Page 19 of The Baby Bargain
It's true.
Only no one tells you that hurting someone burns that bridge forever.
It's not that I hold a grudge. I want to forgive him. To trust him again.
I just can't.
Bing-bong. The bell's ring interrupts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Ariel steps inside. Her eyes meet mine. Her red lips curl into a smile.
It's not like last night. They don't make me think of Grace. They send my head straight to the gutter.
Her lips on my neck. My chest. My cock.
Fuck, there's something about her request. It's not even for me, but it's doing shit to me.
I always wanted that. A family. But I wanted it with my ex. When she left, I swept it aside. Put it in the same box as the ring.
Now—
She's not even asking you. She doesn't want you filling her. Doesn't matter that she'd melt if you ordered her to get on her knees.
"Shit," Wes whispers to Griff. "There's a girl."
Griffin nodsyeah.
"Too cute for him."
"Chase is handsome. It's his personality—"
"You two have work to do?" I ask.
They share a look.He's irritated. He must like her.
I do. That's the problem. I don't want to hurt Ariel.
But I have to.
Somehow, I have to talk her out of this.
Chapter Six
Chase
"What are we drinking to?" Wes holds up his glass of white wine. "Tell me it's Chase—"
I don't want to know where that sentence is going. "Do we need an occasion?" I shoot him a death glare. It's bad enough he invited himself to dinner. Whatever this is—
I want nothing to do with it.
"Was gonna say to Chase drinking." Wes returns my look.Bro, please. I'm the one with social skills. Give me that. "It's rare."
Griffin isn't here to addChase quit drinking regularly when he realized Mom was an alcoholic. Now that she's half-assing recovery, again—
Not going there.
"It is." Forest holds up his glass—a Moscow Mule, the same as his sister. He taps his glass against Ariel's. Then mine. Wes's. "You're drinking wine."
