“It’s pissing me off, is what it is,” I argue. I’m fucking moody as hell. I had one of the best orgasms of my life with the literal man of my dreams and then got dumped back into reality without so much as a chance for a kiss hello or goodbye.
“Look, I’m just asking you to save it until we’re in person together. Grey still pays your cell phone bill, which means if he wanted to, he could see how many times we call each other, which would definitely be a red flag.”
“Us not seeing each other for the last four days is the red flag,” I grumble.
“Don’t I know it. And who packed your schedule that full when you’re supposed to be enjoying a break?” he asks.
“Ugghhh,” I whine into the phone.
“Fuck, you’re cute when you pout,” he says in that deep voice he knows I can’t resist. “At least we have the birthday dinner together.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better? I go from fucking your ass to four days ofnothing, and then we get reunited under the roof of the man responsible for making us hide?”
Connor chuckles. “Sounds like a recipe for disaster, huh?”
“Little bit,” I agree.
“I miss you,” he says quietly into the phone as though afraid he’ll spook me with the words.
While not spooked, I am a little shocked. I mean, I know he finds me irresistible, but the emotional declaration catches me slightly off guard. Mostly because I think, “I miss you, too.”
“Maybe we can meet at your place after the birthday celebration,” Connor suggests.
“Yeah, that’d be really good if we’re trying to avoid my balls exploding.”
“Well,” he starts in a sinister tone. “I was kind of hoping that was the end goal, just, you know, in my mouth.”
“Connnooorrrrr,” I whine again.
“Careful, Vox. I think I like it when you’re needy.”
“Ohmygod, I’m not going to survive you,” I lament.
“At least we’re on the same page. I’ll see you tonight…and don’t forget, keep your eyesabovemy belt.”
I snort. “Yeah-fucking-right,” I reply before hanging up with a dopey grin on my face.
I throwon the only suit I own. I don’t do a lot of pomp and circumstance because most of the time it feels disingenuous. But for the Pattersons, I happily don the black shirt, red-and-black striped tie, black pants, and black suit jacket. It’s the most subdued outfit I own, but I don’t hate it. The suit is custom-tailored. It’s the same one I wear when I’m forced to attend a formal PR event for Patterson, and I have to admit, it draws attention.
Selfishly, I hope it draws Connor’s attention because I’m finding it hard to think about anything else. Every brain cell is focused on replaying images of our night together.
Parking my Jeep behind Grey’s daughter’s 4-Runner, I jog carefully up the snowy brick steps of his immaculate home and ring the bell.
Jennifer flings the door open and catapults into my arms.
“Voxy!” she squeals.
Laughing, I scoop her up and squeeze her tightly.
“Hey, Jenn. Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, Vox. It’s good to see you. Looking good as always. Dad says you’re going to kick everyone’s ass again this year.”
“That’s the plan,” I tell her.
Jenn is a sophomore at Colorado State in Boulder. She and I have always gotten along extremely well, and as much as Grey loves me, no one holds a candle to his Jenny-Bear. Jenn is pretty, but looks way too much like her father for me to have ever been tempted to gothere, though it wasn’t for her lack of trying. I’m just thankful she and I can joke about it now.
Behind me, I hear a car pull into the driveway, and I break out in a sweat. I want to turn and lay eyes on the man stepping out.
