“Tim.” The man’s mouth thinned further.
“Right. Sorry.” Hunter might have squeezed Tim’s hand just alittleharder than was strictly necessary.
Tim went from looking annoyed to looking smug when a redheaded woman sidled up beside him.The infamous human resources rep, no doubt,Hunter thought. After throwing an arm around the woman’s shoulders, Tim dropped a lingering kiss on her temple.
It was patently obvious the move was for Grace’s benefit. And Hunter had a nearly overwhelming urge to punch the assclown straight in the dick. Instead, he smiled and said, “I’m really glad we bumped into you, Ted.”
“It’s Tim,” Tim corrected again. “And why are you glad?”
“I’ve been wanting to thank you personally for tossing this amazing woman”—he pulled Grace back against him, noting the way the globes of her plump ass cradled the length of his cock—“back into the sea for a…” He stopped and glanced down at Grace. “Is it okay if I use the word you used?”
She blinked at him in question but swallowed and nodded for him to continue.
“For abiggerfish to snatch up,” he finished.
The human resources rep’s mouth slung open at his not-so-subtle inference that Tim wasn’t all he should be below decks. From the corner of his eye, he saw Grace stick her tongue in her cheek to keep from laughing.
Tim, on the other hand, curled his top lip into a cruel sneer. “Jesus, Grace.” He shook his head. “What corner of the internet did you find this guy in. Dumb Jocks for Hire? Wherever it was, I hope it was a bargain site. Because we both know you need to be saving your money to pay off your divorce attorney.”
Grace made a little sound of shock that had Hunter glancing down at her. He was fully prepared for her to shake off her dismay and come back at her ex with something that would cut him down to size. But all she did was gape and swallow and gape again.
He had to step in.
“If you think a woman as beautiful, smart, and funny as Grace would need to pay a man to stand by her side, then you’re even more of a fool than I thought, Ted. And that’s saying a lot. Because ever since I met Grace and heard you threw her over, I’ve thought you were the biggest idiot on two legs.”
He didn’t wait for Tim to respond. Instead, he turned Grace in his arms and framed her pretty face.
“I’ve been wanting to do this all night,” he whispered. And then slowly, ever so slowly so she had a chance to refuse his advance should she want to, he lowered his lips toward hers.
Tim wasn’t the only one capable of putting on a show.
Grace’s breath was warm and smelled sweetly of the strawberry cheesecake tartlet she’d snagged off the tray of a passing waiter before Tim’s arrival. When his mouth finally touched hers, it felt like a victory. Or maybe a gift.
At first, the kiss was delicate. Hesitant. Just a gentle press of firm lips. But all too soon the chemistry that bubbled between them erupted into a cauldron of roiling wantonness.
They were no longer putting on an act for the benefit of Tim the Turd. In fact, Hunter forgot anyone was watching.
His tentative invasion of her mouth became ravenous. The hands she’d placed on his shoulders traveled up to tangle in his hair. It’d turned into the hottest kiss he’d ever shared. Explosive and carnal and exciting.
By the time they pulled apart, they were both breathing heavily. Panting, really. And he could see by the surprise and wonder in her eyes that she was just as shaken as he was.
“Your ex’s nasty response was my fault,” he told her now, having to adjust his stance because the memory of that kiss always had his blood running hot. “No matter how condescending he was, I shouldn’t have antagonized him. And I definitely shouldn’t have gone all fourteen-year-old boy on him and cast aspersions on the size of his dick. That was rude. I apologize.”
“Please don’t,” she implored. “Tim deserved it. But more than that, my self-esteem and dignity were at all-time lows, and with a well-timed speech and one very impressive kiss, you helped me regain both. It was the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“I wasn’t doing it to be nice, Grace.”
“Then whydidyou do it?”
He lowered his chin and stared at her from beneath his brows. “Because I meant every word. Every. Single. One.”
Her mouth fell open.
An invitation?
Damn, he hoped so.
Lifting a hand, he was poised to wrap it around her neck and haul her into his arms. But his arm fell against his side when she blurted, “Shit.”
