Page 32 of Glitz & Goals

I nod my agreement. “Same.”

Grady takes a deep breath. “So… now what?”

“We play it cool,” I say. “Take things slow. Maybe get to know more about each other so that we don’t get any more nasty surprises.”

Grady bobs his head. “You’re right. And we’re going to be on the road for the next ten days. That’ll give us some space. So, can I call and text?”

I smile. “I’d be pissed if you didn’t. Now, let’s eat. Otherwise people are going to talk. As far as they’re concerned, we don’t know each other well enough to even be having this interaction.”

We go our separate ways. I end up in a long conversation with Sofia and Dot, mostly about Sofia’s prospective jewelry business.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for the grand opening,” she frets. “What if I’m not prepared? Or what if I’moverpreparedand my business is a bust?”

“Deep breaths,” Dot urges. “You’re fine. If you have to pivot, you will. You’ve got a safety net.”

Sofia wrings her hands. She turns to me. “I’ve always been impressed by the fact that you’re self-employed, but I don’t know how you got things off the ground without going crazy. There’s so much to learn! All the bookkeeping and stocking management and… and I’m going to have to hire help…”

I lay a hand on her shoulder. “Dot’s right, Sof. You’ll do fine. You’re thorough, and I get that, but there’s going to be a learning curve for everyone starting out in a new venture.”

My watch buzzes, and I sneak a quick peek at my messages. There’s a new text from Grady.

Grady: This is me, giving you space.

I smile to myself and look up. Grady’s standing by the back door. As I watch, he slips his phone back into his pocket and drops his bottle into the recycling.

I message him back from my watch account, which uses my universal username in the chat.

VivaLaViv: You’re really good at it.

Dot’s talking about some influencer she’s obsessed with, and Sofia chimes in to talk about livestreams. I don’t spend a lot of time on socials with streaming platforms—I have a life of my own, thank you very much—so I mostly listen. Their conversation is punctuated by messages from Grady that keep me suitably entertained.

Grady: I could give you more space at my place later.

VivaLaViv: I’m leaving to meet friends at 9pm. I always leave the parties before anyone gets too drunk or too wild and tries to hook up with me.

VivaLaViv: After all, I babysat half the team. I already know too much.

Grady: Oh. That’s why you’ve seen their dicks.

I bite back a laugh.

VivaLaViv: Excuse me???

Grady: Never mind. Want to meet up later? You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you right now.

VivaLaViv: I have something of an idea. Imagine how badly I want to be kissed.

VivaLaViv: But you’re giving me space, remember? So you’ll have to wait.

Grady catches my eye from the other side of the party. He pouts for about two seconds before turning back to Ranger. I wonder what they’re talking about over there.

All of a sudden, it’s just too much.

The party hums around us, but all I feel is his eyes. Every time I glance up, Grady is already watching me, his gaze dark and smoldering. Images flash through my brain. His head between my legs. His cock in my mouth. Whenever I try to focus on the conversation in front of me, I hear his voice across the space, that deep, commanding rumble that makes my skin heat.

This is ridiculous.

I need to take a beat. A reprieve from the weight of him pressing against my every thought.

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