Strangely Normal by Tess Oliver Page B

Doolittle are going to Cole’s get together.”
    “Your sister wants to see Max, and I’m not opposed to a party.”
    “Some of Cole’s friends are real asshats. And the girls are pretty damn venomous.”
    I looked over at him. “Judge much?”
    “It’s not a judgment. It’s a fact. I’ll bet you don’t last one hour with his friends before you go scurrying back to your room.”
    “I’m not that delicate. I can handle some venom.” I lifted my head and grinned over at him. “But if you care to make a wager—”
    “I never turn down a good bet.” He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. His sudden nearness flustered me, and I had to consciously control my breathing.
    His hungry gaze drifted from my lips down to my thighs as if he could feel my bare skin with his eyes. That paper bag was sounding better and better.
    “So what are we wagering?” he asked, looking far more intrigued than he should have, which only flustered me more.
    “If I stay longer than an hour, even one minute longer, then you have to give me a ride on your motorcycle.” I’d always been crazy about motorcycles, and this seemed like an opportunity to live out a dream and ride one.
    “Easy enough.” He caressed my skin with his heated gaze one more time. “And if you leave before one hour then you have to model for one of my paintings.”
    “You’d really want me to pose for you? Wait, would I be naked?”
    “Not completely.”
    It took me a moment to respond. I would just have to suffer through Cole’s asshat friends for sixty minutes. There was no way I could lose.” I stuck out my hand. “It’s a bet. I better shine up my motorcycle boots.”
    “We’ll see.”
    Our handshake lingered overlong. I slid my fingers from his grasp and he stood. He fished in his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. Then he held it between his thumb and forefinger as he squinted down at me through a thin veil of smoke. His silent stare was enough to heat every inch of my already sunbathed skin. I shifted nervously on the lounge.
    “How do you like my new suit? Finley picked it out.”
    He continued to look at me as he took a long draw on his cigarette and blew out the smoke. “Once again, Valley, I wasn’t looking at the suit.” He walked away, and I slid my hands beneath my thighs to stop the trembling.
    ***
    Finely tried on eight different outfits for the party before finally deciding on the pair of skinny jeans and top she’d tried on the first time. I, on the other hand, had only one pair of jeans decent enough to wear in front of a large number of people making my wardrobe decision quite simple. Sometimes less is better.
    Finley also checked her hair and make-up enough times in the mirror that even I was beginning to question her mascara application.
    “You look beyond adorable, Finley. Stop fretting. Besides if Max is as cool as you say, he doesn’t sound like the type who will be turned off if you’re wearing too much lip gloss.”
    Her hand flew to her mouth. “Shit, am I wearing too much lip gloss? I knew I went too crazy with the applicator.” She reached for a tissue, but I grabbed her hand.
    “The gloss is fine but something tells me if we spend much more time getting ready, the party will be over.”
    She waved that suggestion away. “Cole’s parties last until dawn or until everyone passes out. Whichever comes first.”
    “Will Jude be there?” My question immediately solicited a raised eyebrow of interest from Finley.
    “Maybe. Why do you ask?”
    “No reason.” I hadn’t mentioned the bet to Finley, and now I was attempting to convince myself that the wager was my only motive behind the question.
    “Uh huh, I see.” A small smile creased her cheek.
    “Not every question has a hidden meaning.” I opened the door and ushered her out to the hallway before she had a chance to rethink her bracelets.
    “No,” Finley said slyly, “but that one did.”
    I decided to ignore her teasing.