Completion Chapter 148

While I was trying not to check out his body, he didn’t have the sa problem. He gazed at my breasts a few seconds longer than he’d ever done before. I had my babies tucked in tight with no cleavage showing, so I wasn’t sure why he stared so long.

"Do friends stare like that?" I couldn’t help asking because heat was traveling to my cheeks.

"This friend does. You look nice." He gave a crooked grin.

Nice. That was good, right? So why stare at my boobs? I didn’t get it. His eyes were now on mine and I appreciated his baby blues again.

"Do you need to grab your bag?"

"Yes, I never go anywhere without it." I walked over to collect it off the dresser. "Do you mind if I ask where you’re taking ."

"The lake."

Um, no. "As in swimming?"

"If you like, but it’s not exactly what I had planned." He continued with the sa grin and his eyes twinkled just a bit.

"I didn’t pack a swimsuit and I’d rather not buy one. It tends to be a major ordeal finding sothing that fits." I was kinda rambling when I noticed his eyes back at my chest.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Joel? There’s not much there to see."

Good, his cheeks tinged pink. "That’s the problem. What did you do with them?" He actually looked mystified. "There was more there yesterday morning and last night. It surprised because I didn’t notice them much the first couple of tis I saw you."

"I hide them."

"Why?"

I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation while we stood in my hotel room. "Can we just go, please?"

"Sure, but this conversation’s not over."

He was so embarrassingly frustrating. "Yes, it is. We’re friends, rember?"

"That’s exactly why it’s not over. Friends don’t hide." He took my hand and practically dragged to his truck- no, I was wrong. This was a sports car, an older model silver Corvette.

"What year?" I whispered in reverence.

"78 Anniversary Edition. She’s mint, all original."

"Where did you find her?"

"At a car auction a few years back. I paid premium, but it’s one of the rare tis I spoiled myself."

"Did you na her?" I asked as he assisted into my seat.

He laughed. "Buckle up, and no. Would you like the honor?"

"Let think about it. You know my hair will be a ss by the ti we reach the lake."

Joel walked around and got in the driver’s side. "You’ll find a scarf in the glove box and a pair of sunglasses if you need them."

I opened the glove box and pulled out a brightly colored scarf. I had prescription sunglasses in my bag. Having never tied a scarf around my head, it took a minute. Darn it, no mirror on the back of the visor. I turned to Joel. "What do you think?"

"It was my mother’s and it looks just as lovely on you."

Shit. My heart fell into my stomach. Joel touched my chin and tilted my face back toward him. "It’s okay. You would have liked my mom."

He was going to make cry. All the emotional turmoil from the last two days pressed down on my shoulders. Joel was a nice guy and his brother was a jerk. Why oh why did I have sex with Van?

Joel started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. Two minutes on the main road and I noticed his grin right before he spoke. "So about your breasts?"

From almost tears to laughter in sixty seconds. I was glad I couldn’t cancel our plans. I gave Joel my best exaggerated sigh. "Friends do not talk about each other’s breasts."

"We can discuss mine all you want. And don’t think I’m stupid, I’ve heard won talk. Believe I think they discuss their bodies as much as n discuss their bodies."

He had a point, but it had been years since I had girlfriends to chat with. "Yeah, maybe, but you’re not my girlfriend, Joel, so it doesn’t work that way with us." I needed to get his mind off my breasts.

"And what’s the differencegirlfriend, boyfriend. Please tell ."

"Boyfriend won’t work either. We’re just friends." I gave an exasperated sigh.

"Semantics. I’m wondering about all kinds of things here. Were your breasts removed for so reason and you wear false ones. Am I losing my mind and I only imagined them? Things like that. A true friend would put out of my misery."

The wind whipped across my face, the sun ward my skin, and I laughed long and hard. He was a nut. "I’m wearing a tight athletic bra that holds them in, if you must know. Not that it’s any of your business. Friends," and I put a lot of emphasis on that word, "have boundaries."

"Doesn’t it hurt?"

Argh, more laughter escaped . "I’ve been doing it for years. Large breasts are not all they’re cracked up to be. Back problems- sagging- believe , I’d exchange them for a firm pair of B’s any day."

He groaned. "You know you’re killing , right?"

"No, why?"

"Large breasts. I like them even on friends."

I laughed so hard my side hurt and I had trouble getting out my next words, "Yeah, I noticed so of your guy friends have large breasts too."

The unmarred side of his face, which was facing , tipped up in a gorgeous smile. "So you like large breasts too?"

My laughter never stopped. "This is a ridiculous conversation and we need to change the subject. I will no longer discuss breasts or man boobs with you."

He turned back to the road. "Fair enough, but I need to warn you that I’ll have nightmares about tortured breasts tonight. I promise not to sleep well and I’ll be grumpy tomorrow."

"So noted." I had to change this conversation. "Tell about the restaurant."

"Which one?"

I couldn’t help my surprise. "You own more than one?"

"Two to be exact."

"Is it called The Steak House? Sorry but I didn’t catch the na."

"You’re close. Jack’s Steak House. My brother and I own that one jointly. We helped finance the original owner, Jack. He died of a heart attack two years ago and left us the property. We also own a little more than fifty percent of The Slam Tavern."

I tried not to appear shocked. "I had no idea. What about other businesses?"

"Just the team. We’ve put almost everything there. Soday it will pay off."

"I hope it does." We drove for a while in a comfortable silence. Being with Joel was very different than how I felt with his brother. Whereas Van made nervous; Joel had relaxing. I fought the urge to stare at his arms on the steering wheel. His arms would lead to his chest and I’d be a goner. The sound and feel of the wind against my face was so intoxicating that I was unaware of when I dozed off.