“And you saw that? How mortifying!” I laughed.
“I was the guy who handed you your pills, you dork! And then I made sure the clerk switched me into your acting class,” he said, wearing that same smirk I remembered from registration. “And you were not wearing a Sigma Nu T-shirt that first day in class, it was an SAE shirt. And they weren’t khaki shorts, they were cut-off jean shorts,” he finished quietly.
We looked at each other for a moment, lost in that particular memory.
“Take the fucking egg roll,” I finally said. “You totally won.”
He smirked and took it, stuffing half into his mouth with one bite. He offered the rest to me. “We can share it. I can’t believe you remember the Ministry shirt.” He laughed.
“Ya know, Holly was in that class too, but we didn’t meet until after when we all decided to grab a beer. I can’t remember what she was wearing that day,” I said thoughtfully, crunching down on my half of the egg roll.
“Neither can I, Grace,” Michael said softly, eyes on me.
My eyes locked on his.
I chewed my egg roll.
He scratched his nose.
Mrs. Kobritz’s yappy dog barked upstairs.
Our eyes stayed locked.
My cell rang. And rang. And rang.
Our eyes stayed locked.
Answer your phone, Grace.
My phone? Shit, my phone!
I broke away, grabbing for my phone, and got it right before it went to voicemail.
“Hello? Hello?” I shouted unnecessarily into the phone. Michael chuckled and leaned back into the couch.
“Gracie? Hey, I was just about to leave you a raunchy message,” I heard my Brit say.
“Well, do you want me to hang up so you can leave it?” I asked, a little out of breath. I pushed myself off the couch and went into the bedroom, out of earshot.
“Nah, I’d rather tell you what I wish I was doing to you—that way I can hear you react.” I could hear his voice change into Johnny Bite Down mode. I could never resist him when he nibbled on that lower lip—swoon-worthy for sure.
“You want me to react, huh?” I asked, wheeling about and wondering how I could get Michael out before Jack got me off. I was about to head back into the family room when Michael showed up in my doorway, leaning against the frame.
“I’m going to take off, Grace. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he mouthed, kindly keeping his voice down. I waved goodbye and followed him to the door, still listening to Jack.
“Yes, love, I’m dying for a reaction from you to my talented sexy ways, as I work my magic through your fingers,” Jack continued in a low voice.
My body responded, as it always did when I heard his voice get like that. Fuck, he could get me hot in 2.3 seconds. Three thousand miles couldn’t make a dent in his sex vibe. When he wanted a reaction from me, he got one—even across the Continental Divide.
“You’re dying, are you?” I laughed as I opened the door for Michael.
He stopped and looked back at me as if he was going to say something, but then lifted his hand in goodbye. I waved back, smiling, and he disappeared down the hall.
“But first, Crazy, I have some great news,” he said as I locked the door, leaning back against it. I looked at the Chinese takeout everywhere and sighed. What a mess I’d made.
“You okay, sweet girl?” he asked, forcing me to focus.
“I’m good. I just miss you is all,” I whispered, feeling a lump in my throat. Suddenly I missed him so much I literally ached.
“Then, love, you’ll be happy when I tell you my news,” he said.
“What is it, please?” I asked, not daring to hope for what I wanted.
“I’m coming to see you,” he whispered.
I closed my eyes, leaned my head against the door, and said a silent thank you.
“Gracie? Are you there?” he asked, chortling.
“I’m here, George,” I whispered, my throat tight.
“What do you think?”
“I couldn’t have gotten better news. I’m thrilled!” I sighed happily, a grin breaking across my face that rivaled Jack Nicholson’s Joker. Then I broke out in a fit of giggles, unable to stop. I laughed so hard I began to cry, and I could only imagine what it must sound like on the other end of the line. Jack laughed along with me, indulging my outburst with the patience of a saint. Truly, no other twenty-four-year-old man on the planet had his tolerance, especially when dealing with me.
When I finally calmed enough to form sentences again, I sighed deeply, making my way toward the couch from where I’d collapsed in front of the door. I didn’t actually make it off the floor—my tummy hurt too much from laughing to let me up. I had truly gone fetal.
“What the hell was that, Sheridan?” he asked, laughing again as he heard me moan dramatically when I finally lifted myself back onto the coach.
“Just a little emotional breakdown, Hamilton. They happen, you know. When are you getting here? Don’t tell me you’re in the hallway! I can’t handle that.” I smiled into the phone, my heart leaping at the thought he might be that close.
“No, sorry. I will be there this Friday night, though. Soon enough for you?”
My heart now leaped out of my chest. I quickly did the math. “You’ll be here in four days?” I squealed, arching my ass off the couch as every muscle in my body clenched involuntarily.
“Yes, ma’am. Will you be ready for all that lovin’?” he teased, voice getting lower.
“Oh, God, Sweet Nuts, I’m gonna work you over so good, you won’t be able to get back on that plane. How long will you be here?” I asked, my voice getting husky as well.
“What if I said you get to keep me until Tuesday night?”
I actually closed my eyes and bit down on my knuckles to keep the shrieking inside. “Five days? Do you have any idea the kind of damage we can do to each other in five days?”
“I have some idea. What do you want me to do first?” he asked, indicating the beginning of the sex. I smiled contentedly, and as my hands began to work their way down, I imagined all the ways I could answer that question. They were spectacular in their promise.
Chapter 2
“So what do you two plan on doing this weekend, as if I didn’t already know?” Even over the phone from L.A., Holly’s voice made me smile.
“Believe it or not, we actually did make some plans,” I said. “We’re seeing a show Saturday night and a new exhibit at the MOMA on Sunday. And between my rehearsal schedule and his interviews, we’ll barely have any quiet time at all.” I sighed, stretching out across the old couch in the back of the rehearsal studio.
Holly had called in between early-morning phone meetings. Being both my best friend and my manager—not to mention Jack’s manager—was a multifaceted role she was so far handling really well. She was great at her job, especially with new talent like Jack. She was crafting his career with precision—keeping him visible, but not overexposed.
And speaking of Jack, he was due in tonight! His flight got in around five, and I was meeting him at his hotel. We were strategic that way—we didn’t want to waste any time. I was hoping our hellos would be quickly followed by my panties’ removal.
“Why do I think quiet times aren’t on the menu this weekend anyway? More like screaming times,” she chuckled, no doubt remembering the caterwauling she’d had to endure all those weeks at her house in L.A.
I blushed. He did get me to scream louder than any man before him, and then there were the nights when he stunned me silent. Oh, God. Is there a way to speed up time?
“So how’s the show going? You and Michael still getting along, or have you scratched his eyes out?”
“No, actually things are going surprisingly well. I forgot how damn funny he is, and we’re really having a good time together. It’s like we never stopped being friends,” I said. I was so glad we’d put the past behind us.