Page 36 of Lavish Loving

“Only if you’ll promise me something, too.”

Suspicion was evident in Ace’s hesitation. But he asked anyway. “What?”

“Come over later so we can do some scandalous things…together?”

“I’d love nothing better, but there’s no way I can get away today.”

“What about tonight, or tomorrow?”

“I thought you were leaving tomorrow.”

“Given the right incentive, I could stay another day. I need to talk over something with you anyway.”

“I’ve got about eight or nine incentives. Are you interested?”

“The way those incentives feel inside me, stroke after delicious stroke? Consider my plans changed!”

They laughed as Ace ended the call. He told himself he’d handled the situation, but he went through the day unable to shake the feeling that he’d gotten got instead.

CHAPTER 15

London walked into the bedroom where Quinn had slept Friday night. “I didn’t even think to ask what flight you’d booked us on. Why are you leaving so early?”

“Because of a controlling man named Ike. You may have heard of him?”

“Vaguely, but I try to keep my distance,” London teased. “We don’t see eye to eye.”

“Considering yesterday’s headlines, you may want to keep it that way.”

The women laughed. A year ago, Quinn had married London’s oldest brother, Ike Jr., ten years older than both London and Quinn. London was barely eight years old when Ike went off to college, and she’d moved to a Swiss boarding school by the time he returned. The age gap, distance and difference in moral viewpoints often kept the stubborn siblings in bicker mode. It had initially been that way with him and Quinn. Like London, she was free-spirited and spontaneous. She was proof that opposites could indeed attract, but Quinn had learned it also made certain areas of life tricky to navigate. Ike’s treating her like the center of his universe made these ministrations not only bearable but worth every frustrating minute.

“Are you sure you can’t stay and go home with me tomorrow?”

Quinn looked over at London as she continued to pack her bag. “As if you want me to. I know you said there was nothing going on between you two, but the look in your eyes every time you mention Ace’s name begs to differ.”

“I said we weren’t dating. That doesn’t mean we’re not having sex.”

“London!” Quinn stopped packing and plopped cross-legged on the bed. “You said after Max you were taking a break. Wanted to get your head clear, focus on you.”

London fell back with an exaggerated sigh. “I couldn’t help myself.”

“Has Max stopped calling?”

“Not completely, but he doesn’t blow my phone up the way he used to. Or make every conversation about us getting back together. Now when we talk, it’s just a friend thing.”

“I thought Max was a pretty good catch.”

“At one time, so did I.”

“Are you sure Papa Dee didn’t have an indirect hand in this rekindled romance?”

“Maybe. Nothing happened in Temecula, much to my chagrin. But I kept at it, and my first night here in the condo I finally wore him down.”

“Ooh, you are so bad.”

“Troublemaker is what he calls me.”

“Well, it’s obvious he makes you happy. I never saw Maxwell put that type of smile on your face. So what do you two have planned for the rest of the day?”

“I don’t know about him, but I plan to get into as much…trouble…as I possibly can.”

Quinn had only been gone thirty minutes or so when Ace rang London’s phone.

“Hey, you! Can’t find parking? Just come around the back and I’ll open the garage.”

“What did I say earlier on the phone? That I’d be by to pick you up.”

“I know, but you’ve been so busy and I spent the last two days out with friends. I thought we could just, you know, enjoy a quiet afternoon watching movies and stuff.”

“Watching movies, huh? That’s hardly what’s on your mind, you nympho. Put some clothes on, because you’re probably butt naked.”

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