Her hand dips into the bag, pulling out the black velvet gift box, and my pulse starts racing. I put so much thought into this present. I really hope she loves it. I need her to love it.
“It’s a bracelet!” Willow shouts, spoiling the surprise. “Hurry, open it. I wanna show you my part.”
“Oh, wow.” Gina pulls the white gold bracelet out, fingering each dangling charm individually. A little cruise ship. A fleur-de-lis, representing our adventure in New Orleans.
“Daddy gotted you those,” Willow offers. “Vangie picked the ice cream cone, cuz you taked her to eat ice cream when she gotted her wady business.”
Gina’s hand cups her mouth. I can’t tell if she’s laughing or crying. Either way, she’s affected, and that’s good.
“This one’s mine! I gotted you the powish, cuz you painted my nails yike a mommy, and I don’t have a mommy. So, that was special, right? Daddy said to pick somefin special.”
“Oh, Willow...” Gina’s hand flies to her mouth, and she gasps. “It’s so special. Thank you.” My baby giggles as Tink spreads kisses all over her little face. “You are so special to me, sweet girl. Please, don’t ever forget that.”
“You see, Kyle,” I say, nudging him and pointing to the girls. “When a man screws up, he should have the balls to own up to it.”
His little arms cross on his chest, tapping his foot as he looks me up and down. “Mr. Jeff, all due respeck—I think it’s gonna take more than that bracelet to make her like you again.”
“Then I’ll do more, Kyle. I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” Knowing that she’s listening, I choose my words carefully.
“Well, you can prolly start with saying sorry to me, cuz you made Aunt Gigi frow up all over me.”
Tink’s mouth falls open, giving up all pretenses that she’s not listening in. The flush in her cheeks starts spreading to her neck. Something tells me there’s a hell of a story here, and one in which I am definitely not the hero.
“Willow, Kyle, I think I just heard them call you for ice cream!” She rounds them up, herding them down the pier and sends them running back toward the house.
“Can we talk?” I ask once the children have made it out of hearing distance. Her back is to me. Her arms crossed in a defensive stance.
Slowly she spins around. Her cheeks are tinged pink. Her eyes glistening in the sunlight. “Jeffrey, don’t do this.”
“I have to.” My voice sounds raspy to my own ears.
Tink’s hands dig into her hair, and she tugs in frustration. “What do you want from me?”
“Everything.” With a few strides, I’m standing inches away. My hands lift to frame her cheeks, and I feel her body begin to go limp.
Her head shakes slowly. “I can’t,” she rasps, clearing her throat. “I thought I could, Jeffrey, but I’m not strong enough to deal with all of this.”
“I’m sorry, Tink.” With my hand on the nape of her neck, I bring her head to rest on my chest, massaging gently. “I’m so fucking sorry for what I said. For the way I treated you.”
Tilting her face up to mine with a finger, I lean in, pressing my lips to hers. Slowly, and reverently, I kiss her, until a soft, pained whimper pierces my heart. With her hands braced on my chest, she pulls back. Her tear-filled eyes make my chest constrict. “I can’t do this. Stay away from me, CEO.”
§
“How’d it go, man?” Cooper asks when I enter the kitchen to serve the girls lunch.
“Well,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “She told me to stay away from her.”
“No.” Spencer interrupts, walking in from another room. “That is the very last thing you do. Gina doesn’t know a good thing when it smacks her in the face.”
“She comes off like a hardass,” Coop offers, “but deep down that girl is as fragile as they come.”
“Right.” Spence smiles up at her husband in agreement, wrapping her arm around his waist. “Like a flower.”
“Yeah, or you know...a bomb.” Coop snickers and jumps across the room in anticipation of the arm that nearly smacks him in the chest. He’s good.
After giving her husband a pair of eyes, Spencer waves him off. “You hurt her, Jeffrey. Badly. Gina has never—ever—fallen for a guy the way she has for you, and it’s not just you. She loves your kids too. Now you’ve got to find a way to prove to her this is more than sex.”
“I told her—”
“Show her,” Spence stresses. “Think grand gestures, Jeffrey.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
GINA
“HURRY UP, GINA,” my best friend whines, peeking her head around into my office. “I’m starving.”
I hold up a finger, indicating for her to give me a minute before I forget what I’m doing. “I’m coming.” After I’ve finished writing in my last patient’s chart and filing it away in the drawer, I grab my purse and follow her out to her car. “You know, he messaged me again today?”
“Who?” My best friend asks, looking over her shoulder as she pulls out of the lot.
“Who?” I mock. “Jeffrey, duh.”
“What’d he say?”
I dig my phone from my purse, swiping my finger across the screen to open up the texts. “He said: ‘Good morning Tink. I miss waking up with your tits pressed to my chest and my dick buried in your belly. Hope you have an amazing day at work.’ ”
Spencer snorts, nearly pulling her truck off the road. “Oh my God. He’s awesome, Gina. Did you reply this time, or just ignore him again?” It’s really starting to annoy me that she’s so Team Jeffrey. She’s supposed to be on my side.
“What do you think?” I ask, shoving my phone back into my bag. “He’s just missing my sexual prowess, is all.”
“Uh. No offense, Gina, but he’s really fucking hot. If all he wanted was pussy, he could pick that shit up at any bar or church in Livingston.” Her eyes swoop to the side, looking at me pointedly. “And you know it.”
I shrug, staring out the window. “I’m not talking to you anymore.”
“Why? Cuz you know I’m right.”
“Cuz you’re a mean, skanky ho. That’s why.”
§
“Hey, Spencer...Gina,” Lucy says, grabbing two menus and silverware, “Your friend beat you here.”
Friend? “Friend...you didn’t tell me someone else was meeting us for lunch.”
Spence shrugs, following Lucy around to the back of the boat, my favorite spot. Oh, God. My heart starts jumping around in my chest erratically when I see him. He’s facing away from us, but I’d know that back anywhere. Suddenly my appetite is gone. Or, rather, it’s been replaced by another hunger entirely.
“Fuck this,” I grumble, turning to haul ass out of this restaurant. I cannot handle this shit. What the hell is he even doing here?
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Spence’s fingers close around my wrist, and she yanks. Hard. “You owe me lunch, and I chose Boudreaux’s. We’re eating here.”
Jeffrey must hear the commotion, because he turns in his seat, his entire face lighting up when he sees us hissing at each other a few feet away. “Spencer,” he says, coming over to join us. “Thank you so much for meeting me for lunch.” He gives her a one-armed hug, kissing her cheek. And I’ll be damned if my cheek doesn’t burn with jealousy.
“Of course. I’m really excited to help you find the perfect place.”
“Tink,” he purrs. “I didn’t realize you’d be here, but damn...I’m so happy you decided to join us.” He looks like a little kid in a candy store. Well, he can just pick that panty-melting smile up right the hell now.
My head jerks back before I get the urge to do something stupid like throw myself into his arms and rip his clothes off. “Uh, I didn’t decide shit.” Narrowing my eyes at my former best friend, I add, “I have no idea what you’re doing here or what this business you two have going on is even about. But, trust me, if I’d have known, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.”
Jeffrey leans in close, invading
my personal space, effectively making my pulse race. His breath is warm against my cool skin, giving me a chill when he whispers into my ear, “You’re so fucking sexy when you’re flustered, Tink.” His breath is all minty and fresh. I want to lick him and punch him and...and fuck him.
No. No, no, no. Calm down, kitty. So what if we haven’t had sex in a bajillion years?
“I hate you,” I growl at Spencer, as I take my sex-starved ass over to the chair farthest from his.
Peering over the menu that I’m only using as a shield, I watch Jeffrey bend to sit, adjusting his tie. His white, pin-striped oxford fits his muscled chest like a glove. And his pants...It should be considered indecent to fill the crotch of a pair of pants the way this man does. Show off.
“You okay, Gina?” Spencer asks, fighting back a laugh.
“Yeah, why?”
She snickers. “You fan that menu any harder and you’re gonna fly right offa this boat.”
Shit. Busted. Blinking a few times, I tear my gaze from his. I didn’t even realize I was fucking staring. Way to make an ass of yourself, Gina.
“See anything you’d like to try?” Jeff adds, smirking, as I tear my eyes away from him. “I hear the sausage is wonderful.”
“Been there, done that. Got the scars to prove it.” I do my best not to react when his face falls. I don’t know why the hell I’m suddenly feeling guilty. Why can’t I just hate him? This would be so much easier if he was some monster.
“Tink,” Jeff rasps, reaching across the table for my hand. I want to pull it away. I should pull it away, but it feels so fucking good—his skin on mine—even if it is only the palm of his hand. “Give me a chance. Just one—to show you how sorry I am.” His fingers lightly rub back and forth, turning me into a big ball of mush. “I won’t fuck this up again, baby.”
“Excuse me,” I say, my chair screeching as I push back from the table. “I need the restroom.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
JEFFREY
“WHAT THE FUCK, Jeffrey? Follow her...”
“Oh, uh, right...Okay.” I get up, feeling like a complete asshole. “So, I should go inside the bathroom?”
Spencer’s eyes widen, and she nods her head. “Yes, Jeffrey. Go!”
My pulse quickens as I jog after her. I have no clue what I’ll say or do when I get there, but if Spencer thinks I should follow her then by God I’m going to listen. I need all the help I can get.
“Tink,” I whisper-shout, when I pull the heavy door open. “You in here?”
“This is the ladies’ room, Jeffrey. Go away.” Her voice is raspy, thick with attitude that I know she’s using to hide her emotions. Jesus, this woman is a hard nut to crack.
“Is anyone else in here? Speak now, cuz I’m coming in.”
I hear Tink gasp from inside the stall. “Like hell you are, get out of here, stalker.”
With a deep breath, I pull the door the rest of the way open, shutting and locking the deadbolt behind me.
“Did you ju—Jeffrey? Are you really in here?”
“Right here babe. You doin’ number one or two? Give me some idea how long I gotta wait, cuz I’m dying to get my hands on you.”
Gina groans. “I really wish I could drop a fucking deuce right now and smoke your ass outta here.”
God, I’ve missed her. “Well, that would give a whole new meaning to the phrase, smokin’ dat ass.” I snicker.
The stall door flies open, and Tink stalks past me to the sink, squirting some foamy soap into her hands and working it into a lather.
“You, uh...forgot to flush.”
“Because I didn’t use the restroom.”
“So, you just came here to get away from me?” I ask, moving to stand in front of the door. There’s no way I’m letting her escape that easily.
Without answering, she stares at herself in the mirror, adjusting her black lace top and smoothing the invisible wrinkles from her tan pencil skirt.
“Talk to me, Tink.” My throat feels tight. “Tell me what I can do. How I can fix this?”
Finally, she turns to face me, her black heels clomping on the tile as she moves to stand before me—the scent of her familiar perfume driving me wild. Tink raises a hand to straighten my tie, smoothing it down the front of my chest and my heart begins to jackhammer against my ribcage. “I can’t compete with a ghost, Jeffrey,” she whispers. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin, and to be frank...I don’t want to. I know I’m no saint—far from it. But I don’t need to be reminded of that every single fucking day of my life when you look at me and wish I was her.”
“I won’t.”
“You do.”
“I don’t,” I insist, pleading with my eyes for her to believe me.
Gina’s eyes drop to my waist, and her hands grip my belt buckle. “My body is all I have to offer, Jeffrey. It’s all I can afford to gamble with.”
“No.” My hand lifts to brush the side of her face. “I want all of you. Everything.”
“Take it or leave it, CEO. Final offer.”
Staring deep into her eyes, I start to say no. This isn’t what I want at all, but I see the way she’s looking at me, like I’m everything she’s ever wanted and can never have. With so much pain and lust. And dare I even fool myself into believing...love? If physical love is my way in, I’ll take it. I’ll give her my body and bare my soul to her in the process. “Okay.”
“Okay,” she breathes out in a sigh of relief. “Fuck me, Jeffrey,” she orders, her fingers moving to unfasten my belt. “And make it fast, before our food gets cold.”
With my hands on either side of her face, I pull her to me roughly, thrusting my tongue into her mouth as I back her up to the far wall. There’s nothing gentle about the way I’m kissing her. It’s rough and animalistic. It’s pure desperation. Tink wars for control, but I don’t let up. She wants to be fucked...I’ll be the one doing the fucking.
With both hands, I grip the bottom of her skirt, lifting it all the way up. My breath hitches as I take a moment to admire her body, completely bared from waist down, apart from a skimpy little thong. I run the knuckle of one finger along her pussy, feeling her entire body tense against mine. Her breaths start coming in shallow pants, the mewling sounds escaping from deep within her throat, fueling my desire. With one quick pull, I rip the scrap of fabric from her body. “This is mine,” I growl, feeling possessive and crazed with how much I want her. Only her.
“It’s yours,” she agrees, turning to brace herself with two hands on the wall. “Enjoy, CEO, cuz that’s all you get.” She thrusts her ass out, chewing her bottom lip as she stares back at me over her shoulder.
“The fuck it is,” I growl, spinning her back around. “You’re gonna look at me, Tink. You’re gonna see my face when I make you come.”
Tears well in her eyes as I cup her ass in my hands, lifting her until she’s seated on my hips, right above my cock. Instinctively, her legs wrap around my waist. I feather kisses down her neck, waiting for her to take what she wants, and then I’ll blow her fucking mind.
“God, yes,” she moans, lowering herself down on my painfully hard erection. It’s a slow and damn near torturous descent. With her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, she turns to the side and begins to rock.
Gripping her thighs, I lift her, ’til only the tip of my dick remains inside. “I said you will look at me when I fuck you,” I grit out, fighting the urge to move.
“Don’t do this Jeffrey,” she begs. Her lower lip begins to quiver, and I take it into my mouth. This time when I sink into her warmth, she doesn’t turn away.
Fucking her hard and fast, I deliver what I know she craves. Her finger dips between our joined bodies, circling her clit. Slowly at first, getting faster as the pressure builds. When I feel her inner walls contracting around my dick, I take what I need, spilling my seed deep inside while making love to her mouth.
Slowly her shaky legs lower to the floor, her arms still around my neck, her tongue still mating with mine.
No longer needing my hands to support her weight, I brush the backs of my knuckles along the side of her face and down her neck, tenderly. I fill my starving lungs with as much of her as I can, and she doesn’t pull away. No, she melts into me, her hands frantically touching every inch of my chest.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“Fuck!” Gina hisses, righting her skirt as I shove my dick back into my pants, straightening my mussed suit as much as possible.
“Is someone in there?” Bang. Bang. “Lucy. The damn door’s locked,” a woman’s voice shouts in annoyance. “I needa pee.”
“Come on,” I say, ushering Tink toward the door with my hand on the small of her back.
She gives me a look that says I’m crazy. “This is the women’s restroom, Jeffrey. We can’t just walk out together.”
“We either walk out, or someone’s unlocking that door and coming in. We’re not coming out of this unscathed. Let’s walk out with a little dignity?”
Still fooling with her skirt, she mutters, “We just fucked in a restaurant bathroom. We have no dignity left.”
“But it was some good fuckin’.” I tease, twisting the lock.
“What in tarnation?” the little white-haired woman shouts when Tink and I stroll out of the restroom together.
“Sorry, ma’am. Had some business to tend to.” I let my eyes rove over Tink’s body, slowly. “It’s all yours now.”
Gina’s face flames bright red, and her elbow digs into my side. “What he means, Mrs. Guidry, is I had something in my eye, and he was helping me flush it out.”
“You two are a little old for this shit, Gina Bourque. I would call your momma, but that hooker would probably throw a fuckin’ party.” She shakes her head. “It’s no wonder you’re so lost.”
Gina snorts in agreement. “Sorry, ma’am.” Then she gives my back a shove, hurrying us away from the old woman.
“Oh, I was flushing something out alright,” I tease, unable to control my peals of laughter as we make our way back to join Spencer at our table.
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