Griffin brought his mouth to my ear. “You look cute. Remember to tell me later what you’re smiling about.”
Our hosts were nowhere around, so he hadn’t said this for their benefit. The lines between us were blurring.
Before I had a chance to reply, they came back with yet another bottle of red and one of white wine.
“Do you have a favorite? If not, we’ll just open both,” Jude asked. They started to laugh for no reason. God, they were cute.
Griffin beamed widely, “Go ahead, open them both. Phoebe, want some red wine too?”
“No, I’m sticking with white. Who knows what will happen if I mix them.”
“We don’t want to get drunk, do we?” Griffin asked, and I blushed.
After Griffin refilled our glasses, Jude held his up. I did the same with mine.
“To a great weekend and making new friends,” Jude said.
I felt Griffin tense next to me.
Friends. That could turn into a complication. But I was certain Griffin would solve it. Once he’d signed the deal, he could come up with an excuse about why I wasn’t in the picture anymore. I had full confidence that he could get out of that.
But I wasn’t nearly confident enough that we could spend the night together and not touch each other.
CHAPTER 15
GRIFFIN
This weekend wasnothing like I’d expected. For one, I’d assumed that Phoebe and I wouldn’t be alone for too long. And I definitely assumed the house was much bigger.
“Which ones are your favorite?” Emma asked.
“The chicken,” I replied. Whatever marinade she’d used was really good and gave the meat a sweeter taste that I quite liked.
“Mine too,” Phoebe said.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Even though I’d jacked off while thinking about her in the shower like a damn teenager, I was still on edge. I still wanted her.
I needed to find a solution for tonight. There was no way in hell I could sleep next to her. I could try the floor—actually, no. I’d be no good tomorrow with a stiff body. I’d wait until Emma and Jude went to sleep, then go downstairs to the living room. Tomorrow morning, I’d come up with an excuse.
“Want another drink?” Jude asked me.
I shook my head. “I’m fine.” I definitely didn’t want my judgment clouded around Phoebe.
She seemed far more relaxed than I was. I couldn’t believe she’d taken everything in stride. Frankly, I was stunned that she’d agreed to it at all. But as her best friend had put it, shereally needed something to take her mind off that asshole. And I’d volunteered for that job.
After we finished dinner, we stayed out for a while longer, as the weather was just perfect. Gradually, I began to relax as well. Emma and Jude were recounting the details of their latest trip to Egypt. Phoebe was listening with rapt attention, asking pertinent questions.
“You’d like to visit the pyramids,” I concluded.
She batted her eyelashes. “Well, yeah. If this doesn’t count as a hint, I don’t know what will.”
She smiled at me before focusing on Emma again. She was so good at playing her role.
That’s right, Griffin. It’s just a role. Get yourself together.
But my dick was definitely not getting the memo. It had been clouding my fucking judgment ever since I saw her in that bikini on the boat.
“Where did you last travel?” Emma asked Phoebe, who looked at me warily. I nodded, gesturing for her to speak.
