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Max was nowhere to be found.
Instead, Everly stood on the farthest side of the black futon, looking through a bunch of bags, and on the opposite side…
She was here.
Grace Nolan.
She looked amazing. She always looked amazing. My stomach did a little flip-flop whenever she was in the room. And this time was no different.
Her dark jeans were tight in all the right places. Really the only place that mattered was her ass. That fabric hugged every curve of soft flesh I remembered as if we’d fucked just this morning. Her sweater was equally tight, the soft swell of her breasts accentuated by the light knit. She did a quick flip of her head, her auburn hair falling behind her shoulders, and I caught a tiny glimpse of her neck. My mouth watered. I knew exactly what that neck tasted like. Smelled like. What it was like to glide my fingers down the soft curve and fist my hand in her hair.
But I couldn’t go back to that night. I wouldn’t think about it.
“Hey, Evs.” I cleared my throat. “Whatcha doin’ in here?”
“Cleaning out the spare room,” she answered. “We just threw everything in here while we were renovating so it’s time we cleaned up the mess.”
Grace finally looked my way and those jade-colored eyes
met mine. I didn’t even have to look in the mirror to know that at this moment I resembled one of those cartoon dogs with their tongues hanging out, panting and whimpering in misery. But I hadn’t even registered as a blip on her radar. And if I didn’t get a grip, I couldn’t be held accountable for mauling her right here and now. Good thing I’d decided to only date my hand for the foreseeable future.
I snapped myself out of it. If she wasn’t going to acknowledge it, the pull between us that was achingly apparent whenever we were within fifty feet of each other, then neither would I. I couldn’t let her get the best of me. She’d already done that once, and I’d promised myself I’d never let it happen again.
“Where’s Max?”
I took a swig of my beer and, I couldn’t help it, my eyes were immediately drawn to the pebble of Grace’s nipples against her sweater. She was watching me, her stare half-hidden under heavy lids as she sorted through a plastic bag.
Being a shit-disturber, I flexed my forearm, loving the way her neck corded in response, as if she was straining to keep herself in check.
I sucked in a breath. Maybe she wasn’t as unfazed as I had thought.
“He went to pick up pizza.” Everly tied up a plastic bag and threw it to the corner of the room where a sign marked “Donate” was taped to the wall.
“Awesome! I’m hungry.”
Grace tied up another plastic bag, throwing it in the donate pile. “Who said there would be any leftover for you?” She glared at me, and that glare was the only hint I needed to determine which side of Grace Nolan had shown up tonight.
I’d noticed within days of meeting her that there were two women lurking behind those green eyes. Grace, the sweet, loyal, kind, driven woman who would give away the last shirt she owned if it would help someone else. And then there was Jade, the cocky, distant, dare I say rude woman who shook everything off with a scoff.
I never knew which one I was going to get, but on the day we’d had sex, it was definitely the vulnerable, shy Grace who had her arms and legs wrapped around me. She’d let down her guard for the few moments we were together, and that was the Grace I couldn’t get off my mind.
“Don’t worry, doll. I sent Max my order—large pineapple, bacon, and hot pepper.” I winked. “I’ll leave you to your cleaning. Just make sure my bed is clear before bedtime.”
“What do you mean your bed?” Grace looked none-too-pleased, throwing down the sweater that she’d had in her hand.
When I’d gotten the invite this morning, I’d laid claim to the futon. Knowing there would be drinks involved, I didn’t want to risk the one-hour drive to my house.
“Max didn’t tell you?” I was looking at Everly now. “He said I could stay over tonight so I don’t have to drive home.”
“But I’m staying here tonight.” Grace fisted one hand at her side.
We stared off. It didn’t look like either of us was going to cave. And I didn’t even know why we were competing in the first place.
“Let’s just worry about that later.” Everly reached out and placed her hand on Grace’s forearm, and finally she broke eye contact with me.
I was totally screwed. When Grace and I were together, I had no control over my libido. How the hell was I going to sleep under the same roof as her? I couldn’t risk another momentary lapse in— No. It hadn’t been a momentary lapse of anything. I had given in to raw, sexual desire. The kind that I’d only captured on film a handful of times, and the fact that I’d found it with her had knocked my world off balance.
There was something about Grace Nolan that made me want to know her. Maybe it was the subtle way she carried herself and the secrets I knew were hiding behind her stunning smile. Or maybe it was a connection that stemmed from the similar way we made our money in the sex industry. Whatever it was, it had filled a hole I hadn’t even known existed until that afternoon in my office.
