Playing for Keeps (23 page)

“What is it?” Pete traced a lazy circle on the inside of my thigh.

I’d written
A lick Right there
instead of Alicia Rockwell. I scrunched it up and tossed it behind me before the guys could see. “Nothing.”

Pete cocked his brow. Riley just shook his head like I was a mental case and got back to work.

I couldn’t though. I kept imagining Pete’s hands on me.

Enough was enough. I jumped up, hauling Pete up with me. “Excuse us a second, Riley.”

Before he could make a peep, I dragged his best friend out of the kitchen and up the stairs to my room. I locked the door, dragged him to the bed, and pushed.

He fell onto his back, propped on his elbows. “Get to you?”

“You always get to me.” I shoved my pajama bottoms down.

“Get rid of the panties but leave on your top.” His eyes were dark with wanting and heat and promises that took my breath away.

Eagerly, I pushed my underwear down and climbed on top of him to straddle his thighs. “You like this tank top?”

“You’re not wearing a bra.” His palms grazed over my breasts. “It turns me on.”

“So you’re saying that display downstairs was my fault?” I unhooked his belt and popped the buttons on his jeans. I sighed, taking him in my hands. He was firm and hot, but as I held him he grew harder.

He groaned and arched into my touch. “You provoked me into taking action.”

“I could stop.”

“No you couldn’t.”

True. He knew me so well. I gripped him tighter and moved up, rubbing the tip of him against me. I was so wet, so ready, he slipped in before I meant him to.

“Oh well.” If you can’t beat them… I guided him all the way inside me.

We both sighed.

“You have to be quiet,” I whispered against his lips. “And quick. Riley will wonder what happened to us.”

“Grace?”

“Yes?”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

That I could do.

Chapter Eighteen

Standing your ground while you wait for those far away is mastering strength.

— Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Drumming my fingers on the desk, I wondered what to do.

Nell took off for Paris before I could grill her on her itinerary. Needless to say, I had no clue when she was coming back. I’d assumed she’d return before the bridal shower.

Yes, I know what they say about assuming anything.

I’d refrained from asking Riley. It was kind of a sore subject with him for obvious reasons. But it was Wednesday, three days before the shower, and there was no sign of Nell. I figured I had to call him.

“What do you think, George? Call Riley?”

George lifted his head from where he sprawled on the floor next to my desk. I swear he scrunched his face at me.

“Don’t do that. Riley’s a good guy.”

He barked once. It sounded like a disbelieving grunt.

“He is.” I frowned. “You’re going to have to get used to him because he’s going to be your stepfather soon.”

He whined pitifully, ducked his head, and covered it with a paw.

I laughed and tossed George a goodie from the stash in my desk. Picking up the phone, I dialed Riley’s cell.

“Hi, Gracie. What’s up? Need more help with the party on Saturday?”

“I think we have everything covered. Pete’s going to help me decorate Friday night and Chloe said she’d pick up the food from the deli.” Riley had been an enormous help with the details of the shower. Surprising, Chloe had chipped in too. Needless to say, with their help the plans went off without a hitch. “I just wanted to know if you’d heard from Nell.”

Silence. I held my breath, wondering how he’d react.

Which turned out to be calmer than I expected. He sighed deep from his soul and said, “She hasn’t called me since she arrived there. You don’t think she’s found someone else, do you?”

Nell? The most fickle woman on the planet? No way. “I’m sure she’s just confused about the time difference and is worried about disturbing you when you’re sleeping.”

“You’re probably right.”

He didn’t sound like he believed it. I couldn’t blame him—it sounded lame to my ears, too. Even George looked at me like he was thinking
you’ve got to be kidding
.

I thought I’d get my good deed for the day out of the way. “Listen, Riley. She’s just nervous. If there’s one thing she’s been adamant about, it’s that she loves you. She wouldn’t throw that away.”

I crossed my fingers. I didn’t think she’d throw it away, but Nell was more unpredictable than the weather these days.

“I know you’re right. I just miss her.”

“Hang in there.” I cursed my errant sister for torturing this good man. “If you hear from her, let me know. It’ll suck if the bride isn’t at her bridal shower.”

“She knew the scheduling. I’m sure she has that figured in.”

“Right.” I hoped that didn’t sound as sarcastic to him as it sounded to me. Nell may be aware of planned dates, but if she had her own agenda nothing would keep her from following it.

He sighed again. “I have a client waiting. Thanks for everything you’ve done for this wedding, Gracie. I really appreciate it.”

He was so sweet. “No problem. Go. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hung up, tapping my fingers on the receiver as I tried to figure out how I could contact Nell.

I wished I could have been more positive she’d come back in time for the shower, but I just didn’t have faith. I really loved both my sisters, but I wasn’t blind to their faults.

“You don’t think she
has
found someone new, do you, George?”

George’s bark had a hopeful tone.

“Shame on you.” I shook my finger at him. “We like Riley now. We want him to stick around.”

“Uh, Gracie?” Wendell came to stand unsurely in the doorway. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“No, I was just talking to George.”

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt your conversation if it’s important.”

I rolled my eyes. Only Wendell would think a conversation with a dog was important.

“Did you need something?” I frowned and looked at the time on my computer. “What are you doing here? Daddy’s supposed to teach.”

“I’m covering Joe’s classes this afternoon.” Wendell came in, stepped carefully around George (who, I swear, rolled his eyes), and sat in the visitor chair across from my desk.

I realized my fingers were beating an incessant rhythm against my desk. I slipped my hands under my thighs to keep them still. “So, what’s up?”

“Uh—” Wendell lifted a hand to his hair before he changed his mind and dropped it—“I, uh, I was wondering if maybe, uh—”

Uh-oh. I could have smacked myself in my head for not noticing the signs before—they were all there. His hair was neatly trimmed à la a Marine barber, and he’d ironed his gi. Call me ignorant, but I didn’t think creases down your gi pants was the current rage.

“—um, I thought maybe you and me—”

I decided to end this before it got any more pathetic. “Wendell, that’s sweet and everything, but I’m dating someone.”

Wendell’s mouth dropped open. “You are?”

He didn’t have to sound so incredulous about it. It wasn’t like I was completely unfortunate or anything. “Yeah, and my boyfriend wouldn’t like me going out with other guys.”

My heart stuttered at the word
boyfriend
. I’d never called Pete that before.

“Oh. Okay. I understand. I wouldn’t like it either.” He ran his hand over his stubbly head. “I guess I better go set up for class.”

The way his lip pouted dejectedly almost made me feel sorry for shooting him down. Almost. “Sorry, Wendell.”

He shrugged and smiled. “As long as you’re happy, Gracie, that’s all that matters.”

Okay, make me feel like a heel.

Once Wendell was out of sight, George turned to gaze at me.

I scowled at him. “Don’t look at me so reproachfully. It’s not like I lied to get out of a date with him this time. Besides, when did you become Wendell’s champion?”

George shrugged and went back to his nap.

We finished out our workday and went home.

I let George out of the car. “Want to go for a walk?”

He barked twice and chased his tail in a tight circle.

“I guess that means yes.” I went up the back walkway to drop off my purse and grab George’s leash.

George knew the routine. He ran ahead, scratched at the door till I unlocked it, and rushed past me to fetch his leash. I set my bag on the counter and snagged a Coke to take along by the time he came back, leash in mouth.

“Good boy.” I rubbed his head and attached his leash.

We were off.

George practically dragged me down the first block. Every time I went to take a sip of my Coke, he’d yank on me, making my drink slosh up and splatter my shirt.

The third time I yanked back. I only felt a little guilty about his strangled yelp. “Sorry, George, but I’m trying to drink here.”

He looked back at me apologetically and my guilt grew exponentially. I stopped and gave him a hug. “Sorry, guy.”

He barked, happy again, and trotted along. Fast.

“What’s the hurry?” I asked him.

He barked once and pulled me along.

Did I mention that in the four months or so since Nell acquired him, George had doubled in size? And he was still a puppy, so there was room for more growth. Needless to say, when I said he was pulling me, I wasn’t exaggerating.

We rounded the corner and suddenly I realized what the rush was about.

It was like a scene out of a movie. She came bounding out of her yard, golden fur gleaming in the sun, flowing in the breeze.

“A-ha.” I gazed at George speculatively. “You sly devil. You’re on the make.”

He grinned at me. It was that type of grin males of all species got when they were about to make a move on a woman.

The golden retriever ran toward us, barking. She was obviously just as happy to see George. She butted him in the head and then bounced up at me.

“Hey, girl. You got a name?” I looked at her tag while I scratched behind her ears. “Fiona?”

She barked. George panted proudly.

I shrugged.
I
wouldn’t name
my
golden retriever Fiona, but to each his own.

Fiona turned to George and they began sniffing at each other’s butts. I couldn’t help thinking that people could take a lesson from dogs in this respect. I mean, if we sniffed each other’s butts we’d eliminate a lot of the crap that goes along with finding a partner in life. We’d know right away whether someone was right for us and bypass the initial uncomfortable phase, because once someone’s sniffed your butt, what else is there to be embarrassed about?

Fiona and George exchanged some licks. Intent licks that made me feel like a voyeur. “Come on, guys. Get a room.”

George barked enthusiastically.

“It was just an expression.”

At that moment, a woman came out of the house and marched straight for us.

Fiona’s owner. Cool. I smiled and held my hand out to greet her.

“Get that mangy dog away from my Fiona.”

I gasped. Did she just call George mangy?

She gripped Fiona by the collar and yanked her back. I would have laughed if I weren’t so mortally offended. She was a tiny woman, about a foot shorter than me. She gave the word
waif
new meaning. If she was even a hundred pounds soaking wet I’d eat George’s leash.

She scowled at me. She looked completely put together, her blond hair pulled tight, her blouse buttoned all the way to the top, but at the same time she looked like she was about to shatter into a million pieces. I doubted she was much older than me but she looked like had at least ten years on me. “What are you waiting for? Get that mutt out of my yard.”

We weren’t in her yard but I drew George back a little just in case she snapped and tried to hurt him. I wouldn’t be surprised—she looked like she was on the edge. “They were just saying hi.”

“Fiona does not say ‘hi’ to mutts.”

Okay, she’d called George one too many names. “My dog’s not a mutt.”

She looked down at him and turned up her nose. I had the strongest urge to slap that look off her face. “Keep that dog away from here or I’ll contact the police.”

“Right.” I tugged on George’s leash. He turned with all the dignity he possessed and we walked away.

“I mean it,” the evil woman called out. “Stay away from Fiona or I’ll have him arrested for trespassing. And stalking!”

George and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. Whatever.

I waited till we were out of earshot before I said anything. “How did you guys meet? You weren’t with me, and that dragon woman wouldn’t have wilingly allowed Fiona to fraternize with you.”

George barked twice.

“Ah. I see. Fiona was out one night trolling and ran into you.” I gave George a sidelong look. “You sly dog, you. She’s been visiting you at night, hasn’t she?”

He grinned.

“I just hope you used protection. No telling what that witch would do if Fiona ended up having little Georges.”

He barked once.

“That’s right, you should be panicking. It’d be a bad scene. She might force you two to get married and then where would you be?” I shook my finger at him. “You’ve got to pick your in-laws carefully, and that woman is definitely not someone you’d want as a mother-in-law.”

George shuddered.

“It’s okay.” I patted his back. “Everyone makes mistakes the first time around. Look at me and Kevin, that jerk. But now I’m with Pete and it’s glorious.”

We strolled back home, chatting. Well, I chatted. George just listened avidly. When we got home, Nell was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a beer.

A
beer
? Nell never drinks beer.

She looked up when the door opened and before I could so much as utter “hi” she hurled herself at me.

“Gracie!”

“Nell.” I wasn’t sure she heard me—it was more of a wheeze than the spoken word. She may be short but, she’s got a grip.

“I missed you so much,” she cried into my collarbone.

I patted her back and tried to disengage myself. I finally managed to free myself enough to talk. “Nell, you’re back.”