Page 72 of No Rhyme or Roughing
“Is that whatyouwant?”
I tilted my head back to the sky. “Woman…”
“Man,” she mimicked with mock exasperation.
That was it. I reached out and yanked her toward me. She laughed as she stumbled into my chest, her arms sliding around my waist, holding me.
I wasn’t sure when someone had last hugged me like this, but I didn’t want it to end.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about Sam if you tell me how you still feel about Jameson.”
She tilted her head back to look up at me. “Jameson… What… Okay.” Her wide eyes bore into me, and I couldn’t look away.
“Sam and I… we weren’t right. We were comfortable. She deserved more than that, and she realized it before I did. No, I’m not in love with her. I just don’t want to feel this anger anymore. It’s exhausting.”
“Then, don’t.”
“It’s that easy, is it?”
“No.” She rested her ear on my chest. “It’s work. Every day. Take it from someone who knows what it’s like to lose their siblings, to have them completely cut her off. You don’t want that to happen. Because that kind of pain… well, it takes a lot longer to get through than this temporary hurt.”
I wanted to protect her from her sisters, to make her see none of it was her fault. The destruction of her family. The way their worlds fell apart. But I didn’t have the words. Instead, I said, “Your turn.”
She sighed, and I prepared for the worst. “Jamie and I were having fun. A superstar with model looks wanted dumpy me.”
“Don’t call?—”
“I wasn’t done.” She clapped a hand over my mouth. “It shouldn’t have happened. He was a client, my biggest ever. But more than that, he was my friend. I’ve always been short on those. So, yeah, I care about him.” She removed her hand, raising up on her toes, stopping with her lips inches from mine. “But I want you.”
One brush. Two. My hands traveled down to her hips, lifting her so her feet dangled as I took the kiss deeper, my tongue tasting every warm crease of her mouth. “I’m addicted to these lips,” I whispered.
“Not as much as I’m addicted to that tongue.” She winked, bringing back thoughts of the other night, of the way she’d let me have her. Gripping my forearms, she forced me to set her down and glanced over my shoulderto where I’d forgotten were a scattering of tables with people enjoying their dinners.
Clearing my throat, I released her. She took my hand, guiding me back toward the steps and stopping before we went inside. “Sullivan misses you too.” She gave me a small smile. “I can see it in the way he looks at you. Maybe it’s time to let it all go.” Then, she was inside, leaving me to watch after her.
Knowing that every word that came out of her mouth was the absolute truth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
SYDNEY
“Is it ready yet?”
The door to my room burst open, revealing an eager Ryder. He was practically vibrating with energy as he crossed the room and perched on the edge of the bed.
I barely looked up from my computer, where I was painstakingly editing the video. I’d have finished it sooner if I hadn’t been dragged to that weird dinner.
“Five minutes closer than the last time you asked.” I rolled my eyes, biting back a smile. Was this the same guy I’d had toconvinceto go along with this plan? Seeing him out on the ice tonight had been different. He was better, sure, but also more…into it, I guessed. There wassomething else about him, though, something I couldn’t quite place.
“Ready yet?” Teddy popped his head through the doorway.
“And you,” I said, shaking my head, “asked six minutes ago.”
He bounded into the room like an overgrown puppy, wiggling up onto the bed between me and Ryder to watch me work. I could practically feel both of them breathing over my shoulder.
“Do you guysmind?” I tilted the computer away, trying to scoot over to get some space.
“Thank God.” Teddy slid into the gap I’d created, stretching out. “I was feeling cramped.”
