Page 16 of Best Friend's Dirty Ex

She dips her head in thanks. “I appreciate that. And I'm glad that you're pleased with the design.”

“More than pleased.” I don't intend the words to leave my lips as a growl, nor do I expect her to give me that wide eyed stare that screams for me to take her.

She gives her head a slight shake, as if trying to clear away the cobwebs... or the brain fog left behind from lust. “I also wanted to apologize for being so strange on the phone last night. I thought I saw someone from my past, someone I didn't end on good terms with.”

“You don't owe me an explanation, but I will listen if you want to talk.” I want to make sure that she knows that she is welcome to share with me, but she doesn't have to.

“Thank you.” The way her gaze lowers to the floor tells me she's ashamed of her past and the relationship in question. “He was a narcissist, and I gave him far too much of my life. I cut contact completely and haven’t heard from him since, but I thought I saw him last night. It was kind of a strange, out of the corner of your eye kind of thing, you know?” She doesn't seem to know how to explain herself, but I completely understand what she means.

“That makes perfect sense. After Lyla and I broke up, I thought I saw her everywhere. When I actually did see her in public, it was a complete shock.” I don't think I want to give her any exact details about my marriage or the relationship with her friend, but I want her to feel at ease.

Of course, the reason seeing her in public was a complete shock is absolutely one I won't share. It had nothing to do with not expecting to see her and everything to do with who she was with. I'm still well aware that I got completely screwed out of that whole situation, and the fact that there's nothing I can do about it just angers me further. All the money in the world can't right some injustices.

“Thank you for understanding. I feel silly for being so worried. I don't think he'd hurt me or anything and I’m not even sure I actually saw him, but it's still nerve wracking.” She lets out a soft chuckle as if she's laughing at herself.

“Breaking up with anyone, even if it was a toxic relationship, is traumatic. You're going to grieve and grief is strange. Don't be too hard on yourself.” I reach out and put a hand on hers, then realize I probably shouldn't be touching her, given how difficult it is for me to control myself when we are close.

But she puts her hand on mine, trapping me in place.

“You're right. Thank you.” With that, she pats my hand and stands up, and I follow suit. “I will start getting in contact with everyone we need to get the redesign underway.”

“Thank you,” I say as we move toward the door.

“And for the record,” she says, turning to face me and nearly catching me staring at her ass. “It doesn't matter how my body responds to you. I am completely off limits to you.”

She says the words in an authoritative tone, and I find myself only wanting her more.

Chapter Nine

Everly

He’d been kind, understanding, he’d let me talk about my past without shutting me down or making me uncomfortable. And he’d even opened up a little bit and shared, as if knowing that opening up slightly would help put me at ease when talking, like putting us on equal ground.

Who is this man and what did he do with the arrogant, insufferable Troy I thought I knew?

And now, I can’t stop thinking about how he’d flipped my skirt over my head and buried his face in me. How his hot breath and warm tongue felt as he tasted my dampness through the thin barrier of my panties.

And I internally curse myself for telling him to stop when I wanted to beg him for more. The desperation still hums in my blood as I stare at him.

“Tell me more about Layla?” I ask, but I know full well he’s not going to answer as he gives his head a slight shake.

“It’s not my place to tell you about what happened between her and me.” There’s something almost noble about his words and attitude – especially given how quick she is to throw him under the bus – but that annoys me all the same.

I just want to know what the heck happened. She won’t tell me, he won’t tell me, but that nagging voice inside says something isn’t quite right.

As my body overheats, begging me to reach out to him, to have him touch me, to take things further, I clamp down tight on those feelings and try to shoo them away, as if I can just swat them out of existence. Of course, they come buzzing back like annoying little bugs, threatening to overwhelm me.

“I can see the heat in your eyes.” He grinds the words out with effort. “You have no idea how hard it is to stop touching you when your body and eyes say yes but your mouth says no.”

Though the words could sound threatening, I don’t feel unsafe with Troy. Maybe I should. Instead, his coarse tone sends another wildfire of heat through me. My cheeks sting and I wring my hands in my lap.

“And yet you manage. My hero.” The snark in my tone doesn’t make him mad. Instead, a smile tugs one corner of his lips and he holds back for only a moment before letting out a chuckle.

Tingling heat sears through me at the sound and I try to get the topic back on track, because if he keeps talking all dirty to me, I don’t know that I can keep turning him down. I want him, and that’s scary. I have to keep reminding myself he’s my friend’s ex, that he’s off-limits, that no matter how much my body wants him – or how suspicious I am of Lyla’s story – that I can’t have him. And he can’t have me.

“As long as everything runs smoothly, you’re looking at about a month until things are complete.”

He seems confused for a moment, then a light clicks on behind his eyes and he nods. “That sounds wonderful.”

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