Mingle All the Way

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Mingle All the Way Page 7

by MIA HEINTZELMAN


  A collective laugh rumbles over the immediate area. I have to fight back the urge to roll my eyes at him with his stupid red and green drunken llama sweater. “I think I’ll manage,” I say, flashing him a tight smile.

  Of course, Nina materializes out of nowhere. “Girl,” she says dramatically, ushering me off to the kitchen where she helps us to a couple of rosé coolers. “You guys hooked up, didn’t you?”

  “We…” My first inclination is to lie and save myself the heartache and embarrassment. It’ll make the fallout smoother when—if— Chase and I put an end to this real fake relationship. Then Nina dips her chin to her chest and gives me the don’t even think about lying to me look, and I know I’m going to tell her sooner or later, so it seems pointless to delay.

  If Keira had come to me with this story acting like a lovesick puppy, I would tell her it was lust and nothing close to love before I’d proceed to tease her. And now here I am…

  I nip the tip of my finger to stifle the grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. Then I nod.

  Nina all but screams as she bounces on her toes. “Dammit! I knew it. Was it any good?”

  I’m just about to come up with some lame story about how it was “just sex” when movement out of the corner of my eye snags my attention. Darrell and Craig both fall to the floor trying to do some dumb alcohol-fueled trust game—which I could care less about. Everyone around them fumbles to get them up in a loud blur of movements.

  Except for Chase.

  He’s leaning against the wall like a still-frame of masculine beauty with the etched lines of his broad shoulders, his easy posture, and his classic rebellious preppy charm. Every touch, stare, and sound we made together comes flooding back, and I’m homesick even though we’re only feet apart. We’ve only sampled what it would be like to be together, and already I crave him…ache for him.

  The look in his eyes when they meet mine is very inviting.

  “Holy orgasm, my panties are wet just looking at you look at him,” Nina says, biting her fist with a moan.

  I’m so screwed.

  I have to catch myself, but for a split second, I’m not thinking about Monday or how many ways this—whatever this is between Chase and me—can go so wrong. Instead, I’m in quicksand, sinking into the shamelessly optimistic and foolish idea that all we need is one solution—just one, and we can somehow spin reality. Maybe we can turn this sham into something safe and real, and maybe my little white lie to Spencer won’t have been a lie at all.

  When he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth and flashes me that sexy lopsided grin, it’s not a stretch for me to think that somehow, some way, if we’re together, we’ve got this.

  My gaze is fixed on Riley as she walks slowly toward the back of the house then pauses to flash me an expression, I hope to God I’m not misreading.

  “I’m going to take a leak.” I fumble trying to set my bottle on the coffee table. Cock-blocking Craig curls his upper lip at me, his shoulders up to his ears like fuck if I care.

  This dude is the worst.

  I don’t know where she went, but I’m stumbling down a hallway peeking in closed doors and feeling like I’m a teenager who’s about to get lucky when I see the door to the backyard is open. It’s dark and quiet, but there’s a faint glow from an exterior light.

  As soon as I step foot outside, Riley grabs me by my shirt, shuts the door behind me, and wraps her hands around my neck.

  “I need you,” she says, breathless.

  Instantly, my dick throbs. It’s one thing to kiss, but to go at it right here out in the open when anyone could walk out? “Here?”

  Riley doesn’t speak. Slowly, she releases her hands from my neck and starts unbuckling my pants. As she dips her warm hand under the waistband, my knees weaken. There’s no way I’m going to say no. She wraps her hand around my girth, stroking until I’m fully erect.

  “So, I don’t have a condom...”

  “I’m on the pill,” she replies.

  I groan at the feel of her stroking me. “Okay, if you’re sure. My tests are good.”

  “Mine, too.”

  She lifts the hem of her dress and I’m trying not to come before we even get started. “You’re sure about this because we can leave right now. I have your gift in my pocket.”

  Her eyes snap to mine, but again, she doesn’t say anything. Her lips are on my neck, and if I get any harder, I’m going to break.

  “I don’t need gifts. All I want is you,” she says, and that’s it.

  I lift her up against the side of the house and center myself before thrusting my hips. It may be the fact that we’re outside in the cool air, or that anyone could catch us, or even just the feel of her without any barriers between our skin, but I’m wrecked. I’m ruined for anyone else.

  It’s not just our bodies, I’m consumed by Riley—light-headed and lost in the fit of us. I’m in tune with our breaths and our heartbeats. With every thrust, I’m deeper but never deep enough. The way she’s holding on so tight, it’s got to be the same way for her. I know I won’t be able to let go.

  And I know.

  We haven’t argued or been through any real skin-thickening times together. We’ve really only scratched the surface, but I’m certain like I know my own heartbeat, Riley is it for me.

  Her breaths are fast and shallow, and it’s probably not fair to say this while I’m still inside her, but my emotions are too urgent not to.

  “I’m falling for you Riley.”

  She squeezes me, her fingers twisting in the fabric of my shirt as she kisses me with a relentless hunger. She’s tasting me, moaning the whispers of her heart. Traces of light glint off her beautiful tear-stained cheeks.

  “I’m scared, too, but I want this,” I say. “With you.”

  Only the rhythm of our breaths echo in the air as I thrust deeper, faster, memorizing how good we are together and the feel of our emotions in motion. The friction builds kindling, smoking out our fire until her orgasm courses through her. She’s spent and beautiful and mine. I keep stroking, every muscle in my body hardening until I come.

  After a few minutes, I gently set Riley on her feet, but I don’t erase the distance between us once we’ve straightened our clothes. I run the pad of my thumb over her swollen lips and replace it with mine.

  At the sharp rap of applause, we both jolt. From the shadows on the other side of the yard, Jessica Faulkner’s silhouette bleeds into the light. She plucks a cigarette from her lips, drops it, and twists the tip of her pink heel on the butt. “That was some performance,” she says. “Phew, that was hot! Like new love but four years later.”

  “Fuck you, Jessica,” I snap.

  “No. Riley’s got that territory covered.” She flashes us a wide grin. “You’ll have to tell me and my husband your secret. We weren’t even a year in before we stopped going at it like rabbits. Guess if I was a ‘diamond in the rough’ we’d have a baby by now, and I wouldn’t be eating and sleeping my work.” She shrugs.

  Riley shifts into the light and the sympathy in her eyes is almost palpable. “Jessica—”

  “Don’t. I don’t need your pity.” Jessica pauses for a beat then snaps her fingers and points a finger gun at Riley. “But I will take that promotion. Should be nice to get a pretty sizable pay raise right here at the holidays.”

  I shake my head at her. “That’s pretty weak that you have to eliminate your competition to come out on top.”

  She heaves a loud, satisfying sigh, and her arms hang limp at her sides. “You know I didn’t think so before, but you guys are actually really cute together…”

  Riley grits her teeth which only serves to widen Jessica’s grin.

  “Oh, and Riley, you were right about Eric Voorhees. He was fired for falsifying reports—lying, if you will. It’s so unethical.” Her smile is full-blown. “Ah, well. Guess I’ll see you guys later. I’m going to go enjoy the party.”

  Jessica slowly walks to the door and lets herself inside. As the screen sla
ps against the frame, the sinking feeling in my stomach breaks me because I know she just took my only chance at happiness with Riley.

  As if on cue, Riley’s shoulders tense as she lifts her chin, but she doesn’t meet my eyes. Everything about her is leaden and defeated as she says, “Can you just take me home? I’m not in the mood to party anymore.”

  I fish my keys out of my pocket and as my fingers graze her Secret Santa gift, uncertainty swirls in the pit of my stomach.

  Chapter Nine

  I take a deep breath and draw my shoulders back, tipping my chin up.

  You’ve got this.

  “Not for nothing, but if you let Jessica win, we’re all doomed.” Nina’s draped over the wall of my cubicle with pouty lips and her baby face twisted in agony. “Don’t do it, Riley. I’m begging you. Your coworkers need you.”

  “If I don’t tell Spencer the truth, she will.” I tug the lapels of my jacket tight across my chest and press at the crease of my black slacks. Through the glass, I see him sitting at his desk, still on a conference call.

  The second he hangs up, I’m going in. I’ve got to get this over with. Jessica isn’t going to hold this over my head.

  “But doesn’t Spencer think you guys are dating? Didn’t he say to go to the holiday party together? This isn’t the same as falsifying reports. It’s your personal business. Who cares if Jessica’s perverted ass saw you guys getting busy in the backyard? By the way, can I just tell you how proud of you I am?” She swoons and presses her hand to her heart.

  I haven’t seen Chase since the party Saturday.

  The memory of us outside Saturday night floods my mind. Longing whispers through me when I think how my skin had tingled as desire percolated between us. How my body ached for only him. But it wasn’t just sex. In that stolen moment in the shadows, our hearts eclipsed, but lust blindsided me. I couldn’t see it then, but we were aligned in every way a man and a woman could be.

  My heart wrenches.

  “What proof does she even have? I mean, did she record it? If not, it’s her word against yours.”

  “That’s not the point,” I whine.

  “Then what the hell is because I’m confused,” Nina heaves a frustrated sigh. “You weren’t at work, you’re consenting adults, and no matter what the suck-up thinks, you and Chase are so freaking hot together. Don’t let her throw shade on your parade.”

  “Actually, Jessica said we looked good together, too…”

  A wave of dread washes over me as Spencer leans forward doing that smile-at-the-phone-because-I’m-about-to-end-the-call nod.

  My stomach plummets because I’ve got to get to him before Jessica does. This was my idea. I can’t hurt Chase.

  I scrub my hands over my face and pinch the bridge of my nose. “This all started because Spencer James likes to promote ‘sticky people,’ remember?”

  “Um what?” Nina’s top lip curls and the crease between her brows deepens.

  “At the all-hands meeting. Jessica was talking about how Spencer always grooms people who have reasons to stick around. You know, marriage, kids, mortgage. I don’t have any of those things. Just a fake relationship with Chase.”

  “But that’s just it. You’re completely missing the point. It clearly isn’t fake.” Nina’s tone is so sharp and matter of fact. The way she pins me with her stare, it’s like she’s a mirror, and there’s nowhere to hide my feelings for Chase.

  I drag my gaze to meet her warm brown eyes. They’re filled with empathy as she softens her tone.

  “You’ve got so much more to offer than your relationship status, Riley. What matters is, you’re real…and ethical and a hard worker. Whether you’ve been in this relationship for two weeks or four years, it doesn’t matter. He knows you’re loyal, committed and, and you’re innovative, dammit.” She laughs. “That’s who he wants working for him. A real person.”

  She rights herself and rounds the corner until she’s in my cubicle. She stands at my side, and we both watch as Spencer replaces the phone receiver on the base.

  “Be honest. If Jessica wasn’t a factor, would you be telling me not to tell him? For me, this also has to do with my integrity. Lying to get what I want is not the route I want to take to advance my career.”

  Nina doesn’t miss a beat. “No. But I’d also remind you what you have with Chase doesn’t come along every day. It’s what every single subscriber to Lovestruck and every other dating app out there is looking for. It’s what Keira is looking for. Love. It’s why it’s a billion-dollar industry. Everyone wants love, but it is not promised to anyone.”

  The corners of my eyes sting as I swallow my words.

  Do I love Chase?

  Spencer swings his door inward and walks out of his office. He flashes Nina and me a quick smile as he walks past my desk toward web development, and I don’t say a word. I simply let my chin drop and the tears fall.

  After working the whole day without talking to Riley, my heart is in my throat. I thought giving her the space she needed to process everything that happened Saturday night was the right move—let her come to me first. She didn’t, though. As far as I know, she didn’t meet with Spencer, so all is not lost. Yet. But I can’t let another day go by without talking to her.

  This is why I’m outside her door, freezing my ass off with my heart on my sleeve at eight in the evening. I’m loaded down with Chinese, another batch of her favorite M&M Christmas cookies, and the Secret Santa gift I never got a chance to give her.

  A whisper of a breeze sweeps through the trees as I ring the doorbell and take a step back, biting back a shiver. When the door swings open, a wave of warmth, light, and minty fragrance washes over me.

  “Rile—” Her name dies on my tongue when a woman with rich brown skin and gold-flecked brown eyes appears in the doorway. She’s taller and curvier, with a mass of textured curls instead of locs, but I immediately see the resemblance.

  A smile breaks out on her face when I don’t say anything else.

  “She’s indisposed at the moment, but I’m Keira, her sister. You must be Chase.”

  I’d be lying if I said her knowing my name didn’t send a wave of warmth through me—it means, one way or the other, Riley’s been talking about me. She hasn’t forgotten me.

  Yet.

  Keira’s whole demeanor is airy and welcoming, and even though I’m still on the wrong side of the door, the tension in my shoulders drains the slightest bit.

  “Is it weird I just want to say, ‘It’s carolers,’ like Keira Knightly did in Love Actually?” She laughs. “You’re much cuter than that guy, though. Plus, he always makes me think of fighting zombies, so there’s that, too…”

  Keira’s gaze drifts over me appraisingly, and her full lips quirk into a smile.

  “Uh, yeah,” I start, shaking the confusion from my head. “I’m sorry, I just… Do you know when she’ll be available? I really need to talk to her.”

  My eyes dart past her into Riley’s bright, relaxed living room, and Keira leans into my line of sight blocking my view before peeking over her shoulder. When she returns her attention to me, her eyes are narrowed, and her eyebrows pull down. She’s got an air of defiance in the way she heaves a sigh.

  “Look, if it were up to me, I’d let you in, and you two could kiss and make up.” Her tone is gentle and careful as she dips her chin. “But Riley’s my big sister, and even though I think she’s crazy insane to let you go, she has too much dirt on me to even think about overriding her ‘wishes.’” She air quotes the word and rolls her eyes playfully.

  I’m listening, swallowing the emotion thick in my throat, ready to suck up my pride when she winks.

  It’s so off-putting, I freeze, unsure of exactly what is happening.

  “Uh…” Tilting my head, I scratch my beard, and my posture loosens.

  But Keira just stands there, her gaze darting this way and that, and I’m truly thrown. Her eyes widen like she’s trying to communicate something, but it’s gobbledygook to m
e.

  My mind races, and I narrow my eyes, searching for answers.

  Then Keira presses the air with her palms, nodding, before holding up a finger. Apparently, she’s going to catch me up on this game of charades.

  “So, as adorable as you are standing out there in the cold,” she says super loud. “I know you’re shivering and alone with those big puppy-dog eyes and all this delicious food…” she says, trailing off with another exasperated sigh and I catch on.

  We have an audience. The woman who’s taken my heart hostage is listening behind her, and we’re making our plea without saying as much.

  “And with Christmas right around the corner, too. It’s a shame.” Keira smacks her teeth dramatically and makes this tsking, cooing noise that is so hilarious I’m having a hard time keeping a straight face. “But I’m going to have to ask you to respect her wishes, too. Goodbye Chase. Best of luck to you.”

  Apparently, this is the end of her bleeding-heart monologue because she gestures for me to say something. She makes a pouty lip sad face and pretends to wipe away tears with her fists over her eyes. She wants me to milk this for everything it’s worth.

  Playing off her energy, I clear my throat and sniffle for effect. My voice is flat and monotone as I get into character.

  “I guess I’ll go watch This Christmas or Elf,” I say, letting my shoulders droop, and bowing my spine. “Maybe I’ll drown my sorrows in a vat of spiked eggnog.” I have to cough to stop myself from both laughing and gagging. I’m halfway hoping Riley will hear the Christmas classics I’ll be forced to endure and come out and save me.

  “Be well,” Keira says with the air of a seasoned thespian.

  Rubbing a fist against my chest, I hold a hand up to wave and turn on my heel. “You don’t have a tissue, do you?” I sniff again.

 

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