Page 20 of Sexy Bad Escort

“Funny,I wasrecently wonderingabout your family.”

“Youwere?”

She nodsand sips her drink. “You never talk about them. Doesn’t seem likeyou spend any time with them, since you’re always, well, with mine. Do you have parents?Siblings?”

Isthis her way of callinga truce? Maybe I’d rather we go back to not talking.

“Yes, Ihave parents, although no, I don’t talk to them much.” Or at all.“And yes, I have a sibling. A brother. He’s older, your age,actually. We also don’ttalk much.” Or at all. But then again, he lives in California, soit’s easier to pretend it’s because of the distance. My parentslive probably twenty minutes away, so there’s really no excuseexcept, well, we just don’t like each other.

Her gazesweeps over the group of people gathered nearby. “I couldn’t imagine not talking tothem.”

“I know. Andyou’re lucky for it. Even with your mother’s lousy taste inmen.”

Shesmiles. “I can’t believe you led her to believe we’re dating. Youdorealize she’s calledme every day this week, asking about you, right?”

“Nope,didn’tknow that,sincesomeoneisn’tspeaking to me.”

Hercheeks darken while her gaze drops to the wooden boards at ourfeet. “Yeah, sorry. I needed a little time to come togrips.”

“We canfake our breakup anytime you’re ready. Just say the word. I only did it to give yousome breathing room.”

“I know. I getit now. I just…”

Justwhat? Just wasn’t expecting that kiss? Just wasn’t expecting tothink maybe, possibly, this chemistry between us might be real?

No wait,that’s allme.

“There’sthe happy couple.”Cynthia’s voice trills from somewhere to my left, and Ipull my gaze away from Ronnie. The grin on Mama Frost’s face isspread ear to ear, and her eyes are so shiny they practically lightthe way as she walks. Ronnie is the last of her children to findher happily ever after. She’s also the only girl, and it’s obviousthe older woman is thrilled beyond words over Ronnie and I beingtogether.

That’s alittle bit interesting, actually. Me? I’m a layabout, a mooch; Ihave no future. I didn’tfinish college, I’ve never held what someone like Mama Frost wouldterm “a real job.” Hell, I don’t even have an apartment, let alonea house. Hadn’t she said exactly that about Jockstrap? “He’s ahomeowner.” That’s what she listed as one of his many positiveattributes.

So whyis the Frost matriarch so seemingly happyover the idea that her one and only daughter isdating someone likeme?

“It’s sowonderfulthat you’llattend these family function as more than Erin’s tagalong bestfriend from now on,” Cynthia says when she reaches us.

“That’srude, Mother,” Ronnie says, butthe other woman looks confused.

“What is?”

Ronniewaves at me. “Calling him a tagalong.”

MamaFrost’sbrows crease, and she looks as though she’s trying to figure outwhat she said wrong. Which is nothing at all, actually. What shesaid is exactly right.

“Don’tworry about it,” I say, and I snag Ronnie’s hand and giveit a tug. “Let’s go grab asteak before Garrett eats them all.”

Insteadof guiding her toward thegroup of people gathered around the grill, I veer left,into the house. Ronnie stumbles over the threshold, but she followsas I head through the kitchen, into the dining room, and then tothe foyer, where I turn her and press her against the wall at thebase of the staircase.

I slap ahand to the plaster on either side of her head while she lifts herface, her eyes wide, her lips slightly puckered, and I almostforget my intent andkiss her again.

But Imanage toclear mythroat and say, “We need to clear the air.”

Shenods, her hand straying up to touch my shirt. I can barely feel theweight of her fingers as they trace the row of buttons, and yet mydick swells, my braingoes fuzzy, and I’m leaning closer than is necessary forsimply conversing.

“Ronnie…”

“Uh-huh.” Sheisn’t listening to me. She’s too busy slipping her hands underneaththe hem of my shirt and then raking her nails over my abdomen. Isuck in a breath and bite my bottom lip. What the hell is shedoing?

“I’vewanted to know what you feel like for longer than I should probably admit,” she whispers,her gaze on my shirt.

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