Secret Tastes (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 4) by Miranda P. Charles Page B

because of Adam."
    "Why did Sandy do the inviting?" Sam couldn't help asking.
    Trey shrugged. "She's one of Bella's closest friends. Maybe she's helping Bella organise it."
    "Oh, I didn't know that," she responded. "Did Adam meet Sandy through Bella?"
    "Yes. She introduced them to each other," Trey confirmed. "You know what, Sam? You should go with Adam as his date."
    Sam stared at Trey, finding herself silently agreeing with him.
    "You think Sandy hasn't given up yet?" Kris asked.
    Trey snorted. "Not by a long shot."
    "Why do you think Adam kept taking her back before?" Sam asked, trying to sound casual.
    Trey sighed. "Well, I think if you're a single guy, and a hot woman keeps on throwing herself at you, you're bound to feel flattered and give in. Sandy is the most persistent girl I know when it comes to chasing after a man. I guess there's something about her persistence that keeps Adam from totally cutting ties. Unfortunately, she's also immature, materialistic and shallow."
    Sam felt a tightening in her chest. Maybe Sandy had been right when she'd called her a cold fish. Compared to Sandy, she was far too timid—always waiting for the guy to act first. She didn't even initiate a call to Adam when she was in Melbourne, even though she'd pined for him badly. She just wasn't used to being obvious about her feelings—and not at all experienced in chasing men.
    It appeared Adam was used to being pursued. Was he waiting for her to make the move? Had he thought she was no longer interested and therefore kept his distance? Or—hell—did he find her boring?

    *******

    "You can go back to work. We'll clean up here," Kris said to Trey after they finished dinner.
    "Thanks, babe. I'll only be another hour and I'll be done," Trey said and gave Kris a quick kiss on the lips before disappearing into his home office.
    "Um, Kris," Sam said as she loaded the dishwasher. "Do you think Adam's still hung up on Sandy?"
    Kris glanced at her. "I don't think so from what I've seen and heard from the boys. Why?"
    "I was just wondering. I find it unbelievable that Sandy's still hanging on even after Adam has told her many times they were over. It makes me think that Sandy knows Adam's weakness when it comes to her. Something's making her confident that she could always get him back."
    Kris shrugged. "I don't know. I think Sandy's just too attached to the lifestyle Adam was able to give her. I do believe Sandy has feelings for him, but gosh, Adam can do better. A lot better. Sandy's an absolute stunner but that's about it."
    "So what do you think he saw in her then, apart from her looks?"
    Kris laughed. "Adam's a man, Sam. With a bombshell like Sandy chasing after him, I'm sure his dick made his decision for him more than a few times."
    Sam couldn't help the frustrated sigh that escaped her. Side by side, she was sure Sandy would win a beauty contest between the two of them. Sandy was glamorous and Sam was… practical. What was even more worrying was that someone as shameless as Sandy would no doubt be completely uninhibited in bed. How could she compete with that?
    "Ahem."
    Startled, she glanced at her cousin and her cheeks pinked. Kris was staring at her with arms folded across her chest. She'd been so lost in her thoughts that she was just standing there, holding used cutlery in her hand.
    "I do believe there's something going on that you're not telling me," Kris said quietly. Too quietly. Her cousin meant business.
    Sam filled her lungs before exhaling with a whoosh. "I've got a crush on Adam," she blurted out.
    Kris gasped. "Really?"
    "Yup."
    "Since when?"
    "Since I saw how hot he was that first time we met him at Kane and Jazzie's."
    "Oh my God, Sam. That was ages ago! And you've been keeping this to yourself?"
    "It wasn't too bad in the past. It was only lately that it's gotten stronger."
    "Wow." Kris' eyes were round as saucers. "Knowing you, you haven't even let him know, have you?"
    "Oh, he knows I'm attracted to him."
    "How?"
    She