Deceitfully (Sinfully Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

advice? Stop looking and let it happen organically. Oh, and look for engagement and wedding rings. You probably shouldn’t put too much effort into those ones.” Winking, she showed off the huge ass ring on her left ring finger, and I could only nod in response.
    “Noted. I feel like a jackass. I’m really sorry.” I put the book back that I had in my hand and felt awkward walking away just then. I was making a fool out of myself, but she was being sweet about it.
    “It’s okay. You seem like you could be a sweetheart and are hot as hell. If I was single, your flirting might have definitely worked, but in the back of my head, I’d be questioning your agenda. Give it time, Tate. Don’t try so hard, though.” She came in and gave me a light hug, but her hands moved down to my lower back and around to my abs before she was finished. “Fuck. Ryan had better be happy that I’m a faithful woman. Your body is so hard and—rigid. Whoever you end up with is damn lucky.” She bit her lip and she looked me up and down. Standing there, staring back at Brianna, I again felt out of place.
    Her advice was spot on, and I intended to take it seriously, but with her looking at me like she was planning something naughty, she was sending me mixed signals.
    “Thank you? I work at a gym so if I didn’t have the definition that I do, I’d be doing something wrong. And thank you for the advice. I’ll try not trying for a while and see how it works out for me.” I held my hand out to shake her hand and she looked up with a question in her eyes.
    “Can you lift your shirt? I felt them, but I am dying to see them, too. Just to give me a little memory before I head off to married life,” she asked, all giddy.
    Now I was the one laughing and couldn’t believe how the day was turning out. The old Tate wouldn’t mind showing off, and while I was tempted, I knew it wouldn’t be for the benefit of either of us. Winking, I told her, “Maybe I’m saving those for someone special. It was nice meeting you, Brianna. Your fiancé has great taste in women, by the way. See you around.” Backing up a few steps, I watched as she took one last look, and I turned to walk away. I needed to get back to work, and I felt like I hadn’t wasted away the day now.
    Pushing open the door, I felt better about my situation and kept repeating to myself to let it happen naturally.
     

     
    OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I focused on spending quality time with friends and really thinking about where my future was headed. I did things that made me happy and tried being more helpful to others, putting forth more effort to be nice to those around me. I felt so much better about my life in general compared to how I was just a few weeks ago.
    Before I realized it, it was Friday night and the reunion was planned for the next day. I didn’t mind going solo; I wasn’t up for pretending to be settled down. Cylas, Graham, and I had agreed on no dates to leave the night open for opportunities. Trevor and Matt would be the happily taken men of our group. I’d gotten a haircut the day before and as I lay in bed, I wondered how things would have been if Payton and I had worked out.
    Would we have gotten married? Had kids? I smiled at the thought of seeing her with her sweet little Emilynn. That baby was the spitting image of her mother and they were inseparable. Motherhood looked good on her, and she was truly happy. I might not get to see her often, but the pictures she sent of the family and our weekly chats helped to keep us connected.
    Looking back over the past couple years, Payton and I had a rollercoaster of a friendship, but we’d stood the test of time. While I settled into friend mode with her, we had that weird bond that allowed us to remain friends, even after our kinky nights together in Vegas. Hell, she invited me to her baby shower and wedding. That definitely showed how far we’d come into the friend zone. As far as female friends went, I couldn’t have