Page 43 of The Seven Month Itch
I smile at the thought. “I’d like that.”
His eyes drop to my lips. He leans in for a kiss that gets interrupted when the door swings open.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Emma leans against the frame in one of her silk robes. This one is lilac and actually reaches her knees. How the heck did she hear us?
She won’t leave until I make an introduction, and I don’t need any more embarrassment tonight. “Emma, Preston. Preston, Emma,” I say, motioning between them.
“The pleasure is all mine.” She shakes his hand. “Now, what were you doing with Justice to have her out past one o’clock?”
One? I never stay out this late.
He answers without hesitation. “We went outdoors to enjoy the stars after the movie.” Minus the breakdown and me humping his erection, it’s partially true.
Em takes one look at my face and rolls her eyes. “Yeah. I doubt that’s all you did based on Justice’s sex hair, but I do respect your ability to be discreet.”
Do I have sex hair? Preston grabbed it a couple of times, but I didn’t think it was that bad—
Forget this.
Why am I acting like Emma is my mother and I’m out past curfew? Iama grown woman.
I push her back into our suite and look over my shoulder with a smile. “Emma has to go, but thank you for tonight. I had fun.”
He offers me a smile in return. There go those dimples. “So did I. Have a good night.” He waves. “It was lovely to meet you, Emma.”
I wait a beat before I turn and face my friend. Her arms cross in front of her chest as she scans me from head to toe. “Tell meeverything.”
Chapter 20
Terrence
“You must really be in hell to call me.”
After some soul-searching and groveling last night, Emma agreed to meet me in my room this morning to talk. I thought about a restaurant or one of those studio rooms, but I didn’t want eyes on us.
Em sits at my dining room table with her arms crossed and her black manicured nails on display. She’s ready for war. I pissed her off with this request to meet, but it’s important.
“Hey, Em.”
“Why am I here, Terrence?”
“Are you hungry?” I point to the menus on the table. “I can order room service if you want food.” Her eyes cut through me.Damn. Straight to the point it is. I join her at the table to discuss the person who still consumes my every thought. The one my heart refuses to forget. I let out a sigh. “I wanted to check in to see if she’s…okay.”
“Who, sweetie? Because from what I hear, you like to put your tongue in women’s mouths during kinky movies. You need to be a bit more specific.”
I deserve that. If there’s one trait about Emma I can’t fault, it’s her loyalty. She’s a good friend to Justice—a sister—who will protect her from all enemies foreign and domestic. Estranged husbands included.
“You sent her into the arms of another man,” she says in a huff. I flinch. Clearly, I didn’t hear her right. How in the world did I push Justice into another man’s arms? She came into the movie with one.
I sit back and cross my arms to mirror her stance. “Back up. She arrived with another guy. I’m sorry that I hurt her and broke her trust”—my stare becomes pained—“but I saw Justice on a date and lost it.”
It hits me. Emma isn’t talking about what happened before the movie. She’s talking aboutafter. Justice wouldn’t have a one-night stand, but given her reaction in the theater, maybe I shouldn’t put it past her.
My chest tightens. “She didn’t…” The words to form the question scrape against my throat. If the answer is yes, it will wreck me beyond repair.
Emma puts up her hand. “It’s not my style to disclose any intimate details about my best friend. But you look like you might have a heart attack. Justice and Preston did not have sex last night.”
Thank God. Also, good to know this guy has a name.
