Pure Lust Vol. 1 by M. S. Parker, Cassie Wild Read Free Book Online Page B

things.”
    I shot him a look. “You clearly haven’t seen me walking then.”
    “Oh, I have.” He smiled slowly. “I’m still amazed.”
    Still holding onto my hand, he led me to the other side of the car and opened the door, helping me inside. He didn’t let go. Kendra’s eyes drifted closed and I sat there, not knowing what to do, sure I would screw everything up at any moment.
    “I can’t let you leave without you giving me your number.” He finally released my hand, but he didn’t close the door.
    “Really?” I asked.
    “Please.” He gave me another charming smile. “I’ll call tomorrow.”
     
     
     

Chapter Six
    In the blinding morning light, I realized the end of the night was probably a champagne-fueled dream. It was entirely possible that my over-active imagination made up the pleasant story in place of reality. In real life, Kendra had gotten sick halfway home and there had been nothing of the entire ride that had smacked of a fairytale. She was going to be pissed when she got the bill from the car company. And when she saw her purse.
    The driver had helped me get Kendra upstairs and dump her on the couch. I’d made sure she was on her side, put a wastebasket next to the couch, and draped a blanket over her. All I remembered after that was turning the volume all the way up on my phone and falling asleep with my make-up still on. I was pretty sure I’d managed to get my dress off.
    Now, as I pried my sticky eyes open, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, I was certain I had imagined Edward. There was a good possibility that, when she regained consciousness, Kendra would tell me I’d spent the night talking to a palm tree or other inanimate object. I hadn’t thought I’d been that drunk, but I must have been. How else could I make up something like the scenario that was running through my head?
    Why would Prince Charming want my number?
    I made it up. Okay. I know that so I can cut the disappointment short here and now .
    Since I’d made it up, it wasn’t like I was really expecting him to call, right? Of course, even if he was real, guys never really followed through on that kind of thing.
    “No wonder I’m losing faith in love.”
    Of course, speaking out loud made me lose faith in life—it just about made my head fall off.
    Oh, yeah. I’d had too much to drink last night.
    Then my phone rang, proving that point yet again as the sound cut through my head like an icepick, an icepick driven through by a sledgehammer.
    “Make it stop!” Kendra cried from the couch.
    I rolled out of bed, ignored my churning stomach, and crawled across the floor, digging under the rejected outfits from last’s night party preparations. Push-up bras, sequin dresses, costume jewelry, and a feather boa, but no phone.
    “Make it stop!”
    “I can’t find it. It’s like a drag show dressing room in here.” I winced as the phone rang again. Why had I turned up the ringer volume?
    Kendra knocked over a stack of bangle bracelets and grabbed my phone off the coffee table. She flung it towards my door and rolled over, groaning as she did so.
    “Hello?” I said breathlessly, not bothering to look at the caller ID before answering.
    “Good morning, Gabriella, this is Edward.”
    “You’re kidding.” I closed my eyes. I was such an idiot.
    “Kind of an odd joke, don’t you think?” He sounded amused.
    “I thought I dreamt you. Not all of you, just the last part when you asked for my number.” Oh, man…Gabs, just shut up! I shot Kendra a look. Was she awake? Coherent? She needed to be so she could stop me from saying stupid things.
    “It was pretty late.”
    “Or early, depending on how you look at it,” I said. “It’s still early.”
    “Depending on how you look at it, I suppose.”
    Now I was sure he was trying not to laugh at me.
    “It’s one in the afternoon.”
    He let me take that in for a few seconds. I squinted at the clock, unable to read the time.