stand back and watch the way she strung you along. It sucked knowing that whenever she wanted anything from you, you’d drop everything to be at her beck and call.”
“That’s being a good friend.”
“At what cost? Jesus, Barrett. You’re thirty years old and have never had a serious relationship because of her.”
Barrett’s blood began to boil. He didn’t need to hear this. He didn’t want to hear this. “This from the guy whose idea of a serious relationship is the same woman for more than one weekend.”
“That’s by choice.”
“And so is mine.”
“Keep trying to convince yourself of that. All I’m saying is that with Gail out of the picture, maybe you’ll finally be able to find something more than being a third party in a weekend ménage.” Just then a knock at the door sounded, and Chris grinned wide as he closed the folding closet doors before approaching the other door. “And that something may be closer than you think.”
Before Barrett could protest against his cousin’s ridiculous notion, Chris opened the door and immediately lost his smile. “Carol?”
Barrett stood as the blonde bombshell walked into the room. He spotted her in the bar . She already had so many guests, men and women alike, surrounding her, all trying to claim her, that he didn’t even bother. She screamed high maintenance, from her fake boobs, fake tan, and fake nails, all the way down to shoes that probably cost more than her fee for the weekend.
So why was she here instead of Sarah?
Chris didn’t seem to mind, the heartless son of a bitch. “Well, well, well. Are we adding a bit of flavor to tonight’s activities?”
Carol gave him a slow once-over. “More like a replacement.”
“Where’s Sarah?” Barrett demanded.
“She left.”
Chris and Barrett exchanged surprised glances.
“Where’s your couple?” Chris took a step toward her. Barrett knew from the look on his cousin’s face and that horny gleam in his eye that he’d already forgotten about Sarah. “Were you too much for them?”
“They’re sleeping,” Carol explained and batted her large blue eyes at Chris. “And now I’m all alone.”
“You don’t have to be.”
Carol’s gaze flicked over to the bed. Instead of fear flashing in her eyes, she licked her lips and bit down. “Looks like you already have plans.”
“Plans can be altered,” Chris countered in a hungry growl.
Barrett didn’t want Carol. He didn’t realize it until she hadn’t showed, but he was actually looking forward to seeing Sarah again. Having her decide to leave even after the heated banter between them really cut deep.
“Where is she now?”
Carol turned to Barrett and gave a long sigh. “She’s out front. I tried to talk her into staying, but she refused. She said something about not being good enough for two men. Wait, did you both pin her?”
Barrett didn’t answer. He hurried out of the room and toward the front door to stop Sarah from leaving.
Carol’s voice echoed behind him. “Why would either of you pin her instead of me?”
“Let me see if the twins are busy,” Chris said, and then closed the door.
Chapter 7
Barrett opened the front door and easily spotted Sarah sitting on one of the wrought - iron benches, her teeth chattering on this March evening, surrounded by gracefully falling snow as she waited for her cab. When she glanced over and saw him approaching, her eyes widened, and she quickly turned to look straight ahead.
She looked more at home in her faded blue jeans and heavy pullover, wafflestompers covering her feet. And for some reason he couldn’t explain, this Sarah Emerson had him immediately and painfully hard, his want for her tightening in his balls. She looked so natural, so beautiful as the snow fell around her.
“I’m leaving,” she informed him as he stopped next to her, her voice firm.
“I heard.” He glanced down at her small rolling bag and frowned. Most of the guests had at least twice that for
Deborah Coonts
S. M. Donaldson
Stacy Kinlee
Bill Pronzini
Brad Taylor
Rachel Rae
JB Lynn
Gwyneth Bolton
Anne R. Tan
Ashley Rose