Going for Broke: Oakland Hills Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Friends with Benefits) by Gretchen Galway, Lucy Riot Page A

he brushed the bottom hem of her robe. “I wish I’d known earlier.”
    “Known what?”
    “That you’re attracted to me.”
    Her heart skipped. Hoping he couldn’t see her hands shaking, she poured the boiling water into her mug. “I’m not. I told you. You caught me off guard. It’s late, I’m tired, I responded.”
    “You forgot to put a tea bag in your mug,” he said.
    “You’re too full of yourself,” she replied, maneuvering out from behind him, her mug of hot water clutched in her fist. She saluted him with it. “I happen to love hot water. It’s the ultimate decaf.”
    “You’re nervous.”
    “Sure I am. You show up here late at night and make your moves and confuse me. That makes me nervous.”
    His smile returned, and with it a twinkle in his dark blue eyes. “Well, better late than never.” His gaze fell to her robe, sliding over it from head to toe as if it were a transparent negligee, before he nodded and walked out of the room. “Get some sleep. I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
    She lifted her mug to her lips and inhaled the steam. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. She should insist he not come again, that the repairs were her problem and that she didn’t want him around.
    But then she heard the door slam.
    Too late. He was gone.
    Closing her eyes, she sipped the water, still too hot to drink but not as hot as Ian’s lips had been.
    She couldn’t let this go any further. Jane might have a boyfriend, but the dude was the third guy she’d dated since high school who wasn’t even likable. It was as if Jane were intentionally choosing men she’d never love or marry. As if she were still pining for her high school sweetheart, the only man she’d ever loved.
    And who could ever top Ian Cooper?
    Top… bottom… sordid images spun through her addled brain.
    Billie hadn’t been joking about being a female organism quick to respond to sexual stimulus. That’s all this was about. Those broad shoulders, the high cheekbones, the dark hair curling just so around his ears, and those stunning ocean-blue eyes.
    Jane wasn’t the only one to make bad romantic choices. Billie’s own track record was terrible, and her downfall always began with a kiss.
    This time would be different.
    It would be.

Chapter 15
    T he next morning , Ian pressed the doorbell, trying not to smile too broadly. He was more than ready to see her again.
    He’d never been the type for regrets. Kissing her had been a bad idea, but he’d done it. And yes, there would be painful times ahead, littered with disappointed mothers and disgusted sisters, but he would work very, very hard to make those times as far in the future as possible.
    He’d felt her respond to him. Those few hot moments last night had forever shattered the fragile illusion that they were friends. They couldn’t stop now and pretend they could go back to the way they were. It was too late; they’d crossed the line. Since they’d have to pay the social price anyway, they should enjoy each other now as much as they could.
    The lock clicked, and the door began to open. He knew better than to anticipate hot pants and nipples. She’d probably wear some daytime version of the Ewok robe to send him a message, one he’d ignore.
    “Hi,” she said, frowning so hard he could barely see her eyeballs.
    He didn’t try to hide his smile. Baggy jeans, a black fleece sweatshirt zipped up to her chin, bulky sheepskin boots. Her hair, every silky strand, was swept back into a tight ponytail and hidden under a baseball cap. She wore no makeup, no contact lenses. The frames perched on her nose were silver wire, not particularly flattering, more like an elderly man’s reading glasses.
    But her face was flushed a dusky rose.
    She’d never been sexier. He took a moment to remember the taste of her lips.
    Lifting her chin, she deepened her scowl. Her eyes completely disappeared. “What are you staring at?”
    Marco and Shawn were still at the pickup,