Chapter 4
CAL
Ijust wanted a few quiet minutes with this guy before we went back to the party. I’d basically mauled him like an animal the second he stepped into the bathroom, but I’d been overpowered by my need to have him.
Designer clothes, expensive haircut, and cologne that’s probably imported from somewhere isn’t my style, but something about him had short-circuited my brain.
Caution? Gone.
Red flags? Can’t see them.
Taking a breath to really think about who this might be? A problem for future me.
“Seriously, I’ve seen a penis. Hurry up,” Ellison says with a huff because of course she’d be the one to catch us. “I’ve definitely seen yours, Blake.”
“There’s more than one bathroom in this house,” I call back and she chuffs out a laugh before my brain snags on what she just said.
“I’ve definitely seen yours, Blake.”
Blake.
Blake as in her ex-boyfriend, the guy she was with before coming back to Montana and Blackstone Falls.
Fuck my life.
“Yes, but if you think I’m waddling up the stairs and missing you two walking out, you’re out of your mind.”
Righting my clothes, I watch with regret as Blake does the same. A part of me wishes we had more time so I could lay him out on my bed and savor him. The other part wishes I could kick my own ass because what the fuck was I thinking?
It’s a baby shower; of course he’d be connected to the family somehow.
But it’s not like I can do anything about it now.
“Ready?” I mutter and he nods, my hand reaching for the doorknob and pulling the door open in a flourish. “Ellison, fancy meeting you here.”
“Huh,” Ellison ponders as her gaze bounces between us. “Well, this worked out better than even I imagined.” Her head tilts to the side, the comment directed at him rather than me.
It’s another inclination that I’ve fucked up—that I missed something.
Something important.
Besides the obvious.
“Get out of the way. I still need to pee,” she huffs, shooing us out of the way, “but do not leave.”
She closes the bathroom door, and resigned, we wander into the vacant kitchen.
“So, you’re Blake,” I state because it’s not a question.
“I am.” The words are even.
“And you knew who I was before we—” I motion in the direction of the bathroom without taking my eyes off him.
“Yes.”
“Fucking hell,” I hiss as I drag a hand down my face.
“In my defense, I did try to tell you that.”
“When?”
“The first time you said I was sexy as hell and the second time I said I should tell you and you said maybe later.” He rolls his lips inward to hide his smile, but he can’t hide the amusement in his gaze, especially when it’s emphasized by his eyebrows creeping up his forehead.
I vaguely remember dismissing him both times, but I didn’t think the follow-up would be I knew exactly who you were as we jerked each other off.
Such a waste of a perfectly great orgasm.
“I can’t tell if you’re mad or not,” he muses and I glare.
“I haven’t decided yet,” I admit.
He nods, both of us turning toward Ellison as she joins us at the island.
“So, this is fun.” She beams and I narrow my eyes at her because I can already tell she’s up to something.
I don’t like it. I never would have hooked up with him if I knew he was Ellison’s ex-boyfriend.
“Don’t,” Blake says, the word both a command and a plea that has my gaze ping-ponging between them.
“I mean, it’s clear y’all have chemistry.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “That’s half the battle already.”
“Ellison,” Blake tries, but her lips split into a shit-eating grin that has me sweating because I know that smile.
That smile means she’s gleefully going to drop a bombshell and I’m going to hate it.
“What?” I ask as they both ignore me.
“You could have talked to him beforehand,” Blake accuses but Ellison doesn’t flinch.
“I’m a million weeks pregnant and this is really the first time I’ve gotten to see him.”
“I’m standing right here,” I mutter as two sets of eyes swing to me.
“And so handsome, isn’t he, Blake?” she coos and he blushes, his tongue peeking out to wet his lips as he turns to me.
“Yes.”
What is happening right now?
“Someone better start talking,” I hear myself say even though I’m completely captivated by the honey color of Blake’s eyes.
“Can we go somewhere?” Blake asks softly.
“Preferably not my bathroom,” Ellison tosses out as she rubs her belly. “I love you both, but for the sake of my bladder, do not do that to me again.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” I tease and she gasps with faux indignation.
“That’s hurtful.”
“Also, valid,” Blake murmurs under his breath, causing her to stick her tongue out at the both of us as she turns on her heel and stalks toward the door.
“You both owe me babysitting for dates to be determined in the future,” she says, her finger pointing back and forth.
I open my mouth to protest because seriously, what did I do? But Blake just shakes his head. She preens and waves before disappearing back out the door toward the party, leaving Blake and me standing awkwardly in the kitchen.
“So,” he starts, shoving his hands in the front pockets of his slacks, “do you want to go for a walk?”
Fuck it.
“Yeah, I think I do.”