Page 118 of Melting the Ice

Blaine. That fucking idiot.

“That guy was an idiot,” Ray echoed my thoughts. “Won’t miss him.”

“Yeah, yeah. I already knew it wasn’t going anywhere before he left. But I didn’t know anyone else in Denver, and I really like it here, so I stalked Micah and found out the bar the team goes to. Showed up there and basically begged him to let me crash here.”

I chuckled. “Stalked me? I haven’t heard this version.”

Her eyes twinkled with humor. “It took some effort to randomly bump into you since your social media game is complete crap. Maybe post some shit sometimes. Ooh, I bet the fans would love to watch you livestream your puzzles.”

“Very funny,” I deadpanned. “And social media is annoying. I’m not posting my meals or some shit.”

“You could always share some stretching videos.” Her eyes looked glassy, and I barely stopped myself from dragging her into my lap.

“Wait. No. I’m not sharing your stretching with anyone else.”

“You promised to be on your best behavior.” Ray’s voice cut into me staring at her, and I looked at my friend.

“I think we’re scarring him again,” I teased.

She laughed. “He better get used to it because I’m in love with you.”

“Believe me, I’m not going to discourage any affection you send my way,” I said, lifting our linked hands so I could kiss her knuckles.

“Never thought I’d see this,” Ray said, disbelief and a touch of humor in his tone.

We’d definitely made progress with him tonight, thank fuck.

“What?” I asked.

He gestured toward me and Josie. “This actually makes perfect sense. You guys just seem to work even when you’re so opposite. I guess you complement each other.”

I turned my attention back to Josie. “Yeah, we do.” My heart was so happy at this moment. I shouldn’t have needed Ray’s acceptance or blessing, but I was glad to have it.

“That means a lot, Ray. Really,” Josie said, smiling at her brother.

“But yeah, just no sucking face in front of me,” he grumbled. I pulled Josie into my lap. She flattened her hand against my chest with a squeak.

“You mean like this?” I teased.

“Josie, you really have created a monster,” Ray said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, isn’t it wonderful?” she replied, her eyes just for me.

I gave her a quick peck and then shifted her to sit next to me again so I didn’t drag her into the bedroom and devour her. Ray would definitely run if I did that, and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to my best friend.

We spent the next hour hanging out, and I was so fucking pleased that his trip was ending this way. The secrets were over, and now I could openly love this amazing woman in front of everyone.

I bit back a laugh. Worst kept secret ever.

JOSIE

“Oh my god, stop it.” Micah’s arms tightened around me, and he pressed little love bites behind my ear and at the bend of my neck and shoulder. Shivers wracked my body, but I didn’t pull away.

“Should’ve made him stay in a damn hotel room,” he muttered.

“We are not having any kind of sex tonight.” We’d made excellent progress with Ray, and I was still traumatized enough from him hearing me having sex earlier this morning to notattempt it again. No matter how much I wanted this man currently torturing me.

“Please. There’s an entire room between our bedroom and the living room. He’ll never hear us if we’re quiet.” His hand slipped under the sleep cami I’d put on after we’d said good night to Ray. We’d left my brother on the couch and escaped to our bedroom.

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