She didn’t need to say anything, he offered,“You left it out there.”
“I’m a little naked here still; mind grabbingit for me?” She gave him a winning smile he couldn’t refuse.Glancing down at his raging erection, she added, “Although, you maywant to deal with that, or poor Lucy will have a heart attack.”
He managed to pull his gaze away from hertopless with jeans look. Damn. Wasn’t easy. Her expression hazy,she was as lost as he was.
After a stern talking to, looking away fromher gorgeous body, his erection was mostly calmed down. Asherdashed out to grab her bra from the pedestal. Tossing it in theair, he juggled it a bit on his way to return it to Sophie.
“Something I should know?” Grady stood in thedoorway where he’d clearly just come in.
Or hopefully just come in. Shit, if he’dheard anything… Asher may know he was in it for the long haul withSophie already, but others wouldn’t know that yet. Or would believeit of him.
“What?” Asher blinked and played dumb whilehe figured out exactly how much Grady had observed. Out of thecorner of his eye, he saw Sophie pull closed the dressing roomdoor. “Oh, this. Lucy, the seamstress, she helped Sophie change herbra out to one that fit the dress better. I’m just grabbing it forher so she can get changed.”
Daggers coming out of his eyes, it was clearGrady wasn’t born yesterday. Glancing down, he saw the lingeringtenting action going on. Gritting his teeth, Grady went to the rackto grab his tux. He opened his mouth to say something but managedto hold it back.
For now.
***
A disembodied arm shot into the dressingroom, her bra dangling from the hand.
“Thanks,” she said in a shaky breath. Shit.Grady totally knew.
Dressing as quickly as possible, Sophie hungup her dress with the new bra and added it to the rack. Asher wasgone by the time she got out. Guilt left a nasty taste in hermouth, but not because of what they’d just done. That she wouldn’t,couldn’t regret.
Despite some of her rebellion on escapingfrom her aunt, she’d never been excessively promiscuous. Neverwould have had the gall to do something like that in a dressingroom. Not that she planned to make a habit of it, but around Asher,she was overwhelmed with exciting sensations of lust and thrilland… a deep-seated happiness.
Lucy shuffled back in a few minutes later.Wordlessly, she grabbed her tailoring gear and waited at thepedestal for the final groomsman.
Looking dashing in a perfectly completedtuxedo, Grady came out of dressing room number one a moment later.He barely spared Sophie a glance. Good thing, as Sophie had no ideawhat to say. Knew the wordGUILTYwas pasted across herforehead in big, bold red ink.
Lucy was well into her inspection when Gradycouldn’t stay silent any longer. “How long?” He glanced at Sophiethrough the mirror. His expression dark, lips drawn tight.
She wanted to act like she didn’t know whathe was asking but was never one to lie. Omitting the truth was badenough. “It’s not what you think.”
“So, you weren’t just fucking Asher?” Acidspit from his mouth, somehow his tone even more callous than theharsh words he spoke. Lucy’s hand shook as she pinned the cuffs.Too bad she wasn’t working on the crotch area and pricked theprick.
“I said, it’s not what you think. I… Asher…Yes, we’ve been sort of seeing each other. Yes, we had a… moment inthe dressing room.” Why was she answering to him? She didn’t owehim anything. Pippa and Lincoln had certainly been trying to pushthem together, but she didn’t think she’d ever led him to thinkthey were an item.
“Hey, if you’re looking to be another bedpostnotch, I’ll accommodate you. Likely with a little more finesse.”His words were still acid, but his expression was rapidly revealingmore hurt than anger.
Hoping she hadn’t hurt him, hadn’t led himon, she didn’t know whether to smack him upside the head for beingan asshole or let him down easy. She settled for somewhere inbetween. “So far your finesse is seriously lacking. I like youGrady. I did, anyway. It’s none of your damn business what goes onbetween Asher and me. But… I’m happy.”
Expression pained, his brow scrunched, heglanced again at her through the mirror. Lucy continued herpinning, feigning disinterest and thankfully not acknowledging theconversation. In this business, she might as well get used todressing room talk.
Sophie fought the threatening tears,terrified she’d lose her best friend, Asher, or both. “With thewedding coming up and Pippa already stressed out, we don’t wantanyone to know just yet. Please. Whatever your feelings, forPippa’s sake, and by extension Lincoln’s, please don’t sayanything.”
Inhaling deeply, exhaling slowly, Gradynodded. “I won’t say anything. But, when he does exactly whateveryone expects him to do, I’m not taking sloppy seconds.” PoorLucy’s hands were quivering uncontrollably.
“I think you can finish up here by yourself.”Shoving Pippa’s wedding tablet into her purse, she stormed out ofthe building.
***
Sophie slammed the CR-V door, furious withGrady. Furious with Pippa. She didn’t regret one minute with Asher.If she’d just brought her stupid bra to the fitting room. None ofGrady’s business, that was for damn sure.
Trying her best to not exceed the speed limitor run any stop signs in her fury, Sophie drove home overlycautiously. She did let herself kick up a bit too much dust on thedriveway in her anger. Asher’s truck was in the garage, his legssticking out from under it again.
Calming herself as best she could, she walkedover and hunched down to get his attention. “Hey,” she said.
