“Doesn’t matter. She seemed set on proving her point. And it worked.”
“Didn’t want to wait for you, huh?”
“Nope. Fast-forward a few more terrible relationships, and I met Sophie.”
“Sophie from Ahab’s?”
“The very one. Anyway, Lincoln had totally talked her up, saying she was the one for me. Pippa was even worse. And we did hit it off right away. I wouldn’t say sparks, but a light simmer. Then... she met Asher, and I found out she wasn’t interested in me after all when I walked in right after they’d enjoyed a little dressing room action. I hadn’t even realized they were into each other.”
“Ouch.”
His body tensed, firm and blazing against her skin. He leaned forward and gripped his hand in his hair. “Worst one yet. I met this incredible woman. She’s got a laugh that makes everything more colorful. Is charming as hell, but she doesn’t seem to realize it. Brilliant. Her brain is always ticking with weird facts and has this quirky sense of humor that she rarely shares, and I wish she’d say it out loud.”
This punchline wouldn’t be what she was hoping for. Couldn’t be. For either of them.
He continued, “Best date of my life, and I went to ask her out, only to find out she’s taken. Worst of all, in this house that I hate, there she is, engaged to my brother, who absolutely doesn’t deserve her.”
His ocean blues locked onto hers, heavy and swimming, and she was drowning. Both glossy-eyed, from the liquor or the moment, she wasn’t sure. Chest rising and falling with mountainous effort like she was wearing too many lead drapes to protect her from destructive x-ray radiation, Claire let her gaze lower to those irresistible lips.
Testing, hesitant, he leaned closer. Breath shared, soft, spiced, his lips were so close she could already feel the zap. She closed that last sliver of distance and broke that last line.Just once.
As she’d hypothesized, lightning struck.
Molten lava coursed through her veins. Her brain went all wonky as electrical connections busted and rebuilt again. Warm, pliant, he took it further, kissing, again.
Breathless, the world crumbling around them, she dug her fingers into his hair and wrapped around him. Deepening the kiss, he slid his tongue over hers, tasting, exploring, his hand cradling her jaw as he soared with her to a distant fairytale land.
A soft whimper passed her lips as the rest of her body pleaded to be included.
The south stairs creaked. A grumbling yawn preceded the intruder.
Claire leaped off the stool and booked it out of there.
Stealing one last glance, she found Grady sitting alone, rumpled and astonished.
10
