggle escaped her, and I realized that she was trying not to laugh.
“You have to add sugar to Kool-Aide. The drink mix, sugar and water.” She giggled again, then bravely took another sip. “It’s not that bad. Not if you’re expecting it.”
“Ugh. I’m sorry.” I glared at the offensive cup. I wished I had something better to offer her, some fancy wine or something. Oh, except she didn’t drink anymore.
Shit. I was so in over my head.
Incredibly, the crappy Kool-Aide seemed to have finally broken the ice. Adele leaned back into the couch, hugging her knees to her chest.
“Well, clearly culinary school is out. Guess I’ll stick to law.” I grinned, continuing to study her, slightly afraid that I was going to creep her out. But...
Something was really different about her, something beyond the obvious changes to her physical appearance, but it took a long moment before I could figure out what it was.
“You’re still forging ahead with law school, then?” She smiled, a look tinged with sadness. “You always did know what you wanted to do.”
“Yeah. It’s a good fit, I guess.” My heart felt it was being squeezed in a very unmanly way when I put words to my thoughts. I’d been surprised to find that law school was what I truly wanted to do, even once my dad’s wishes had been removed from the equation. And seeing Adele again was a similar realization.
I wanted her. I’d never stopped wanting her. And I didn’t care who knew it.
But she’d changed, and I had no idea what she was thinking. Once upon a time, this gorgeous woman had been carefree, her every movement easy and relaxed. Now she seemed guarded, tense even though she’d thawed a bit since entering my apartment.
I knew I had hurt her with our break up, but I wasn’t such an egocentric jerk that I thought my stupidity had caused that wariness.
Well, not all of it, anyway.
“And what about you? Are you working at the hospital?” I was referring to the general hospital that was a couple of miles away. A nursing student, she should be finished with school and employed in the field by now. Nurses were in high demand.
The thought of Adele in scrubs, a syringe in hand, was so hot it made me squirm in my seat. The scrubs I understood... the syringe, not so much.
Clearly I was a kinkier bastard than I’d thought.
I was caught up in the sexy mental picture, and didn’t notice the clouds forming over Adele’s face until the storm was ready to break.
“Nope. I’m not a nurse.” Her tone was completely flat—damn it, I was trying to be so careful, but I kept bumbling into things that were clearly touchy subjects.
“What?” I blurted, amazed. She might not have had her panties in a knot over grades like I had when we’d known each other before, but she’d been strong in her belief that nursing was what she was meant to do.
Her chin raised in
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