Read Rookie Mistake (California Dreamers #4) for Free Online

my mom, but I really don’t want to admit I had a casual hookup. I know she’ll be disappointed in me.
    “I was really upset about Noah dumping me, so Zoe took me to a country bar and I met someone.”
    Her eyes narrow. “ Met someone?”
    Biting the bullet I blurt, “We spent the night together.”
    There it is: the look of disappointment. It’s covering her face. She had the same look on her face when I told her I got accepted to the police academy. I’m not sure why she was surprised that I wanted to become a cop. It’s all I ever talked about since I was little. Maybe she thought after my dad was shot in the line of duty that I’d change my mind. If anything it made my desire to become a police officer even stronger.
    Oddly I don’t feel bad about my decision to sleep with CJ. I thought I’d feel guilt or shame, but I don’t. The only thing I feel is a twinge of sadness about the look on his face when I told him I didn’t want to see him again.
    “I’m not going to pretend to know what you’re going through,” my mom tells me. “I was married to your father before I turned twenty. I got married to Ed six months after your father was killed. My entire adult life I’ve been a married woman. I’m sure you had your reasons for doing what you did.”
    She makes it sound like I committed a crime.
    “Are you going to see this man again?” she asks.
    I shake my head.
    She places her hand on my arm. “I’m sure you’ll find someone who will make you happy.”
    I’m glad she thinks so. As I inch closer to thirty I’m not that convinced.
    ***
    “So?” Zoe asks as she brushes the long haired Chihuahua in her lap. “How did it go?”
    “Brunch with my family? It was the same as it is every Sunday.”
    She eyes me. “You know what I mean. Was the cowboy any good at tickling your tunnel?”
    “He’s not a cowboy. He actually lives in my neighborhood and listens to jazz. My tunnel was sufficiently tickled .”
    “I’m glad you had fun.”
    “Now it’s back to reality and the single life.”
    “You could take one of our new puppies to keep you warm on those lonely nights.”
    I shake my head. “Apparently I’m not home enough to take care of a man. At least according to Noah. I’m definitely not home enough to take care of a puppy.”
    “So I have this friend, who has a friend, who is single…”
    I put up a hand to stop her. “I’m not interested in being set up. I let you talk me into the one night stand and that was enough. I’m drawing the line right here.”
    I pantomime drawing a line in front of me to make my point.
    “I think I’m going to try some alone time for a while,” I add.
    “If the alone time turns to lonely time I can always set you up.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind.”
    I don’t want to admit to Zoe that I’ve been thinking about CJ a lot more than I should. On my way back from my family’s house I took the long way home just so I could drive by his apartment. His motorcycle was parked right out front.
    Zoe puts the dog brush down and crosses her arms in front of her. “What is it you’re not telling me?”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I feign innocence.
    “I can see it in your eyes. There’s a twinkle that wasn’t there yesterday. Do you like the cowboy?”
    I roll my eyes at her. “He isn’t a cowboy, okay. He’s just a regular guy.” I have to admit that I really don’t know what he does, other than he was previously in the military. I guess technically he could be a cowboy, but I doubt it.
    She looks me up and down. “You know you’re glowing.”
    I frown. “I am not.”
    “He must have been a fantastic fuck.”
    My face heats. “He was much better than average.”
    “He was so good he gave you a bang-over.”
    “A what?”
    “A bang-over ,” she repeats. “The aftereffects of a night of mind-blowing sex.”
    My body tingles just thinking about being with CJ. He was pretty incredible in the sack.
    I give a dismissive