AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Stop, Graham,” she whispered. “I can’t do this. It’s wrong.”
“Are you serious? This isn’t wrong, Tess. Nothing about this is wrong,” he said, drawing her back to him.
She pushed against his chest. “I’m here with Nick. I can’t.”
“He doesn’t sound too worried about it.”
“Maybe not, but I’m not that kind of girl. I’m not sneaking off with you just because I have a hard time resisting you.”
He stopped stroking her, dropping his hands from a body shaking in need.
Stepping back, he gave a beleaguered sigh. “Still fighting it, huh?”
“I have to. I’ll admit I want you. It’s obvious you trip my control switch, but if things are complicated now, what will they be if we do this?”
“The same, but we’ll feel a hell of a lot better. Jesus, Tess, I need you.” The longing in his voice nearly unraveled her last shred of control.
“I—I want you, Graham. That’s not the problem. It’s all the other stuff.”
Eyes narrowed, he said. “Because we’re ‘against’ one another?” He made the quote marks with his fingers… his beautiful, masculine fingers… the ones she wanted on her body doing delicious things.
Tess swallowed the need clawing to get out. “Yes. Exactly.”
“So because we’re both hustling Miles Barrow for a contract and because you’re working for my ex and because I took over the operation of your family business and because you’re here with Nick”—Graham tilted his head, his mouth sardonic even as a twinkle of amusement sparked in his eye—“those little things are keeping you from leaping the locked gate over there and getting it on in the parking lot with me?”
And in that moment, Tess’s heart gave a lurch in her chest. He’d unlocked an escape hatch with a large dose of absurd humor. Tess covered her mouth to keep from almost hysterical laughter, but she sent him a thank-you with her eye. “And I’m wearing a dress and heels. Hard to scale a gate in this getup.”
He held up his hands. “Hey, you can’t blame me for trying.
I’ve never been a saint, and you are pretty much the perfect girl for me… outside all of those other things.”
Before she could stop herself, she snorted.
“No, it’s true. You’re highly uncomplicated and without any baggage. How can I resist?” More teasing, more lightness, more squeezing of her heart. He was being more than decent. He was living up to being her prince… even when she wanted him to be the pirate. To scoop her up, toss her over his shoulder and then have his wicked way with her despite her protests.
“If that’s what you’re looking for, then yeah, I’m your girl,” she said, still wanting to kick off her heels and scale the iron gate, but glad Graham had not pressed the issue. It was not the right time or right place.
Might well never be the right time or place.
And that made her heart ache.
She moved toward the rail and Graham trailed behind her, looking casual and not so “I’m about to rip this chick’s clothes off in the middle of a business mixer.”
“Hey, there you are, Tess,” Nick said, spotting her as she emerged from the shadows, the sequins of her dress no doubt catching in the light of the glowing orb hunkered over the gentle lake waves. “Look who I found.”
Riley Ann Richard waved and spread her hands into a big hug. “Tess.”
“Hey, Riley,” Tess said as she was enveloped in a cloud of Vera Wang perfume. Her old teammate squeezed her hard and brushed her cheek with a kiss.
“I haven’t seen you since we graduated. Isn’t that crazy?” Riley said, stepping back into her towering platform shoes. The dress Riley wore was a bit too small but had gorgeous lace detail across the bodice. Her friend had blond curly hair piled on her head, bright blue eyes, and a salon tan. She looked stunning as always which made Tess want to kick her.
“It is. How are you?” Tess asked.
“Good. I’m a buyer for Saks now. I’m in for Leo’s wedding. Mom and Dad are over the moon to have me here for two weeks.” Riley eyed Graham, who stood just over Tess’s shoulder.
Tess moved back and made introductions… which seemed to make Riley’s night. Her eyes ate Graham up and she cooed, flirted, and basically did everything short of handing him a room key. Jealousy, like a cur catching scent of meat, raised its head inside Tess. She’d never felt that before, and she didn’t like it. Had no reason to own that emotion when it came to Graham. If he wanted to take Riley up on her offer, it was none of her business.
Of course, Tess might have to rip her friend’s throat out if he did. Dear Lord, she not only was jealous, she was feral.
