“A new outfit.”
“Can I see?”
His words brought a flush of awareness over her skin, a delicious ripple that turned into a tingle. He glanced first at the bag, then at her and she felt completely naked. The feeling was similar to the rush she’d felt when she’d looked into the mirror at the shop.
“I—um—sure.”
“Great.” The dark cloud surrounding him vanished and his grin kicked up a notch.
Oh wow, she wanted to kiss him again.
“I’ll work on that list,” he said and reached for his computer. But there was a tiny smile hovering on his lips, a smile that made her weak in the knees.
How did he manage that?
She strode into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Admittedly, cooking for two was a luxury and she was enjoying it a lot. Normally she had left overs for a week even when she tried to cut a recipe in half or fourths.
“Fajitas okay?” she called.
“Can’t wait,” he called back.
She’d just put the tortillas in the microwave to warm them up when she saw him step through the doorway. Heaven help her, she wanted a repeat performance of this morning, of yesterday afternoon. Heck, she wanted more than that.
“Are you cold?” he asked, stepping closer.
At least he was getting around better.
“No.”
“You’re shivering.”
Because of you. That’s what he did to her.
“I’ll survive,” she murmured, hoping that was the truth. Because right now she didn’t think she could keep on breathing if he didn’t kiss her, touch her, hold her.
“Need anything?”
Him? Did that count?
“I’m pretty good with a knife.”
“I’m almost done. Just heating up the tortillas.”
“Smells good. Want me to set the table?”
He smelled good. Even though the scent of cumin and coriander hung heavy in the air, she knew that if she stepped closer and inhaled deeply, his scent would intoxicate her.
Focus on dinner, Gretchen. Easier thought than done.
“We should eat outside. It’s at least sixty degrees out and you’ve been cooped up too long.”
As he stared at her, she wished she could read his mind.
“That’d be great.”
“Good.”
“I have a confession,” he whispered, closing the distance between them. The words brought a fresh shiver to her shoulders.
He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her slowly. When she was facing him, he cupped her cheeks and tipped her face up. “I’ve been wanting to do this since you left this morning.”
Her insides tightened and then relaxed as his head dipped down and he sealed his lips to hers. Oh heavens. Oh that felt good. She braced her hands against his chest, soaking in the feel of him. The play of muscle beneath her fingertips was sexy as sin. She’d never been with a man so built. So hard.
His tongue slipped between her lips and tentatively touched hers. A series of explosions went off inside her, starting at her breasts and traveling downward.
She snaked her arms around his neck as she opened for his kiss. How was it possible that everything she’d always wanted, always needed was wrapped up in one kiss? One man? Did he know he was setting her free?
Her shyness evaporated and she gave as good as she got. Shoving her fingers through his hair, she pressed herself against the hard contours of his body. He groaned and his hands fell away and then, a heartbeat later, wrapped around her.
He wasn’t just setting her free, he was creating a monster. A needy monster who wanted the kiss, the feeling of unity and home and completion to go on forever.
But her lungs burned from lack of oxygen and she reluctantly pulled back, gasping for air.
He reached over and turned the stove off. Thank goodness he had the presence of mind to keep the food from burning. All she could do was stare up at him, wondering if all this could be real. Was she in bed dreaming? Hot dreams about Greg Fairchild were nothing new. In fact, if a week went by without a naughty visit from Dream Greg…
“That’s one heck of a confession,” she whispered, letting her hands slide down his chest. She couldn’t help herself; she wanted to feel those muscles for as long as possible.
“I take it I wasn’t alone in that…yearning.”
Oh Lord, help her. Did his voice have to sound so deep and rough and sexy? Not to mention his blue eyes no longer bore a mask of pain. Right now they were sparkling and wicked with intent. And the way he was rubbing his thumb back and forth over her hip bones, well, her panties might just spontaneously combust.
“Nope.” Her voice came out like a squeaking mouse.
He sighed and his left hand slid around to the small of her back. His heat branded through her turtle neck and the lazy shapes he drew against her spine made her melt against him. “That’s a relief.”
It surprised her that he’d be worried about her desire for him. He had to know how attractive he was. Didn’t he realize how much she wanted him? Maybe she wasn’t as good at reciprocating as she thought she was. Which brought about other questions.
Were they moving too fast?
Nope! The answer was like her body’s battle cry. She’d been waiting, wondering, dreaming of a man who could make her feel so hot and reckless. Who could sweep away her doubts and insecurities and show her what passion really was. The fact that she had sizzling chemistry with the man she cared for so deeply…that was one heck of a bonus.
“What are you thinking about? I can see the wheels turning.”
His right thumb caressed her jaw and she came really close to swooning.
Did she dare tell him what was really on her mind? Would she be able to open her mouth and tell him how turned on she was? How long she’d fantasized about him?
“You,” she said simply.
“What about me?”
Spit it out, Gretchen. No guts, no glory girl.
“You’re a fabulous kisser.” Why the simple contact, touching lips, made her hot, needy and mindless, she didn’t know. But she liked it.
“So are you,” he murmured and ducked his head for another kiss.
A fresh wave of heat crashed over her shoulders and crawled up the back of her neck.
“I also think,” she said when he released her lips. “You should go sit down and let me serve you dinner.”
“Are you on the menu?”
Holy cow. He didn’t pull his punches.
“I made you blush.” He grinned, showing off perfect white teeth.
She held her hands to her cheeks, savoring the coolness of her fingertips. He made a tsking sound and removed her hands. “Don’t hide from me, Gretchen.”
His words were so soft, so tender, that what was left of her resolve melted away. But he stepped back and slowly withdrew his hands. She missed his touch immediately and was tempted to follow.
“Let’s eat. But I can’t promise I’ll keep my hands to myself.” Holy smokes. Where had the handsome brooding man gone? And where had this dreamy seduction artist come from?
21
They’d just stepped out onto the back deck when her doorbell rang.
“Go ahead and eat,” she told him and turned back into the house.
Annie stood on Gretchen’s front stoop, her eyes wet with tears, a tissue pressed against her nose.
Before Gretchen could respond, her sister started forward, words tumbling from her lips. “Men are pigs! Roommates too.” There was something in there about sleeping together and getting home and leaving, but Gretchen could only make sense of every fifth word.
“Come on.” She put her arm around her sister’s shoulders and reached for the overnight bag in her hand.
“Everything okay?” Greg’s voice carried down the hall.
Annie’s gasp couldn’t have sounded any louder without the help of a megaphone.
“I―You’re―” Annie’s gaze ping-ponged between Greg, who sto
od just inside the back door and Gretchen. Her sister knew who Greg was and how Gretchen felt about him.
But the lift of Annie’s perfectly plucked eyebrows said she thought Gretchen had been holding out on her.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she amended, quickly wiping her eyes.
“You’re not interrupting, we were just sitting down to dinner.” Gretchen squeezed her sister’s shoulders. “Let me put your bag down, then we’ll go into the kitchen and fix you something. You haven’t eaten, have you?”
By the look of her, she’d missed too many meals this semester.
Annie shook her head.
“We’ll be right out Greg,” Gretchen said as they walked down the hallway toward him. He nodded, his gaze lingering on Annie for another moment before he returned to the deck.
When they were alone in the kitchen, Annie leaned back against the counter, tipped her head back and laughed. She was like Gretchen in that respect, even when injured, Gretchen usually laughed. Only when the ache went bone deep did she shed a tear. Which prove just how invested she’d become in the man in her backyard.
“My timing sucks. I’m sorry, sis,” Annie started.
Gretchen paused from fixing Annie’s dinner and turned, using the butter knife to point with. “Before you say anything you should know that he’s here because he was in a bad car accident Friday. The driver died. JJ was out of town and we couldn’t reach his brothers or his dad.”
Annie remained silent while Gretchen finished fixing her a plate.
“That sucks. For him…and for you.”
Gretchen wasn’t quite ready to tell her sister about the kisses. Annie still had the rose colored glasses of youth…although, today maybe they’d shattered. She hated for her sister to experience pain, but it was unrealistic to think she’d go through life without getting hurt. Besides, pain built strength, right?
“I just need a place to sleep tonight while my bitch of a roommate clears out of the house.”
Gretchen nodded. “I understand.”
She felt Annie’s gaze while she pulled a can of Coke from the fridge. “Are you all right? Is his family back yet?”
Gretchen nodded. “We’ll talk about it later. For now, let’s go have dinner with a handsome man and worry about everything else after dessert.”
Annie sucked in a shuddering breath and nodded. “You’re the best sister.”
Despite the eight year age gap and questionable parentage, Gretchen couldn’t help but think that they’d turned out all right.
Greg glanced up at them as they stepped through the back door. He and Annie had met several years before at a Fairchild party.
“Greg, you remember my sister Annie.”
“I do. How are you, Annie?”
“I’ve been better.” She dropped her purse onto the deck and collapsed into the chair across from Greg.
“Sorry to hear that.”
Annie shrugged. “It’s life.”
“Annie’s going to bunk here tonight.” Gretchen was curious to know exactly what had sent her sister reeling but didn’t want to pry in front of Greg. Some things were for sisters’ ears only.
Greg put down his glass and started to speak and somehow Gretchen knew what he was going to say.
“Before you say it―” She gave him an I’m-talking-to-you-mister look. “You’re staying put in the master. Your leg isn’t fully healed yet and Annie can have―”
“I hope you’re not going to say the daybed, dear sister,” Annie inserted. She flashed Greg an impish grin before turning her attention to Gretchen. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my bones are younger. I’ll be fine on the couch.”
Gretchen’s jaw dropped and Greg laughed.
“Your sister just called you old.”
“I think she did too. Fine. Take the couch.”
Annie’s smile wobbled and a fresh sheen of tears filled her eyes. She blinked them back and stared down at her plate. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be sorry. He’s the one who should be sorry.”
“Me?” Greg asked, clearly confused.
“No!” Annie’s voice was almost a wail of pain. “My ex-boyfriend. I came home to find him in bed with my roommate. In my bed.”
The pretense of holding together dissolved in Annie’s tears and her slender shoulders shook as she sobbed. Gretchen glanced at Greg, her lips screwed up in a grimace of pity. He looked uncomfortable.
“That’s horrible. Vile. You were right to kick her out,” Gretchen soothed, running a hand up and down Annie’s forearm. Especially since Gretchen owned the house where Annie and her roommates lived. Her heart ached for her little sis. It wasn’t so long ago that she’d been marching Barbie and Ken up an imaginary aisle, chattering Gretchen’s ears off.
“Want me to beat him up?” Greg asked.
The waterworks stopped after a few indelicate sniffles and Annie peeked over the top of her napkin. “Would you?”
Her lower lip trembled.
“I’ll whack him over the head with a crutch,” Greg said, nodding to the pair on the deck next to his chair.
Annie’s frown lifted and she almost smiled. Then, just as the mental picture struck Gretchen, Annie giggled. “Thanks, Greg.”
She dropped her forehead against her palm and shook her head back and forth. “He’s not even worth it. I just thought he was the one, you know?”
“I know, sweetie.”
“Look at it this way, Annie,” Greg said. “It’s better to know what type of man he is before things went any farther. Now you know he’s scum and he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Greg’s right. It stings like the dickens right now, but in time…”
Annie nodded. “This too shall pass.”
“Grandma was usually right,” Gretchen agreed.
22
By Tuesday night Greg couldn’t wait to get his hands on Gretchen again. He’d stolen a few kisses in the last twenty four hours, but thanks to her sister’s impromptu visit, Gretchen had spent the night in her guest room. He missed her more than he’d thought he would, missed feeling her shift on the mattress next to him. And as crazy as it was, touching her really did make the aches and pains disappear.
Though Annie had cleared out first thing, skipping breakfast, he worried that her visit would create a shift between him and Gretchen. He’d faced facts after a long morning of phone calls with each of his family members, then the realtor follow by check-ins with his sub-contractors.
Whatever this was between them, he didn’t want it to end.
While getting better was a priority, it would also mark the end of his time bunking with Gretchen. He wasn’t ready to give her up yet.
Greg watched Gretchen as she shut down her computer for the night. He’d helped her pack up orders for the last hour. The brilliant colors and crisp artwork in her designs was the antithesis of her calming, neutral home. But after kissing her the sassy artwork didn’t surprise him in the least. Somewhere deep down there was a vibrant woman just waiting to come out.
He couldn’t wait to meet her.
“And that’s a wrap, folks,” she said, spinning in her chair.
Her grin made him want to pull her back into his arms and explore their attraction more, to tell her how adorable she was, but his sore knee was a perfect reminder to take things slow. Or slower than normal. Which was hard as hell considering he’d never actually forgotten where he was during the middle of a kiss before.
But Gretchen was potent. Powerful despite her innocence. He couldn’t get enough.
Luckily, he could wash his hair without assistance now. And getting up and down wasn’t as impossible as before. Too bad. He would have liked any excuse to touch her.
“Thanks for your help. You don’t know how much I appreciate it,” she said, glancing at the stack of boxes and envelopes on the other end of the daybed. The white comforter was littered with packages destined for all over the world. He was proud and impressed.
“It’
s the least I can do.”
Slowly, he tensed his muscles and used the bed frame to push to his feet. When he was at last standing toe to toe with her she was smiling. Full on, teeth showing, happiness radiating from her eyes. Take things slow. Gretchen deserved seduction and passion unbridled by injuries.
“Any plans for the rest of the evening?” he asked, sliding a hand along the curve of her waist.
“TV?”
“Sure. I was thinking of looking at some more potential properties. And I need to text my sister.”
“Bedroom?” she asked innocently.
“Planning on taking advantage of me in my weakened state?” he teased. Her blush was immediate and lovely. Grinning, he tightened his hold on her.
She glanced at everything but him as if trying to find an answer or an escape. But he didn’t plan on letting her get away that easily. The more he learned about the charming school teacher, the more he liked her.
“Come on. I’ll try to be a gentleman.”
They got ready for bed separately and it was a damn good thing she locked the bathroom door behind her. He was aching and not because of the accident. But he’d promised to be a gentleman…whatever that meant. Not jumping her, as if he could, the second she got out of the bathroom was probably a start.
So he settled onto the bed and pulled his laptop from the nightstand. Sunday during dinner he’d mentioned his plans to JJ about looking at houses this go round. They’d flipped several condos together and her current home project was a loft, but she lived with Trevor full time now.
A few more touches, a bit of staging and his current condo would be ready for the market. He’d barely been able to sit still all day when what he really wanted was to go get his truck and get back to work.
But he’d learned his lesson in his teens. A twisted ankle from a game of baseball had taught him that recovery was important and it couldn’t be rushed. So he’d take things slow. Thank goodness he had a savings account and understanding customers. That wouldn’t last forever though. He really needed to be back on his feet, even if he wasn’t at full tilt, by the end of the week.
Gretchen exited the bathroom and instead of her usual sweatpants and shirt she was wearing a pajama set in the palest of pinks. Long pants and long sleeves, she couldn’t have been more covered up, but those buttons called to him. The fact that every tantalizing detail was hidden― hell, he couldn’t have been more turned on if she’d been wearing nothing but a thong. Now he was going to sit here and wonder what that soft, shimmering fabric was hiding. Heaven help him.
Falling for His Fake Fiancée (Book 2, Girls' Night Trilogy) Page 19