Read Need You Tonight for Free Online Page B

here.”
    Heat rises to my cheeks. My mother always told me to overdress for an occasion as opposed to underdress. My blue pencil skirt and white blouse are certainly overdressed for this occasion. “I’ll wear jeans tomorrow.”
    “No, I don’t want you to wear jeans.” She holds up her hands and takes a breath. “You can wear jeans, if you want. But I wanted to say that you look very nice and professional. The pearls are extra nice.”
    I touch my necklace. “My husband gave them to me to wear on our wedding day.”
    She nods. “I thought so. Girls around here don’t wear stuff like that, unless they’re getting married or have a stick up their tail.”
    I pretend to examine my butt. “No stick.”
    “Good to know.” Rowan laughs. “Anyway, think about coming out with my friends and me Saturday night.”
    “ This Saturday night?”
    “Is there another Saturday night during the week?”
    “Ah, no. I mean yes… no,” Stammering, I stand up. It’s been so long since I’ve gone out with anyone that I don’t quite know what to say. “No, there isn’t another Saturday night, and yes, I would love to go out with you and your friends. I mean, I’ll check my schedule to be sure.” Is it even proper to go out with my boss for a girls’ night out? Should my boss invite me in the first place? Not that I expect a mechanic shop that gives second chances to felons to be rigid in employee/employer fraternization.
    “Just don’t dress so prissy, okay? Not even Piper wears pearls on a girls’ night out.” She winks to let me know she’s joking, even with her very serious tone.
    “Piper?”
    “My best friend. She’s like you, all prim and proper. You know, basically your Exhibit A southern belle. The two of you will love each other.”
    “I won’t take your friend away from you. I have friends.” And this is why I should have stopped with yes, thanks. I’d love to go .
    “Bring them, too.”
    My shoulders droop. “I can’t. They’re back in Jacksonville.” Or what’s left of them. Only Soon Lin and a few other ladies who’d experienced what I had had stuck around, but like me, they began to move away. One or two of them had remarried, but I can’t imagine a serious relationship with a guy, much less marriage.
    “Maybe next time.” Rowan turns the lights off and on a couple of times, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I’ll lock up.”
    “Thanks,” I say to her retreating form.
    I shuffle down the hallway, and then out to my SUV, my thoughts on all the women I used to hang out with. All the things I used to do back when I had a life. All the couple dates Braden and I used to go out on to the bowling alley, the Japanese restaurant, to concerts, and on beach trips. Our last trip had been when he’d come home for R&R.
    Warm kisses trail up my stomach, to my breasts where his hot tongue traces the areola. My nipple tightens. “Prettiest tits I’ve ever seen,” he breathes, and my fingers delve into his hair. “Going to be such a shame to cover these up with a bikini top.”
    “We could always stay in bed.” I bat my lashes at him. “Make love and sleep. All. Day. Long.”
    Rolling to his side, he throws an arm over his face and groans. “Can’t sleep, babe. Besides, you’re too damn sore.”
    He’s right on both accounts. Last night he’d barely let me up for air, and I’d enjoyed every minute of it.
    Suddenly, he turns back to me, fixing my bikini top before he hauls us out of bed. He throws me over his shoulder, smacking my butt before he opens the sliding glass doors.
    The surf pounds against the shore as he runs to the water. I push against his back and lift myself up, laughing as we go.
    “Ready?” he shouts, jumping over a sandcastle.
    “Ready,” I squeal, closing my eyes tight. I know what’s coming—the plunge, the cold water… the sharp intake of breath before the water goes over my head.
    “Don’t be afraid, B. I won’t let you drown.” He leaps into the water,