Page 60 of The Layover

“I’m not, I swear.” She was quick with the assurance. “I don’t want to see you hurt, but I’m not judging.” She gave me a sly smile. “Was it good? Were they good?”

“It was so, so good.” So good.

“That was the night you called me.”

I nodded. “I left after they fell asleep. Snuck out like a proper early morning walk of shame. I couldn’t face them the next morning. Or their little girl. She’s so sweet. They’re so sweet. And fuckable. Fuck.”

“You’ve got it bad.” Daria searched my face. “You know the consequences, so I won’t weigh you down with the list, but if you’re feeling something for them, maybe you shouldn’t ignore it…”

“Nope. This is lust. I’m not feeling anything more for them.” I pushed power into the words, as much for my benefit as hers. “I have an ex-husband issue and a project that I will complete. There are no other feelings.”

Daria’s frown reflected my own doubt, and I hated that.

21

Raul

My anger with Isabella being back, with her making ridiculous demands and even more ludicrous threats, lingered through the night and into the next morning. I was reluctant to leave Eloise at home today, but Ariana assured us that they would be fine, and that if anyone showed up claiming to be Mom that she’d call us immediately and keep the woman out.

“Why now?” Diego asked for the billionth time as we headed to the church.

And for the billionth time, I didn’t have an answer.

We reached the building about the same time as Carly. As much as I tried to tell myself otherwise, seeing her made me smile. It didn’t matter how she looked, though this morning she had a cup of coffee in hand, her hair was already pulled into a messy bun, and she was wearing glasses.

Hello, sexy teacher fantasy.

I pointed to my own eyes. “You wear glasses?”

“Contacts.” Carly said. “But I was up a little too late drinking with Daria, and my eyes weren’t having that this morning.”

“Is she the bad influence friend?” Diego asked.

Not that I’d seen. When we met Daria in Salt Lake she was professional, competent, and excelled at her job. It didn’t surprise me that she and Carly were friends.

Carly shook her head with a laugh. “No. She’s the smart let’s plan everything friend. Brooke is the good are you sure we should do this friend, who we found either fifteen years too late, or at the perfect time, depending on your perspective. I’m the bad influence.”

Diego looked her over in a way that made my blood roar, wanting to see them together again. “I’m not sure I believe that,” he said.

“Good.” Carly grinned. “That means I’ve done my job.”

She really was sexy. And smart. And compelling. Maybe Diego was right—she was exactly what we needed in our lives.

Of course, every argument I gave him still stood. Isabella being back was a good reminder that we couldn’t let someone into Eloise’s life who wouldn’t stay, and Carly wasn’t staying.

“Speaking of my friends, I told them they could come by at lunch for a tour of the place.” Carly interrupted my thoughts. “If that’s all right.”

I wanted to counter with As long as we can come to your birthday party. I wouldn’t say that, though.

“Of course it is.” Fortunately Diego was on it. “We’d love to meet everyone.”

The three of us got to work. Carly was back to being cool and professional. It was exactly what she needed to be, but I missed how easily she’d slipped her hand into mine yesterday. How comfortable it was to see Diego wrap an arm around her waist.

Sure, that was for Isabella’s benefit, but I couldn’t help but want it to be a more permanent thing.

Diego, Carly, and I were prepping a portion of the building for demo work, when an echo rang out through the room. “And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee.”

What the…?

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