Chapter 22 #3
“Yes, that’s exactly what it means.”
“You’re a little too used to getting your own way all the time.”
“Yeah, right. That’s the story of my life.
I suppose the years of nonstop rejection from just about everyone in the film business is a sign that I get my way all the time.
Or of course the fact that I supposedly write for a living and haven’t written a goddamned word in more than a year is another sign. That’s exactly what I want.”
“Don’t forget the girlfriend you managed to lose but still want.”
“Ah, so that’s what this is about.”
“She’s free and clear now. Cal’s not coming back. There’s the opening you’ve been waiting for. Go get her.”
Grant was so stunned by her sharp words that he had no idea how to respond. “Is that what you think I want?”
“It’s what you wanted just a few short days ago,” she reminded him.
She was moving so fast down the hill, he had to jog to catch up to her.
When he did, he took her by the shoulder again.
He hated that after all the time they’d spent together, the closeness they’d shared, she still flinched as the unexpected hand landed on her shoulder.
“Stop, will you?” Softening his tone, Grant said, “Please, just stop.”
As a family walked by them, ice cream cones in hand, the adults cast a curious glance their way before continuing on.
“You’re making a scene,” Stephanie said, shrugging off his hand.
“You want me to make a scene?”
“No,” she said through gritted teeth. “What I want is for you to admit the truth—that your first thought upon hearing Cal isn’t coming back to the island was how it would affect Abby.”
“Of course that was my first thought! She’s his fiancée—and my friend. One of my oldest friends. I want her to be happy!”
“Good! Then go make her happy, and leave me alone.”
“Oh, my God, you’re driving me crazy.” He took her hand and dragged her off to a dark corner behind Moby Dick’s restaurant. Mindful of the abuse she’d once withstood at the hands of her mother, he kept his grip light enough that she could’ve escaped if she really wanted to.
She resisted him the entire way. “Let me go, you Neanderthal.”
“Not until you listen to me.”
“I’ve heard everything I need to hear.”
“No, you haven’t.” When he was certain they were out of the sight of prying eyes, he wrapped his arms around her. Taking a handful of her hair, he tugged gently, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Are you listening?”
She looked away. “No.”
Damn, she was cute when she was being mulish.
Tipping his head, he brought his mouth down hard on hers.
When she tried to register her protest, he sent his tongue in search of hers, stroking and caressing until he felt her fingers in his hair and the answering brush of her tongue against his. Now that was more like it.
He must’ve kissed her for ten minutes before he softened his lips and raised his head to find her eyes. “Are you listening now?”
The brat shook her head and dragged him down for more kisses.
When he had no choice but to come up for air, he said, “Who have I spent most of the last three days in bed with? You or her?”
“I was convenient.”
“That’s not true.”
“So I wasn’t convenient?”
He wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled, but instead, he kissed her again. “That’s not what this is about, and you know it.”
Their kisses were nearly violent as he set out to show her exactly why he was with her and not with anyone else.
“I don’t want Abby,” he said against her lips. “For some strange reason that is far, far beyond me, I seem to want you.”
“Gee, I’m flattered.” The reply was exactly what he expected from her and a sign that her usual spark was returning.
“Just like I’m flattered that you seem to want me.”
She pushed against his chest. “I don’t want you.”
Her words were in sharp contrast to the way she had molded her body to his to kiss him senseless.
“Is that so?” He moved quickly to send his hand diving over her ass to the hem of her skirt and was sliding his fingers through her slick heat in two seconds flat.
“The evidence seems to suggest otherwise.”
She gasped and tilted her hips to encourage his questing fingers.
“Liar, liar, pants on fire.” The rhyme took him right back to sparring with three brothers and a sister.
“Shut up and don’t stop.”
Laughing, Grant recaptured her mouth in another torrid kiss as he zeroed in on her clit, determined to make an even bigger liar out of her. “Are you sure you don’t want me?”
“Very sure,” she said, panting and clinging to him as he stroked her to a shuddering climax.
He held her up when her legs would’ve collapsed under her. “I’m glad we were able to settle that to your satisfaction.”
“Shut up,” she said as her teeth clamped down on his ear, which sent a surge of lust to his already hard-as-a-rock erection.
“I don’t want her.” His lips blazed a trail on her neck, making her tremble. “I want you. Only you.”
He took the tightening of her arms around his neck as a sign that she’d heard him and believed him. At least he hoped so.