She settled her cheek against my jacket, and I allowed myself the moment to just feel. She was so soft, safe, and familiar. I willed down the reaction growing inside me, but our one night together and the constant sexual tension was getting the best of me.
“She’s ready to go,” I murmured against Gwen’s hair.
She lifted her face from my chest, and our eyes met. I swallowed, and she stared as I licked my lips and tilted my face toward hers. Her eyelids fluttered, and then I pushed away and gave her a grin.
Bending down, I grabbed Bree’s hand. “Let’s go.”
We dropped Bree off at Debra’s, where I was polite and gave Bree a kiss on the forehead before we left. She blushed and thanked me for taking her to the dance, and I assured her I’d had a great time. “Best date I’ve ever had,” I whispered before the door closed.
I pulled the Hyundai into the garage at Gwen’s house and killed the engine and the lights. We were coated in darkness, and all I could focus on was my breathing and how loud my heart sounded in the small space. Neither of us moved or looked at the other, a strange feeling of finality to the night hanging in the air.
She pushed her car door open, and I followed, then walked around the hood to pause in front of the door to the inside.
“Thanks for asking me to come tonight,” I said.
“Thank you for coming.”
I swallowed the dirty response I wanted to give her inadvertent innuendo, and instead made a tentative move to hug her. She leaned in, and my arms encircled her waist and pulled her to me. She hugged me back, her breathing growing shallow, and as I pulled away, my cheek brushed against hers and my mouth skimmed her jaw.
She let out a shuddering breath, her lips parting as my nose brushed against her lower lip. She tightened her grip around my torso, letting me know without words that it was okay. That she wanted it.
Our mouths found each other in the dark, and she sighed into mine, her tongue searching between my lips. Warm and soft, her lips trailed lightly and then sucked as my teeth nipped at her sensitive flesh. She slid her hands up my arms and across my neck, and her body arched against mine with force.
I tightened my grip on her waist and ground my hips into her, and she whimpered. There were no words, just the sound of our ragged breathing and wet kisses in the darkness as the room became more heated from the early-summer-night air.
No thoughts entered my head as my lips attacked hers and our tongues roamed. My body was on fire, and I couldn’t stop pressing against her to appease the new ache that settled below my waistband. Her fingers slid down my back and around my chest, pushing their way underneath the suit jacket.
“Stay with me tonight?” she asked against my mouth.
“And tomorrow night?” I grinned and pulled away, searching her eyes.
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh my God. My date.”
“You’re not going, are you?” I dropped my hands from her face and scowled.
She opened and closed her mouth, trying to spit out words but coming up with nothing but air.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
“I . . .”
“Jesus. Good night, Gwen.”
Without another glance, I opened the door and left her where she stood.
Chapter 14
I Want To Tell You
I waited on the stairs, contemplating whether or not to go back and confront her. To make her explain exactly why she’d asked me to stay with her and in the same breath entertained the idea of going on a date with someone else.
It had to be done. She owed me an explanation. I pushed up off the stairs and slammed through the garage door with the force of my anger.
Gwen was crouched in front of the Hyundai, holding on to the bumper, her head pressed between her thighs as she gasped for air and wept.
Everything I’d wanted to say was forgotten. I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her before she went limp. Her eyes fell shut, and her arms hung at her sides. I stared at her, my eyes wide, then lifted her up.
I carried her downstairs and laid her on my bed. There was nothing sexy about pulling her dress from her unconscious body or slipping one of my T-shirts over her head and arms to tug it down over her thighs before tucking her in. Afterward, I changed out of my suit and waited on the couch, staring at the darkened bedroom.
It felt like time stood still.
When she made a sound, I crept to the bedroom doorway and waited while she came to. She sat up and looked around, and I cleared my throat, hiding my relief.
“I came back to talk to you,” I said softly, inching toward her. “I got there right when you hyperventilated.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She pressed her face to her hands and exhaled through her fingers. “I don’t know how to explain this to you. I haven’t had a panic attack in a long time. I forgot how scary they are.”
I took another step closer. “I’m listening.”
“I was thinking about you, and my date, and the kids. I was thinking that in a perfect world, you and I could be together and the only repercussions would be on us if it ended. But we’re not the only ones involved in this.” She closed her eyes and sniffed. “I’m messed up in my head. I’m really confused.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, my forehead creased. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I don’t like talking about my feelings a lot. I find it difficult to get it out. My mom says it shows weakness.”
I took a deep breath and scooted closer to her, nudging her toward the middle so I could prop myself up against the headboard. “I have never been more confused by someone in my entire life,” I said, running my hands over my face.
The only sounds were our breathing and the ticking of my alarm clock while we sat, rigid and unmoving, staring off into the blackness. My mind was turning in circles, the good part of me asking to be patient, to give it time.
“I’m going on the date tomorrow because I like you,” she said.
I turned to look at her. “How does that make sense to you? Because it makes absolutely zero sense to me.”
“I don’t know how you feel about me or this situation, but I don’t want to screw up what you have going with the kids. If I had to make a choice, I’d rather you be here for them. But I won’t lie and say I’m not thinking about you naked.”
“And what if I think about you like that, too?”
She blushed. “Then we’re both sexually frustrated until we figure this thing out.” She patted my palm. “Do you know what you want?”
“If wanting you involves the kids getting hurt, I’m just as confused as you are, I think.”
“We shouldn’t stop our lives while we’re in this in-between. That’s why I have the date. Tess set me up with one of her friends because we were talking at lunch the other day and I told her that I think that I’m . . .”
“You think you’re what?”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is I’m in a really weird place right now, and I don’t want to do the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. You told me not to lie, and I’m being as honest as I can be right now.”
I nudged toward her again and wrapped my fingers around her hand. “So you have to go on dates. Does that mean you’re cool with me seeing other girls?”
“I guess I have to be. It wouldn’t be fair for me to date and leave you to sit on the sidelines.”
The ache in my heart grew tenfold.
“But it’s okay to do this?” I asked, nuzzling my nose into her neck and kissing the sensitive skin by her collarbone.
“I-I-I don’t know.”
“Hmm.” I ran my lips along her jaw.
She gasped as I placed my fingertips along her thigh.
“And what about your dates? Can they touch you like this?” I whispered, running my hand higher and tracing along the hem of the T-shirt I’d given her to wear.
“Touch my leg? I suppose so.”
“Such a tease.” I pushed th
e bottom of the shirt up and flattened my palm against her stomach to trace circles with my thumb. “And can I touch other girls like this?”
“No.”
“Can I kiss them?” I breathed into her ear.
She whimpered. “Do you want to kiss them?”
“Depends, I guess.” I ran my teeth along the sensitive skin of her earlobe. “Do they have big boobs?”
She slapped my arm and pulled away from me, laughing.
“You are confused,” I said. “And confusing.” With a shake of my head, I raised my eyebrows. “So now what?”
“I think we should decide what the best thing is for the kids. They love you so much.” She pleaded with her eyes, and I nodded, the smile fading from my face.
With a huff, she scooted toward the end of the bed and climbed off. Standing in front of the door, she gave a timid smile.
“So how do we know when this is figured out?” I asked.
“I think we’ll just know. Good night, Andrew.”
“G’night, Gwen.”
She turned and walked out the door, lifting a hand to wave as she called, “Stop staring at my ass like it’s something to eat, Dee.”
Chapter 15
Some Other Guy
I needed to pump myself up: play some Rocky theme music or something. This shit was going down and I needed to be ready like a champ.
I heard her upstairs, leaving and coming home throughout the day, but I didn’t bother her. I had to lay low so she didn’t know what I had planned.
I was pacing the floor, and I stilled when I heard her shower start. She was running late, because while she was gone, I’d moved some of her things around and then she’d shuffled around in a panic. I’d even felt ripples in the wall when she’d slammed her closet door, unable to find the pair of shoes she’d laid out for the evening. It was all I could do to not die laughing, picturing her moving furniture to find them, sliding her hands across the carpet under her ottoman, when they’d been right at the edge of her bed. She’d even checked the kitchen. In the pantry.
By playing my little game of “Hide Gwen’s Clothes,” I figured she’d spend at least fifteen minutes looking for them before she gave up. And that meant her date would be arriving sooner than she would be ready, if he was planning on being on time.
Ian had divulged the info, since Tess had been the one to set Gwen up with this guy.
Putting him off would have been much easier had the kids been home, but I was on my own on this mission.
I stripped down, wrapped a towel around my waist, and then turned on the water and shoved my head under the tap in the bathroom sink. Then I crept up the stairs, clutching the little blue dress she’d worn the previous night. I’d just made it up to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Talk about luck.
After whipping my head back and forth to spread the water from my hair across my shoulders, I jogged to the door and opened it wide with a devious smile.
The broad, dark-haired guy standing on the front porch took a step back, and his mouth formed a surprised O.
“Hey,” I said, trying to sound breathless.
He peeked over my shoulder and then back at the number on the door. “Um, I might have the wrong house. Does Gwen Stone live here?”
I nodded emphatically and jerked my head toward the stairs. “She’s finishing up in the shower. Come on in and have a seat.”
He appraised me, his eyes falling on the large white towel and the beads of water falling cross my chest.
“I’m just going to take her the clothes she left in my room last night. You’re welcome to wait.” I gave him a full smile, and he took an unsure step toward the door. “Sorry, I’m Dee. What’s your name?”
He frowned. “Kyle.”
“I apologize,” I said with an exasperated laugh. “I can’t keep all your names straight.” I motioned for him to follow me and led him inside, letting the towel fall around my feet. I looked up like I was embarrassed, facing him straight on.
One. Two. Three.
He looked.
I snatched the towel off the floor and winced. “Sorry about that, man.” I pointed to the living room. “Make yourself comfortable.”
As I ascended the stairs two at a time, Kyle paused in the foyer, looking shell-shocked. I threw Gwen’s blue dress onto her chair, and by the time I made it back downstairs, the living room was empty.
I peeped out the front door curtains and saw an empty driveway. The smile that covered my face was so big I felt my cheeks would crack.
Gwen’s shower turned off, and I ran back down to my room to get dressed for the night, prepping myself to keep a straight face when I saw her. I threw on a plaid shirt over a T-shirt and messed a little with my hair instead of putting a hat on. After yanking on my shoes and taking one last look in the mirror, I climbed the stairs and walked into the kitchen.
Gwen was just inside the living room, staring at the clock.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey.”
“What’s wrong? Where’s your guy?”
She crossed to the counter. “I think I got stood up.”
“Bummer.” I opened the fridge and grabbed a soda. “It’s too bad, because you look sexy in those shoes.”
Her face turned red. “I tore this house apart looking for these. And they were right under my bed.”
I almost choked on the Coke. “Weird.” After glancing at the clock on the stove, I shrugged. “I’m headed out. Sorry about your date.”
“Oh, yeah. It’s okay. Have fun.”
I made it almost to the door before I turned to face her again. “You can come with me if you want.”
Her head snapped up and her eyes widened. “You don’t have a date?”
I snorted and made a pfft sound. “I’m headed to Xander’s bar to see if he and Cece are there. I was going to talk to them.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
Chapter 16
Fixing a Hole
The ride over to the Black Hole was anything but quiet. Between changing the dials on the radio to find a song she liked and complaining about what an asshole Kyle was, Gwen was going nonstop.
She flipped to a channel, but a few bars into the song, she huffed, crossed her arms, and turned down the volume.
“I can’t believe he didn’t even bother to call or text me. I’m going to tell Tess what a jerk he is.”
I mentally kicked myself for not factoring that into the equation.
“You don’t want to hurt her feelings, you know?” I played it cool like I was giving her advice. “What if they’re closer friends than she said? That could make things awkward.” I winced and hit the blinker to take a left into the parking garage.
“I don’t care. He left me high and dry.”
“You do realize who you’re complaining to, right?” I pulled the car into a parking spot and looked at her.
She blinked, silent. Then she said, “Well, I may have gotten the better end of the deal after all.”
Giving her my best smile, I patted her knee and then moved my hand up her leg to unlatch the seat belt around her waist. She shivered and looked down, and I could see a blush creeping across her cheeks even in the limited lighting of the parking garage.
Don liked it.
We walked side by side into the bar, and then I let her lead with my hand on her lower back. She leaned back into my palm, and I smiled. Rounding the corner to the open bar space, I let go and scanned the room for Cece. Sure enough, she was sitting in the corner, leaning across the bar, talking to Xander, just like last time.
Sitting to her left was Ian. And next to him was Tess.
Danger. Danger. What would Tony Danza do here?
It should have occurred to me Ian would be playing tonight. Of course Tess was there. I ran a hand through my hair and yanked on the ends, making them stand up. I must have looked like I’d stuck my finger in a socket.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to deal with family first. I walked over to the bar
and stood just out of Xander’s view. Gwen followed me, biting her nails.
“You’re not going to cause a scene, are you?” Her forehead was creased with anxiety.
“No. I just don’t want to walk up like everything’s okay. Why don’t you go talk to Cece?” I gestured toward her.
Gwen smiled and shook her head. “I want to be here for you.”
Xander caught sight of us and, once he realized we weren’t just a couple of regular customers, his demeanor turned cold. He swerved around the other bartender and stopped in front of us.
“Gwen, nice to see you.” His smile was tight when faced me. “Is this a pleasant visit?”
I rolled my eyes and planted my hands on the counter. “I’m not coming in here to start shit with you. I’d like to talk, if you have a minute.”
He leaned in to the other bartender and told him he was taking a short break. The guy nodded, and Xander came around to the front of the bar. Standing just a bit shorter than me, his stance was defiant, and I had to stop myself from punching him in the nipple.
“I thought maybe it was time we had a talk.”
Xander crossed his arms and took a deep breath.
“I’m glad Cece had you while I was gone.”
His mouth fell open.
“It sucks that you couldn’t, or wouldn’t, tell me. I trust you more than my own family, man. And you’ve been with her for a year. Off and on, I don’t care. She’s still my sister. And whether or not you think I care about her doesn’t matter. You lied to me and hid shit, and I’m pissed. But I want her to be happy. And if you make her happy, then I’m okay with this.” I waved my hand in my sister’s direction.
“You left for two years, and the only time you called her was when you came back and needed a place to stay,” he said, his jaw stiff.
“Right, but I called you.”
He looked away for a second and then back up at me. “Yeah.”
“You could have told me, and then I’d have had time to get used to the idea that my best friend was sleeping with my sister before I came home. Instead, I got attitude from the two of you like I didn’t deserve to know. I’m not as selfish as you think I am. I’m learning that. And the fact that you treated me like I didn’t even matter in the equation? It made me feel . . .” I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands over my face.
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