by Selena Blake
“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.
“Gram gave me her house in her will,” she said quietly to Greg. “Annie lives there with three other girls.”
“Two,” Annie corrected quickly.
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.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
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. Considering he’d never actually forgotten where he was during the middle of a kiss before, going slower would be hard as hell.
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 good 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. Being young and invincible, he’d succumb to his brothers teasing which had only proved to set his recovery back a half a season longer.
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. And the color reminded him of the blush that had crept into her cheeks earlier.
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.
Did her nipples match the pearlescent pink buttons or would they be darker? The thought sent his erection into a full bloom. Thank God his pajama bottoms were baggy. As she approached the bed, he kept his hands clamped around the sides of his laptop so he wouldn’t reach for her; those buttons would give way with a single yank.
She flipped on the TV and settled next to him as if he didn’t have a raging hard on and it wasn’t all her fault.
Was she really that innocent or was she simply ignoring the tent in his lap?
“What do you want to watch?” she asked.
Her.
“Doesn’t matter.” If his voice sounded tight it was because every ounce of his willpower was restraining him, holding him still, not letting him turn and gawk at the gap between buttons showing off the soft curve of her breast. Something about her aloofness made him feel like a randy teenager sneaking his first peek.
Through sheer force of will, he focused on his computer monitor and navigated to the real estate website.
“See anything you like?” she asked a lit
tle while later, still flipping through channels.
That was an understatement. “I do,” he said, glancing her way. She was staring his monitor so he had the opportunity to study her from head to toe.
His will power only lasted so long especially when he noticed her toenails matched her jammies. Yep, he was a goner. He started to slide the laptop away.
“Let me see.”
He shot her a look and saw that she was still staring at the monitor.
“I’m looking at her.”
For the second time in less than an hour he made her blush.
“Oh.” She sighed the word. He loved that he’d put that sparkle in her eye, made her feel beautiful.
“I wish you’d come closer,” he whispered, holding out his hand. His mission was twofold. Get her to touch him and the throbbing in his knee would disappear and he’d get to feel her soft skin against his. Win-win.
She scooted toward him a few inches.
“That seems like a bad idea.”
“Why?”
“Do I really need to tell you?” Her gaze swerved to his injured knee and then bounced up to his shoulder.
“Yeah.” From everything he knew about Gretchen, she didn’t invite men into her bed so this was a big step for her. He got that. But he wanted her. Badly. And she wanted him too. He could see it in her eyes, the way her lips were parted ever so slightly, that silent battle going on inside him that made her lean toward him.
She sighed good-naturedly and slid her palm against his. Win number one.
“Show me the houses you’re looking at.”
He stared at her for a long second, hoping his eyes would implore her. Hell, he’d settle for holding her against him and breathing in her sweet scent, feeling her warmth. But she kept her gaze locked on the computer screen.
They were going to get to the bottom of this, soon. Injured or not. He quickly thought of all the dull things he needed to do for work and when they only calmed his desire by half, he drug up the memory of Thomas smiling at her at dinner.
That did the trick.
He opened his bookmarks and selected the old house two blocks off main street. “So far, this is my favorite. It’s actually in Roseville, not too far from my dad.”
“Can you make the pictures bigger?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He swiped his finger across the touchpad and clicked the small magnifying glass icon. The old Craftsmen home tripled in size and centered on the screen.
“I love the wide walkway. Great symmetry.”
“That’s what grabbed my attention. You can tell the place is owned by a little old man who loves to putter around the yard. The inside needs updating.” He clicked the right arrow.
“Outside needs painting.”
“Yeah, that too. I’d need a thorough appraisal.”
“Are you worried? Renoing a house rather than a condo?”
“Nope. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?” His fingers were itching to paint something. He’d only been out of commission for five days but he’d willingly peel wallpaper if it meant no more achy joints and getting back to his old speed. Heck, right now, he’d probably enjoy the laborious task.
“Keep going,” she said, waving at the screen.
He clicked through to the next picture and heard her slight intake of breath.
“The foyer has a fireplace. Am I seeing that right?”
He laughed and was pleased when his ribs didn’t protest. “Yep.”
“I think my whole bedroom would fit in there.”
“It’s probably just the camera lens. They make everything look bigger.”
“How many fireplaces does that thing have?” she asked as he flipped through the pictures.
Yeah, there was a ton of old wallpaper that needed to go. And even though the original hardwood floors were there, several of the rooms had old, worn carpet installed on top. That meant lots of pulling nails, sanding, and refinishing. All of which assumed the wood was in good enough condition. But the house was old. Like a century-and-change old. He didn’t care. It was charming and big and beckoning for love. And a few kids, a dog and a cat. A wife, of course; sitting there on the front porch swing waving as he cut the grass. Damn he wanted that. Sooner rather than later.
“A few,” he finally answered, once he backtracked long enough to remember the question.
“I don’t know,” she said as he flipped to the final photo. “That looks like a lot of work. What does JJ say?”
He shrugged. “Haven’t showed it to her yet.”
“It’s in a good location. And it’s got plenty of space, inside and out.”
“But?”
“But you might be renovating for the rest of your life.”
“It’d be worth it, don’t you think?” He flipped back to the first picture that showed the wide front porch that stretched all the way across the house. “Imagine her with a fresh coat of white paint. A colorful front door. Red maybe. Or a sunny yellow. And then Christmas lights hanging from the eves. Windows all clean and lit up. Pots of pansies on the steps to welcome you home.”
She squeezed his hand but didn’t say a word. When he turned to look at her, there was a shimmer of tears in her eyes. “That sounds wonderful,” she whispered.
Oh hell. Did she have to sound so sweet and breathless all at once? He was trying his darnedest to stay on his side of the bed but– Her tongue snaked between her lips, just a hint of pink but it was enough to have him shoving his computer aside and pulling her into his arms.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Did Greg show you the house?” Gretchen asked JJ as they leafed through bras at Armoire, the new lingerie store in downtown Roseville.
JJ paused, holding a pale blue bra in the air. “House?”
Since Greg had mentioned texting JJ last night, after that smoking hot make out session, she figured he’d mentioned the heavily wallpapered home to his sister/business partner. But holy cow, maybe he’d melted his brain too. Gretchen had been in a state of near constant arousal since their lips parted ways. It was a good thing she’d insisted on sleeping in the guest room again.
He made it really hard to take things slow. What had been an effort to keep him from reinjuring himself had morphed into an attempt to protect her heart. But last night, he’d showed no signs of pain and reminded her just how hot things were between them. Their chemistry was thick and had the power to make her forget her promises to herself. That whole one about no more sex until she had a ring on her finger? Out the window.
Preserving her heart? All it took was a teasing tongue and she forgot about that idea.
In the fog of sleep she couldn’t be responsible for her actions if she were in the same bed as him, no matter how platonic they were trying to be at the moment. She almost snickered at the thought. There was nothing platonic between them right now.
“We were looking at real estate last night and he found this house he likes. I thought he’d sent you the link.”
JJ’s hands dropped and she shook her head, her blond hair skimming her shoulders and she frowned slightly. “House? Like with a driveway and everything?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm.” She looked thoughtful. “He mentioned it the other night but I thought it might have been the pain meds talking.
JJ studied the bra in her hand but Gretchen could tell her mind was racing in other directions.
Likewise, Gretchen was starting to wonder if this store had anything in her size. So far, all the garments on the racks were made for tooth picks...like JJ, Cindy and Baby. Although, maybe not Baby. She was tiny in circumference, not cup size.
“Let me know if you ladies need help with anything,” Liz, the store owner, called from behind the counter.
Gretchen nodded her head in acknowledgment.
“Do you want to flip a house?” Gretchen asked, curious about her friend’s plans now that she was getting married and changing careers. “Plus, this one’s really old. Like over a century.”
“I
bet it has great character.” JJ sounded wistful.
“From the pictures I saw it has great character and a ton of old wall paper.”
“I’ll text Greg about it. Can’t believe he’s been holding out on me.”
Well, he’d had his lips locked with Gretchen’s for quite a while, rendering all other thoughts and actions pointless. But she couldn’t tell JJ that.
JJ picked up a sheer cupped black number and inspected it. It must have passed muster because she added to the growing collection draped over her arm.
Gretchen needed one bra, just one bra that would lift and perk up the girls. That was it. And really, was that too much to ask out of life? Why had she thought this shopping experience would be different than any of the previous ones; she hated bra shopping with a passion. At least the store was pleasant and quiet. And JJ was here to keep things fun.
“Speaking of holding out on me... how are things between the two of you?”
“Who?”
“You and my brother. He is still living at your house, right?” There was something about the way JJ said the words that pulled Gretchen’s interest from the hook and eye closures.
“Yeah. Where else would he be?”
“With one of my brothers?”
Gretchen frowned and hooked a hand over her hip. “Why would he be at your brothers?”
JJ feigned innocence and shrugged. Pouting she pegged Gretchen with a look that made her a teeny bit uncomfortable. Did she know about the kissing?
“I’m still upset with them for their little trick the other night. That wasn’t funny, getting my hopes up like that and all.”
Gretchen wanted to say ‘how do you think I felt?’ but since she’d never uttered a peep about her interest in Greg, she wasn’t going to share the turmoil that second round of teasing and JJ’s response had caused. Luckily, Greg didn’t let them get away with it.
“You know how guys are,” Gretchen said, although sometimes she thought she didn’t have a clue about the male of the species. Despite the fact that she wasn’t anything like Greg’s normal type, he seemed perfectly happy to be locking lips with her.