Page 27 of Arouse Me

“Brat,” I grumbled as I climbed out of bed.

Reaching for my phone, a flutter of excitement rolled in my belly. It was juvenile and sophomoric, but I couldn’t keep from hoping Joshua might have left me a text.

“You’re a fool for wishing,” I mumbled as I tossed the phone onto the bed and stalked toward the bathroom.

Sanna and I were the first to arrive at Maurizio’s. When Scotty spied me, he puffed out his sculpted chest just a little and swaggered out from behind the bar. My not-so-subtle sister waggled her eyebrows at me, grinning like a fool. I wanted to smack her.

“Hey, Mellie. It’s good to see you again.” He smiled, stepping close inside my personal space. “I guess sleep won out the other night, huh?”

“It did. I’m sorry. I’ve been traveling too much lately. I think it caught up with me,” I replied, pursing my lips in sorrowful apology.

“Maybe after the party, you can join me up at the bar so we can talk or have a drink.”

His hopeful expression made it impossible for me to shoot down his offer. “I’ll see what I can do,” I hedged with a light smile.

One drink wouldn’t kill me. Besides, I needed something to occupy my brain cells to keep them off a certain artist who still hadn’t called. What if Scotty wanted more than conversation? No thanks. The thought of any man besides Joshua touching me sent an icy chill of revulsion through my veins. The prickly, edgy sensation was back.

“Come on, Mel. Let’s start setting up. The party’s back here,” Sanna called, motioning me toward a room off the back of the restaurant.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Smiling, Scotty took my hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a sweet kiss on it. Then he winked. “Anything at all.”

His kiss left an itchy burn on my hand, as if millions of ants crawled under my skin.

“Will do.” I nodded, flashing a quick smile.

Steering toward the opening Savannah had disappeared through, I frowned.

Why all of a sudden are hunky, desirable men off the menu? Surely, you’re not delusional enough to think Joshua is ever going to call, are you?

Wanting to prove the voice in my head wrong, I tugged my phone from my pocket and checked my messages. Nothing. Maybe Joshua wasn’t ever going to call. That thought made my stomach turn in a sick sort of way. Shoving my phone away, I stepped into the large, lackluster room and groaned. It needed a lot of work. Thankfully, my inner designer diva roared to the surface—ready to turn the dull room into a dazzling bachelorette utopia—and shoved my foolish hopes of Joshua away.

Inhaling a deep breath, I started helping Sanna sort out the decorations.

Julianna and Trevor arrived, their arms draped with shopping bags and their hands loaded with boxes. Sanna and I rushed to help lighten their burden.

“There’s more in the car,” Trevor smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

“Do you need some help?” I offered.

“Yes, please. We have a shit-ton of stuff.” He grinned.

As Trevor and I made our way through the restaurant, I felt Scotty’s eyes on me. Trying to focus on Trevor’s excited ramblings, I couldn’t shake the awkward sensation Scotty’s attention evoked. It was perplexing. Rarely did I shun the interest of a sexy, hot man. What was wrong with me?

“How’d your art thingy go last night?” Trevor asked, opening the back hatch of a big, black Escalade.

“It went great. Thank you.” Steering the conversation from more questions, I chuckled and tipped my head to the bags and boxes packed inside the vehicle. “Are we decorating the whole damn city?”

“Just about,” he giggled. Lifting a box, he issued a loud grunt. “This is that damn elephant butt plug thing. Why on earth did Savannah want to buy this enormous, scary thing in the first place?”

“I have no idea,” I chuckled. “But you’re right. It is frightening and then some.”

“I’m just glad Daddy never got to see it. He definitely doesn’t need any help thinking up ways to push my limits, that’s for sure.”

“I don’t think you have to worry, Trevor. That thing wasn’t made for humans…at least, I hope not.”

“I should say not! That damn thing would stretch your sphincter to the point of no return. I mean, think about it. You’d have to wear diapers the rest of your life because your shit would just fall out.”

I started laughing so hard I almost dropped the supplies. “I don’t want to think about it. It will scar me for life.”

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