Page 118 of Taste of Addiction

“Okay. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“It’s not you I’m solely worrying about. It’s who you hang around with as well.”

“She’s my best friend.”

“I know,” he says with a nod, “that’s why I bumped up security.”

I shake my head over his ways. What once used to drive me crazy, now is endearing.

“Enjoy guys’ night. Win some money so I can justify the amount I spent on my craft room.”

He makes a silly face, as if my expenses even put a dent into his bank account. “I’m going to step out and handle a couple of business matters while you guys get ready here. But I’ll be back before you leave with Collins to say goodbye and set up for poker.”

“And approve of my outfit?”

“Sure.”

“Graham!”

He doesn’t even hesitate or laugh, which really solidifies my suspicions. “Claire better hope she stays on my good side.”

“Pretty sure that girl doesn’t care about pissing you off. But the mani and pedi sessions yesterday had to have helped soften her view of you.”

“That was the plan.”

“You are so manipulative,” I comment with a snicker. “You don’t even try to hide it.”

Graham shrugs, throws on a pair of overly worn jeans and a T-shirt, and slides a solid-black hat over his wayward hair. He is looking mighty fine and all mine.

“You look hot and mysterious,” I comment. “Why don’t you dress like this for me?” I wrap my arms around his neck, tip up his hat, and stretch to kiss his lips. “Hmm.”

He kisses me deeper and moans, grabbing my ass with both hands and squeezing. “Quit flirting with me. I’ll never leave.”

The sound of the doorbell ringing lets us know Claire is here. I trot downstairs ahead of Graham. I’m still wearing only his boxers and undershirt, never bothering to change after my nap. He slaps my ass before we round the corner, and I glare back at him for his blatant teasing.

“Hi, Claire,” he greets with a small smile.

Despite whatever he wants to pretend, I know Claire has taken a spot on his “Like List” after a record-breaking two months on the “Dislike List.” He has warmed up to her and has accepted that she will forever be in my life. We are sisters from different misters. Friends forever. He may not approve of ninety-nine percent of her ideas, but at least she is predictable at having bad ones—like tonight’s costumes, no doubt.

“Hey, Graham,” she says with a wave. She is already sprawled out on the living room floor surrounded by costume paraphernalia chaos. She is in her element and, despite the ridiculous makeup palette she just reveals from her bag, I know she will come up with something amazing. Overly sexualized, but still amazing. “Oh and Graham?”

“Yes?” he asks, while hugging me and kissing me on the nose. It is so feathery soft that I giggle.

“Hey!” Claire yells, hopping up from her place on the floor, clapping her hands together to get our attention back to her. “What I wanted to say before you both started groping each other was thank you for the spa date yesterday, Graham.”

“Of course. Anything for my Angie to relax and spend time with her best friend.”

Claire eyes him speculatively. “Something going on?” She points from me to him and back again. “I can sense it. It is like you guys are maturing in front of me.”

I laugh at her serious expression. “Pretty sure my maturity will be dwindled down by whatever you plan to dress me in,” I say, pointing my chin to the mess all over the furniture.

“I’ll be back to say goodbye. Have fun, ladies.”

“Oh, we will,” Claire calls out, grabbing my hand and pulling me over to her makeshift workstation. “So, first off, I took your direction.”

“My direction?”

“Your suggestion. Actually, plural—suggestions.”

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