Page 32 of Color of Love

Chapter 10

The next evening, Justine was getting ready for a barbecue at Dean’s house. She had expected to be on another date tonight, but word must have gotten out about her being the Manhood Mutilator because the guy canceled on her.

She fought a smile as she thought about Blake’s charade last night. She’d been fuming, humiliated, baffled and aroused: a barrage of emotions. She had been so confused by their interaction in her office. Had he just been trying to educate her? Or had he actually been flirting with her? She didn’t know, she just knew that she needed him pressed up against her again.

She had been so happy to see him at the bar that she’d barely been able to keep her eyes on her date. Why couldn’t her date have intrigued her the way that Blake did? Why did it have to be Blake that she couldn’t stop staring at, couldn’t stop thinking about? She couldn’t have him and even if she could, did she want to? Her body screamed yes but her brain said no, there was so much baggage there. Damn, I’m in trouble.

Last night, he had shown her a side of his that she couldn’t get out of her head: the protector. He’d stormed across the parking lot to them, in full alpha male mode and shut down the two creeps she’d been with. She already suspected they didn’t have pure intentions with her, which was why she’d ended the date so soon. But to have Blake come out and defend her, to tear her away from them and invent such a creative, funny story that still had her laughing even today, was different.

He wasn’t as serious as he made out, there was definitely a sense of humor there. Oh, the way he’d pressed her up against his car, running his hands all over her body, controlling what she felt and where, owning her body, she shivered now just thinking about it. She needed someone like him to mentor her, like a sex guru. Is that a thing? Not that it could ever be Blake, of course. She sighed, putting the thoughts out of her mind, looking forward to spending the evening with her friends, hopefully she could forget all about him.

She grabbed a cab to Dean and Christy’s place and when she arrived, she didn’t bother knocking, she just walked straight in. Christy had moved in with Dean a couple of months ago and their house was stunning. The place was so warm and inviting, a cozy family home that you just never wanted to leave.

She headed to the kitchen and looked outside where everyone was gathered. Dean and Beau were over at the barbecue, getting it going. Christy and Taylor were sitting around the fire pit, already half a pitcher into the margaritas.

“Hey girl! What are you doing here? How was your date last night?” Taylor asked, waggling her eyebrows. Christy ran inside to fetch another glass and poured Justine a bigass margarita when she came back.

“Oh yeah, weren’t you meant to be on another one tonight?” Beau asked.

“Yeah, the guy canceled. I think he had a better offer,” she joked, but Christy frowned.

“Asshole,” she said indignantly.

Justine laughed. “It’s fine, honestly.”

“Yeah well, hopefully someone better will come along,” Taylor said, eyeing her over her glass, Justine narrowed her eyes at her, suspiciously.

“What do you mean?”

Taylor shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing,” she said, innocence dripping from her words, but she wasn’t innocent at all. The doorbell rang, distracting them all. Justine looked around. They were all here so who could that be?

“That’ll be the guest of honor, let me go and let him in,” Dean said, and headed indoors. Taylor was still smirking at her and a sinking feeling settled over Justine.

“What have you done? Who is that?” Justine demanded.

“Shh sweetie, drink your alcohol,” Taylor said, tipping Justine’s glass towards her mouth and Justine ended up laughing. Her laughter died in her throat when Dean came back with the mystery guest.

“Blake! Nice to see you man,” Beau enthused. They did one of those cool guy handshakes that every guy just seemed to get.

“Really glad you came,” Dean said sincerely.

“Thanks for having me,” Blake replied, and then said hello to Christy and Taylor and when he turned his stare to Justine, she felt her heart stop as those silver eyes swirled at her invitingly. Stop lusting after him, immediately!

“Nice to see you Justine, I thought you couldn’t make it?” he asked with a pointed stare at Taylor who avoided eye contact.

“Yeah, I wasn’t meant to be. I was supposed to be on a date, but it got canceled at the last minute, something must have spooked the guy,” she said, fixing him with a knowing smile. His mouth twitched like he was fighting a grin. She wished he’d just let it out, she was dying to see it.

“Well, I guess it’s for the best, you can’t be too careful these days,” he said, staring down at her. Goosebumps prickled along her skin as she remembered the feel of his hands sliding over her skin and she looked away first, breaking eye contact.

“Take a seat, Blake, I’ll go and get you a beer,” Taylor said and got up, trying to put him next to Justine but she wasn’t fooled.

“I’ll help you.” She stood up, fixing Taylor with a sharp smile. She grabbed Taylor by the arm and dragged her indoors.

“What the hell?!” she hissed when they were alone. Taylor looked at her, all wide-eyed innocence.

“I just thought you might like to get to know each other before you completely dismiss him as a potential suitor, or at least someone to rid you of your V plates. I don’t know how you’re still carrying those around,” Taylor sighed dramatically as she got a beer from the fridge.

“I told you I wasn’t interested in him, and I meant it,” Justine huffed, ignoring the crack about her virginity. She knew Taylor didn’t mean anything by it and had previously praised her for her restraint.

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