Page 63 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
“What the hell are you doing?” She rolled over and glared at me.
I scrambled to my feet. This situation was deteriorating, and I needed a save. “Uh, sorry, but I know Emma will come looking for me soon. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care to have my sister walk in on me in the throes of passion.”
My words must have connected because Dana laughed, and the deep line in her forehead disappeared. “Ya got me there. Just thinking of my sister witnessing something like that dries out my pussy.”
I nodded like a bobblehead, hoping to save my reputation.
“What do you have planned after dinner?” she asked.
Back on firmer ground and with my bearings restored, I shrugged. “It depends on whether Em sticks to me like glue.”
“I know you love your sister, but she’s being a buzzkill.” Dana rubbed her hand between her own legs. “I’m getting clam jammed.”
She must have seen my eyes widen because she added, “Never heard that term?”
I shook my head.
“Then you’ve never been properly edged.” Before I realized what she was doing, she ran her hand between my legs. “When I get my tongue on this, I’ll have you screaming to come, but I’ll take my time since you’ve made me wait.”
Without another word, she turned and exited my room.
I stared after her. Was that supposed to make me hot? Would it have back in New York? Probably, but now I was far from turned on.God, was that how I’d behaved in the past?
“Blake?” I heard Emma calling.
“Yeah,” I responded.
“Are you coming?”
No.I smiled at my juvenile joke. “Be right there.”
I walked with Emma across the lawn toward the festivities.
“You’re quiet,” Emma said.
“It was an intense day.” It had been, so I wasn’t lying, but I had no intention of telling Emma about Dana.
When we arrived at the table, all our housemates were there except for Dana, who I spotted sitting across the lawn with Noelle. The tension in my shoulders relaxed. I wanted a quiet evening with the others, and Dana’s absence made it more likely I would.
“I think my card is nearly maxed out,” Helena said to the others as we sat down. “Maybe I can get a cash advance.”
“I don’t think it works that way,” Annie said.
“What did we miss?” Emma asked.
Annie motioned toward Helena. “Helena’s trying to figure out how to pay for the two-week extension.” Annie turned to me. “You’re in finance. If her card is maxed out, she can’t take a cash advance, can she?”
I hoped my face didn’t register the thoughts rushing through my mind. As calmly as I could muster, I said, “Simple answer—no. Longer answer is nobody should ever take a cash advance since the interest rates are exorbitant. And maxing out your cards is risky, too.”
Helena sighed. “I know. I was just hoping to stick around with everyone.”
“You know I have a trust,” Katlynn said. “I could float you the money, but I’ll have to talk to my financial adviser since my portfolio took an enormous hit last year. I can—”
“What?” I couldn’t help but interrupt her. “Your portfolio was down?”
Katlynn nodded. “It’s the second year in a row. I’ve lost a substantial amount.”
“Whoa.” I held up my hand. “Back up. What are you invested in?”
