So Revealing (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 3)

by Kylie Gilmore

  “I think I’m gonna smell like you,” he hollered.

  A moment later, the door popped open. “What’s that?”

  “I’m gonna smell fruity like you.” He closed his eyes, lathered, and rinsed the shampoo out of his hair, so he wouldn’t be tempted to coax her in with him. When he opened his eyes, Charlotte stood a few feet away, staring at him through the glass, in her bare feet. Holy crap, she was unbuttoning her shirt. He went instantly hard. Who the hell was he kidding with this slow getting-to-know-you stuff? He should’ve known it would come to this. The attraction was too intense to ignore.

  Again he was condom-less. Idiot! He should’ve tossed some in his duffel bag. Maybe she had a box around here. No, they should wait. With someone special like Charlotte, it shouldn’t be all about the physical. That was for quick flings, not for the serious stuff.

  “Don’t come any closer,” he ordered.

  She stepped closer.

  He swallowed. He could not resist that kind of temptation.

  But he was determined to get to know her and not just fuck her brains out. He should get an award for this kind of restraint. He slid the shower door aside just enough to poke his head out. “Baby, wait for me out there.”

  She licked her lips. “You are hung.”

  “Course I am, everything’s in proportion. Go wait for me out there.”

  She peeled her shirt off, dropping it on the floor. Just a white lace bra that barely contained her full beautiful breasts. Her nipples tightened under his gaze, pointing right at him.

  He forced his gaze back to her eyes. “I can see you’re getting horny. I’ll give you a hand job as soon as I’m done here. Promise.” She slid the bra straps off her shoulders, and he felt desperate. “Baby, please. I’ll give you a glow job, just—”

  The bra sprang open and she peeled it off, her gaze raking all over him.

  “Put that back on,” he demanded.

  She set it with her shirt on a hook on the back of the door. He admired the curvy lines of her back flaring out to her hips in tight jeans.

  She turned back to him and undid the button on the jeans.

  He took a deep breath, making one last attempt at the slow getting-to-know-you thing. “Sex is off the table. We’re just hanging out. Remember?” His voice cracked at the end there, just like his control was going to crack if she didn’t stop.

  She slid her hands through her hair, shaking it out, and then ran her hands down her neck, over her breasts, cupping them together and lifting them. His cock pulsed. Her hands slid down her stomach and on to the waistband of her jeans. If those jeans dropped, it was over.

  “I don’t have protection,” he said urgently. “Do you have a condom?”

  She shook her head and unzipped the jeans.

  “Just give me a few minutes and I’ll help you out. Wait for me in your bedroom. Okay? After I’m dressed.”

  She wiggled the jeans down her hips. A scrap of white lace panties. His fingers tingled with the need to touch.

  “I went back on the pill,” she said. Bye-bye, panties. They hit the floor next to her jeans. Game fucking over.

  “Get in here, woman. You do that for me?”

  She shrugged and crossed to him. “I just decided I didn’t want to be a single mom right now.”

  He smiled widely. “Because you’re into me.”

  “Maybe.”

  She stepped into the shower and he pulled her in for a hug, feeling all warm and gooey that she was imagining a different kind of future because of him.

  She kissed along his neck. “You’re awfully sweet.”

  He ran his hands up and down her back, loving feeling her all pressed against him. He shifted them so she’d get some of the warm water too. “Who said that? I’ll break their neck.”

  “I said it.”

  “Oh, then you’re mistaken.” He kissed her and bit down on her lower lip. She made a sexy little noise. Then he kissed her for real, deep and hot, sliding his fingers into her long silky hair.

  She broke the kiss and smiled against his mouth. “I can’t wait to feel you inside me.”

  And then there were no words. Only a hot blur of sensation as he took what she offered. She was aggressive, kissing him roughly, her hands everywhere. He slid his hand between her legs, testing her readiness. Damn, she was so wet for him. She moaned in his mouth, practically climbing his body. He lifted her, pressing her back against the wall, and took her in one swift thrust. They both moaned as they finally joined together. Her head tipped back, her eyes closed. He kissed along her throat, pressing deep within her.

  “Yes,” she moaned. “More.”

  “You feel so good. I want to make it last.” He kept an easy pace, wanting to give her maximum pleasure. He eased back just enough to slip a hand between them, stroking her. She made sexy needy noises that made him even thicker and harder, her gaze unfocused. He watched as she surrendered to pleasure, much faster than the first time he’d been with her, her jaw slack, her eyes dilating and then fluttering closed. He loved that. He was damn proud of it, knowing it was her trust in him that made her let go. And then she went off with a sharp cry and he took what he needed, driving deep over and over. He cupped her face with one hand and she opened her eyes, her breath ragged like his. Her eyes went soft, gazing back at him. The rush of pleasure and emotion hit like a damn tidal wave. He gripped her by the hips, pumping with an explosive release, and then sank against her, buried deep.

  When he lifted his head, he swore they were surrounded by an almost divine aura—everything was glowing, their bodies, the steamy air around them, even the white tile.

  She hugged him with her arms and legs, giving him a squeeze, before resting her head on his shoulder.

  He never wanted to let her go.

  Chapter Twelve

  Charlotte’s leg jiggled restlessly, even surrounded by her friends for their Thursday night post-book club drinks at Garner’s. How could she relax knowing Ty was rappelling down a skyscraper tonight? Everything felt off; even her martini tasted bitter. She pushed her drink away. She’d gotten in too deep, let herself feel too much. Now she lived in a torturous state of anxiety every time he went to work, until she knew he was safe again. She forced her mind back to her precious happy memories with Ty.

  Their first weekend together at her place, they’d made dinner together and made love multiple times. She got a hot flash just thinking about it. His goal was always to maximize her pleasure. He actually said that in his bold way of putting everything out there. After that, she completely relaxed, letting him do as he pleased. He let her do as she pleased and they moved together as easily as a dance. When would she ever get to experience that rare synchronicity again?

  Outside of the bedroom, she’d thought he’d be more domineering with his loud voice and ballsy attitude, used to doing things his way, but he was nearly the opposite—laid-back and accommodating. He even offered to watch whatever movie was her favorite. She put on Gone with the Wind just to test his sincerity and he actually got into it. Any man who’d sit through a chick flick and actually let himself get into it was a keeper as far as she was concerned. Last weekend they’d stayed at his hotel in the city and he’d taken her shopping because that was her favorite thing to do in Manhattan. A man who shopped!

  She rested her head on her hand, her eyes unfocused as a swoony sigh escaped. He was so affectionate and attentive. Gorgeous and sexy. She honestly didn’t think men like him existed.

  And she’d almost missed out on all of that. If they hadn’t gotten stranded on the boat, bringing an intimacy in the dark that she rarely allowed in any of her relationships, if he hadn’t made such an effort to hang out with her again, she never would’ve known. She would’ve just kept right on thinking he was an arrogant guy who played games like the first time they’d met. It made her appreciate what they had even more.

  It had been a very long time since she’d let herself feel so much for a man, but somehow Ty had gotten under her defenses
and into her heart. If he didn’t survive this stunt, he might never know how much she felt for him. Her hands formed fists, her nails digging into her palms. Don’t think that way. You’ll jinx him.

  Maybe he already knew how she felt. He had this way of holding her head, his fingers spanning from temple to jaw as he gazed into her eyes, making it impossible to hide all she was feeling. He held her like that often, when he was about to kiss her, when they were making love, after one of his enthusiastic bear hugs. And she felt that love coming back to her too, like it was building on both of their parts. Even though Ty talked about the future like they’d still be together, casually mentioning places he wanted to take her in LA or stuff they could do together in the summer, which was months away, she still felt the deadline for him returning to LA was hanging over both of their heads every moment they were together. And now it was almost here.

  Mad elbowed her. “You okay?”

  Charlotte turned. “I’m fine. Just worried about Ty. He’s doing a twenty-story fast climb down a skyscraper tonight.”

  “Don’t worry. They’ve got wires on him and all that safety shit.”

  “I can’t help it,” Charlotte replied in a tight voice. “I feel sick every time he tells me about one of his stunts.”

  “You really like him, huh?” Mad asked.

  Charlotte nodded, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak.

  Mad bumped her shoulder, just as physical as Ty. “You let me know if he does something dumbass like break your heart. I’ll kick his butt.”

  A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. “Thanks, Mad.”

  “Ooh,” Mad chortled, “watch this. Hailey brought a peace offering for Josh.”

  Charlotte exchanged a smile with Mad, welcoming the distraction. “She must really love her mojitos.” They giggled. Now the rumor around town was that all that impotence talk was just a cover for the real problem—his tiny banana. Hailey had done nothing to encourage the “tiny” rumor, swearing on her life that it wasn’t true, though she always hastened to add, “Not that I have any personal experience.” Josh had been less than pleased with this result, but was at a loss as to how to prove his manhood to the many women who frequented the bar short of whipping it out. His only consolation was giving Hailey the cold shoulder and denying all her drink requests.

  Hailey set a large clear plastic container on the bar top in front of Josh. Inside were chocolate chip cookies. Everyone in the book club knew how delicious they were.

  Josh gave her a squinty-eyed glare.

  Hailey smiled in return. “I’ve brought you a gift to make up for our tiny spat.”

  “It’s not tiny,” Josh said through his teeth.

  The women tittered.

  “I know you’re a foodie,” Hailey went on despite the pink creeping up her neck. She took the lid off and held out the container. “Try one. If you like it, I’ll email you the recipe with the secret ingredient.”

  Josh eyed her suspiciously. “You eat one first, princess.”

  Hailey pasted on a smile. “But it’s your gift.” She waved the container around under his nose. “It’s for you.”

  “They’re delicious,” Mad put in. The women all agreed heartily.

  “Then let’s see you eat one,” Josh challenged Mad.

  Mad hesitated. “But they’re for you.”

  “Josh, they’re not poison!” Hailey exclaimed. “I’m trying to make amends because of our little issue.”

  “It’s not little, I assure you,” Josh growled.

  Bright pink dotted Hailey’s cheeks, matching her neck. “Please accept this in the spirit it’s given. The proportion of brown sugar to white sugar makes them nice and soft. They just melt in your mouth. If you like them, I’m happy to email you the recipe.”

  Josh was not having it. “You first.”

  Charlotte watched—it seemed the entire bar had quieted to watch—as Hailey took the tiniest of bites and chewed. Hailey nodded her approval of the deliciousness. “Mmm.”

  “Eat the whole thing,” Josh ordered.

  “Can I get a drink of water?” Hailey asked.

  “Swallow first,” Josh said.

  “I really need a drink of water,” Hailey insisted, hand on her throat.

  Josh’s gaze dipped under the bar as he reached for a glass. Hailey took that opportunity to spit the cookie into a napkin.

  Josh jerked upright, filling the glass while taking all of them in. “Did she swallow?”

  “That’s what he said,” Mad quipped.

  “Yes,” Charlotte assured him. Everyone chimed in their agreement. Girl code.

  Josh slid Hailey her glass of water and she beamed. “Thank you.” She took a drink, set her glass down, and pushed the container closer to Josh. “Go ahead. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.”

  “After you eat a whole cookie in front of me,” Josh said.

  Hailey tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Of all the ungrateful—”

  “I’ll have one,” Trav O’Hare, a handsome guy maybe forty, said from down the far end of the bar. Trav was well known locally, a landscape architect married to the daughter of the owner of Garner’s. Charlotte knew Hailey would be extra careful with such a well-connected member of the community.

  “Me too,” the dark-haired gorgeous guy next to him said.

  “Rico’s wife banned sugar at his house,” Trav said. “He’s desperate.”

  Josh shot Hailey a sly look. “There you go, princess. Share the wealth.”

  “See?” Hailey said haughtily. “Not everyone’s suspicious like you.”

  Josh gestured for her to go ahead.

  Hailey turned to Trav and Rico. “These were made special for Josh. It’s his present.”

  Trav and Rico exchanged a grin.

  Josh leaned his palms on the bar top and got in Hailey’s face. “You’re going to have to try a lot harder to outsmart me. I’m onto you.”

  Hailey gulped audibly.

  Josh straightened and went on. “Your sweet do-gooder persona is a cover-up for a devious strategist. Well, guess what, princess? So am I.”

  Hailey rallied quickly. “That’s you, Josh, not me. I’m acting out of pure intentions!”

  “Purely devious intentions,” Josh countered.

  Hailey lifted her chin. “Geez. Try to make amends and this is the thanks I get.”

  Josh shoved the container back in Hailey’s hands. “Email me the recipe minus whatever poison you tossed in there.”

  Hailey’s jaw dropped. “Poison! I would never—”

  “Bugs, spit, beans, laxative, what?”

  The bar went silent, all of them eager to hear what she’d done.

  Hailey looked around at all the curious eyes and back to Josh’s accusing eyes. “It’s raisins, okay? I substituted raisins for the chocolate chips and it tastes wrong and disgusting!”

  Josh barked out a laugh. “Maybe you’re not as devious as I thought.”

  Hailey harrumphed, seeming annoyed she’d had to admit the raisin thing without even getting the pleasure of watching Josh’s disgusted face when he tried one.

  Josh grabbed a rag and cleaned off the bar top. “Still not getting a mojito out of me.”

  Hailey huffed. “Then I guess we’re back to square one.”

  Josh stilled and met her eyes. “Oh no, we’re up a whole ’nother level. Watch your pretty behind, princess.”

  She lifted her chin. “That’s impossible. It’s way back there.” She hitched a thumb over her shoulder.

  Josh cracked a smile. “I’ll watch it for you.”

  “You always do,” Hailey replied. She stood, leaving the cookies, and gestured to all of them. “Come on, ladies, back to my house for the good stuff, fudge brownies.”

  Charlotte inclined her head for everyone to follow. Give the girl her dramatic exit. Besides, the entertaining part of the evening was over.

  Hailey sashayed out the door.

  Charlotte glanced back to see Josh followed through watch
ing Hailey’s behind as promised.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ty was flying high all week at work. Both because he was crazy in love with Charlotte and because he was literally flying in a harness, practicing rappelling down a skyscraper from a few stories up while the director and cinematographer worked out how they wanted the shot to look. It was all preparation for the ultimate twenty-story rappelling scene. Now it was Thursday night, the second-to-last day for him on location. He’d be leaving tomorrow night. Charlotte would meet him for dinner before his red-eye flight and then that was it for a while. He hoped she could get some time off to visit him because he had another gig right after this for at least six weeks in LA.

  “All right, Ty, we’re ready when you are,” the director called. “Check in with Gary and then head on up for the scene.” It was a night scene, the trickiest to film, but the director wanted the lights of the city. A scaffold nearby lit up the shot.

  “You got it.” He rappelled down to the ground and unhooked the safety wire from the front of his harness. Then he spoke to Gary, the stunt coordinator, reviewing the entire scene from the moment he dropped from the window, pretending to lose his grip on the rope and dangling one-handed before grasping the rope with both hands and rappelling down quickly and stealthily. If things went south, which they rarely did, there was a huge inflatable stunt bag under him.

  He headed into the building, chatting with the A-list actor he was doubling for, and they rode the elevator up together. The guy loved stunts and wished he could do more, but the studio didn’t want to risk damage to their star.

  Once he got the all clear from the twentieth floor, he peered out the window and looked down. His adrenaline spiked at the risk he was about to face down and conquer. It was the biggest rush. He wished Charlotte was here to see him, but she cringed every time he mentioned work. She had to get used to it sooner or later. He was young enough to have years ahead of him in the business. His boss hadn’t stepped back from stunts until he turned fifty.