Isobel had nice, juicy curves, and our mouths met in a lingering kiss. I cupped her plump ass, giving her the green light. She slid to her knees, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the magic.
Her skilled tongue tried its best, but when minutes passed with only a halfhearted sign of life, I gave her a gentle push. Eyes brimming with questions, she got to her feet. I smiled weakly as I zipped up and stood.
“It’s been a bitch of a week. I guess the late nights caught up with me.” I slipped an arm around her waist. “Come to bed. Let me take care of you.”
She patted my cheek and flipped her shining hair. “Honey, I’ve been taking care of myself for years. I don’t need a man to give me an orgasm. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. It’s never happened before. Must be all the work. Maybe Daniel’s right, and we do need to take on more partners.”
Lies. All lies. Sure, I’d had sex and it was satisfying, but not the same after that night. With Brenner. It was getting off to get off. This night was the first time I’d been unable to get it up, though.
Shrewd brown eyes met mine. “I love you, West, but you lie like a dog. What’s really wrong?”
“Damned if I know.”
“Is it another woman? You’re not a cheater.”
“No way. I’ve seen enough in my life to know that’s not how I want to live.”
Case in point: Dear old Dad. Master philanderer. And Mom had never suspected, too wrapped up in her illness. Until the day she’d died, she’d believed in the fairy tale, but for the illustrious Senator Preston Lively, he could finally carry on his flings in public without repercussions.
Except for my utter contempt, but then again, why should his son’s emotional state of mind matter to him?
My hand in hers, we returned to the couch. “So? What’s the deal? Are you unhappy with the move? Or maybe you left someone behind. Someone you want but can’t have?”
Isobel was way too insightful. I let my head fall to the cushion and stared at the ceiling, still not ready to confess what I wasn’t sure of, but maybe if I talked about it out loud, it would make sense.
“No. The job’s great, and I love living here. You know I was happy to move to the city.”
“But?” Her fingers stroked my arm, nonsexual and comforting.
“But you’re right. Iwaswith someone last year. And it left an impression I haven’t been able to get out of my mind. No matter how hard I try.”
“I’ll bet. You can’t fuck someone out of your system. I’ve tried.”
A chilling thought ran through me.Shit. I’d never imagined she’d fallen for me. “Isobel, I—”
A snort of laughter escaped, and her eyes danced. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not talking about you, even though you’re hot as hell. When I moved to Denver, I met someone and thought he was the one. Turns out, I was his one of many. It’s been about a year, and I can’t stop thinking of him, no matter how hard I’ve tried. I thought tonight would help, but looks like we’re both suffering from the same problem.”
“Maybe so.”
It wasn’t that I feared Isobel’s reaction, but I hesitated to explain that my attraction was to a man. Mainly because I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on in my head. Until I worked out the strange predicament I found myself in, I planned to say nothing.
Besides, Brenner and I couldn’t stand each other. It had been a one-time thing. A mistake neither of us planned to repeat.
Chapter Three
Brenner
A call came through on my personal phone, from the firm of Walden, Booth, and Roth. For one wild moment, I thought it might be Weston, and I alternated between thrills and fear before deciding I was behaving like an idiot and answered it.
“Hello? Brenner Fleming.”
“Mr. Fleming, this is Joanne Wilcox calling for Daniel Roth of Walden, Booth, and Roth. Mr. Roth would like to know your availability for lunch this week.”
Instantly on alert once I heard who was calling, my brow furrowed. “I’m sorry? Lunch?”
“Yes. He said it’s your choice of days.”
