From Best Friend to Daddy

by Jules Bennett

  And then the list. He wanted to know what the hell was on it and why she thought she needed to revamp herself. Not a thing was wrong with her. Who was she proving herself to?

  Losing his cool and kissing her may not have been his finest moment, but every man had a breaking point and Kate McCoy had been his for far too long.

  Damn, she’d tasted good and she’d felt even better all pressed against him. He wasn’t sorry he’d kissed her, wasn’t regretting in the slightest that he’d finally taken what he’d wanted. She’d leaned into him and obviously had wanted it just as much.

  No, what angered him was the shocked look on her face and the fact he’d just pulled them both across a line they could never come back from. He was her friend, her self-appointed protector. She didn’t have many constants in her life and she counted on him, damn it. She trusted him.

  Now Kate stood at the bar, her eyes never meeting his. No doubt she was replaying that kiss just as he’d been over the past ten minutes.

  Gray didn’t say anything as he went to the back and pulled out a bottle of champagne that none of his customers would ever be interested in, but it was perfect for Kate. Once he got her home and came back, though, he was going to need something much stronger. Thankfully he could just crawl upstairs to his apartment after throwing one back.

  Gray returned to the bar to find Kate exactly how he’d left her. He reached for a glass and carried that and the bottle around to the front side of the bar.

  “I assume you still want that drink.”

  Finally, her blue eyes darted to his. “If anything in my life warranted a drink, this night would be it.”

  He poured her a small amount and slid the glass over to her. Kate stared at the peach-toned liquid for only a moment before picking it up and smelling the contents.

  All of that long, dark hair curtained her face as she leaned down. With those creamy shoulders exposed, he was having a difficult time not reaching out to touch her.

  Had he severed that right? Had he ruined everything innocent about their friendship when he’d put his lips on hers?

  Damn it. He didn’t like the idea of another man coming into her life. It had damn near killed him when she’d gotten engaged while he’d been in the army. Then, when the jerk had broken her heart, it had taken all of Gray’s willpower not to pummel the guy.

  Tonight he’d nearly lost it when Noah’s best man had gotten flirty. Gray saw how Bryan looked at her, like she was going to be easy to take home. That wasn’t his Kate. She didn’t go home with random strangers.

  Kate slammed her empty glass on the bar. “More.”

  He added a bit more to her glass and was a little surprised when she tipped it back and swallowed it in one drink. Then belched like a champ.

  “Wow. That’s bubbly.”

  Gray couldn’t help but smile. “It is. Had enough?”

  “I can still taste your lips, so probably not.”

  His gut tightened as arousal spiraled through him. “Don’t say things like that.”

  She lifted a slender shoulder. “Why not? It’s the truth.”

  Gray took her glass away and set it aside with the bottle. The last thing she needed was to start buzzing, get all talkative and then regret spilling her secrets come morning. Though part of him—the part that had kissed her—would love to keep pouring and get her true feelings to come out into the open.

  The low lighting behind the bottles lining the mirror along the bar wall sent a warm glow throughout the space. The main dining section and dance floor were still dark and Gray had never been more aware of a woman or his desire.

  Over the years he’d purposely never allowed himself to be in a compromising situation with Kate, yet here he was only moments after plastering her against the side of his truck and claiming her lips.

  “You can’t be attracted to me,” she murmured. “You can’t, Gray.”

  If her words had any heat to them, if he thought for a second she didn’t feel anything toward him, he’d ignore his need. But the only emotion he heard in her tone was fear and she’d kissed him right back earlier, so...

  “You know I’m attracted to you.” He closed the space between them. “I’ve never made it a secret.”

  “I’m the only woman who comes in your bar and hasn’t thrown herself at you. I’m a conquest.”

  Anger settled heavily inside him. “Never call yourself that.”

  “Then what’s the reasoning?” she tossed back. “Why me? After all these years, you’re telling me...what? I need you to talk to me instead of being so damn irritated. Why now?”

  “Maybe I’m tired of seeing other guys flirt with you. Maybe I’m sick of you dating losers since your breakup because you know your heart won’t get involved.”

  She’d been burned and her defense mechanism to set her standards low was slowly driving him out of his ever-loving mind. Couldn’t she see that she deserved more? She should actually be expecting more.

  “Why did you kiss me back?” he asked, shifting the direction back to her.

  Gray adjusted his body to cage her in against the bar with one hand on either side of her hips. He didn’t want her to dodge him or look away or find an excuse not to hash this out right here, right now.

  Maybe it was the late hour, maybe it was the near-darkness surrounding them. Or perhaps it was just time that his war with himself came to an end one way or another.

  Kate’s eyes widened, then darted to his mouth. That innocent act had arousal pumping through him. His frustrating friend could stir up quite the gamut of emotions. One of the reasons he had always been so fascinated by her. Nobody could get to him the way she could. And nobody could match him in conversation the way Kate could.

  She flattened her palms on his chest. “Gray, I can’t lose you as a friend.”

  “I never said I was going anywhere.” He leaned in just a bit closer, close enough to see those navy flecks in her bright blue eyes. Close enough for her to realize he wasn’t messing around anymore. “Tell me you don’t want me kissing you again.”

  Because as much as he worried he was pushing her, he kept returning to the fact that she’d kissed him back.

  Kate’s mouth opened, then closed. That was all the green light he needed.

  Gray didn’t waste time gripping her hips and capturing her mouth. Those fingertips against his chest curled in, biting into his skin through the fabric. She let out a soft moan as her body melted against his. He wanted to hoist her up onto this bar and see exactly what she wore beneath this damn dress that had driven him crazy all night. He wanted those legs wrapped around him, her body arched against his.

  Kate tore her mouth away. “We can’t... Why does this feel so good? It can’t go anywhere.”

  Like hell it couldn’t. She was just as turned on as he was if the way she’d rubbed herself against him proved anything.

  Gray slid his hands over the curve of her hips, to the dip in her waist, and back down. “Tell me to stop and I will.”

  He leaned in, trailing his lips over her collarbone, breathing in that jasmine scent that belonged only on her.

  “Tell me, Kate,” he whispered, smiling when she trembled beneath his touch. “I have to hear the words.”

  He was torturing himself. If she told him to stop right now he would. But damn it, being pulled away after having a sample would be hell.

  Slowly her hands slid up around his neck, and her fingers threaded through his hair. “Gray,” she murmured.

  Music to his ears. He’d always wondered how his name would sound sliding through her lips on a whispered sigh. Now he knew...and he wanted more.

  Gray hovered with his mouth right over hers, his hands circling her waist. “You want me.”

  She nodded.

  “Say it.”

  “I want you,” she murmured. “But I need you as a friend. Ple
ase. Tell me we won’t lose that.”

  He didn’t want to lose anything. He wanted to build on what they had. They couldn’t ignore this pull between them, so taking this risk to see where things went was the only option.

  When he said nothing, she eased back as much as she could with the bar at her back. “Gray, this night is all we can have. We’ll still be friends come morning.”

  One night? Did she think she’d be done with him that soon?

  “And nobody can know,” she added. “I don’t want Lucy or Tara to know.”

  Her girl posse. He understood the need for privacy, but at the same time, he didn’t want to be her dirty little secret and he sure as hell wanted more than one night.

  He was a guy. Wasn’t he supposed to be thrilled at the idea of a one-night stand with no strings? He should’ve had her dress off by now.

  But this was Kate and she was special. Always had been.

  “I wondered.”

  Her words stopped every single thought. “What?”

  Bright blue eyes came up to his. “About this. I wondered before.”

  “Kate,” he growled.

  “I mean it, Gray. Just this night and it stays here, between us.”

  There was so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to fight for because Kate was worth fighting for. He’d worry about the semantics tomorrow. He’d come too far and had a willing woman in his arms right now. There was only one thing to do.

  Gray lifted her up onto the bar and kissed her.

  Chapter Three

  Kate didn’t want to think about why this could potentially be a disastrous idea. How could she form a coherent thought when her best friend had his mouth and hands all over her? She’d never felt this good in her life and her clothes were still on.

  Was it the champagne? Surely not. She’d only had two small glasses.

  No, it couldn’t be the alcohol. Gray was more potent than any drink he could give her. Why was she just discovering this fact?

  Kate’s head spun as she continued to clutch his shirt. She didn’t want to analyze this moment or her emotions. She only wanted to feel.

  Part of her wanted to rip off his clothes, but she’d never been that brazen a woman. The few lovers she’d had were all calm, tame...and she’d never tingled like this for any of them.

  She’d never ached with desire for her best friend, either, but here they were. A new wave of emotions swept her up, giving her no choice but to go along for the ride and enjoy every glorious moment.

  Gray’s firm hands rested on her knees as he spread them wide and stepped into the open space. He continued kissing her as his fingertips slid beneath her short skirt. Every single nerve ending inside her sizzled. When was the last time she’d sizzled?

  Oh, right. Never. How did he know exactly what to do and how was she just realizing that her bestie had skills?

  Kate tipped her head back as Gray’s lips traveled over her chin and down the column of her throat. She circled his waist with her legs, toeing off her heels. The double thumps of her shoes hitting the hardwood floor sliced through the moment. Gray eased back and pinned her with his dark gaze. She’d never seen that look on his face before—pure hunger, passion, desire. All directed toward her.

  Kate looked in his eyes and the need that stared back had her figuring maybe this wasn’t a bad idea at all. No one had ever looked at her with such a need before. Something churned within her, not just arousal, but some emotion she wasn’t ready to identify that coupled right along beside it, making her feel more alive and needed than ever.

  Keeping his eyes locked on hers, Gray flipped her skirt up and jerked her by the waist toward the edge of the bar. Kate was completely captivated by the man before her. This passionate, sexual side of Gray had her reaching for the buckle on his belt, more than ready to hurry this process along. He quickly shoved her hands aside and reached for his wallet.

  The second he procured a foil packet everything clicked in her mind. This was real. All of this was actually happening. She was about to have sex with her best friend...and she’d never been more thrilled, more excited in her life.

  Shouldn’t she be freaking out? Where had all of this come from? Clearly the desire had built up over time.

  But she didn’t. Kate waited, anticipation coiling through her. She’d address those questions later. Right now, she had a need, an ache, and judging by Gray’s urgency, he did, too.

  He tossed the packet next to her hip on the bar and unfastened his pants. Then, in a move that both shocked and aroused her, he reached beneath her dress, gripped the strip of satin that lay against her hip, and gave a jerk until the rip resounded through the quiet bar. So much for that pair of panties. They were a worthy sacrifice to the cause.

  Kate didn’t even get to enjoy the view before Gray sheathed himself and stepped toward her. With his hands firmly circling her waist, he nudged her forward once again, until he slowly joined their bodies.

  Oh...my...

  On a groan, Kate took a moment to allow her body time to adjust, but Gray clearly was in a hurry. He framed her face with his strong hands, tipped her head and covered her mouth as his hips jerked forward once again.

  There was not much she could do but lock her ankles behind his back and match the perfect rhythm he set with their bodies.

  “Kate,” he muttered against her mouth.

  She didn’t want words. She had no clue what he was about to say, but she didn’t want anything breaking into this moment. Words couldn’t even begin to cover the tumultuous emotions flowing between them and she just wanted to feel. For right now, she wanted this man and nothing else.

  Fisting his hair in her hands, Kate slammed his mouth back down onto hers. His hips pumped harder and in the next second, Kate’s entire body trembled. She arched against Gray, pulling from the kiss. Her head dropped back, eyes shut as the euphoria spiraled through her.

  She felt him lifting her before he settled her onto the bar. He whispered something just as his fingertips dug into her waist and he rose to tower above her. For a moment she marveled at his strength, but he started shifting again, moving faster and giving her no choice but to clutch his muscular arms.

  Gray’s body stilled as he rested his forearms on either side of her head, aligning their torsos. His mouth came down onto her shoulder. The sudden nip of his teeth against her flesh stunned her, arousing her even as she came down from her high. He kissed her there and trailed his lips across her heated skin.

  Kate held on to Gray’s shoulders even when their bodies completely stopped trembling. She had no idea what to say at this point. They lay on top of his bar half-dressed and had never so much as kissed more than in a friendly manner before, yet they’d just had explosive sex.

  That was one hell of a birthday present.

  Okay, maybe those shouldn’t be the first words out of her mouth. But really, what was the protocol for a situation like this? She prided herself on always being prepared, but nothing could prepare her for what just took place. On a bar top, no less.

  Gray came up onto his hands and looked down at her. Fear curled low in her belly. Was he waiting on her to say something and cut through the tension? Did they joke about this or did they fix their clothes like nothing happened?

  Considering she analyzed everything from every angle, they would have to talk about this at some point. Maybe not right now when her emotions were too raw and she was still reeling from the fact that Gray had pursued her and torn off her underwear. Just the memory had chills popping up over her skin.

  Exactly how long had he wanted her like this? There had been quite a bit of pent-up sexual need inside her bestie. Not that she was complaining. Definitely not complaining. Just...confused, and there were so many questions whirling inside her head, she had no clue where to start.

  The muscle in Gray’s jaw clenched and the way he conti
nued to study her had Kate fidgeting. The top of her dress had slid down, so she adjusted to cover herself. She lifted onto her elbows and glanced around, anything but having to look right into those dark eyes to see...

  She didn’t know what she’d see, but she knew awkward tension had already started settling in.

  Gray eased down off the bar and took a step back. Kate started to climb down, but he reached up, lifted her carefully into his arms, and placed her on the floor. The cool wood beneath her feet had her shivering, as did the sweet gesture of how he’d just handled her.

  Of course, she could be shivering because her underwear was in shreds on the floor and her best friend was walking away. So much for him being sweet.

  Apparently he wasn’t one for chatter after sex, either. The silence only left her alone with thoughts she wasn’t quite ready to tackle.

  Kate’s pale pink heels lay on their sides and she padded over to retrieve them. She clutched them against her chest like they could ward off the unknown, because she truly had no clue what was going to happen next.

  Hell, it wasn’t only the next few minutes she was concerned with. What about long-term? Did this change everything between them? She hadn’t been lying when she said she couldn’t lose him. Gray was her everything. Absolutely everything.

  The only constant in her life other than Tara and Lucy, but Gray was different. He was...well, he was special.

  Right now, though, Kate could use some space to think and here on his turf, where her tattered panties lay mocking her, was not the place to clear her head and regroup.

  Of all the times not to have her car. Damn it. This was why she always planned things, always had a plan B. But neither plan A nor B had been to leave the rehearsal dinner and have a quickie on the bar top at Gallagher’s.

  She was at the mercy of Gray whenever he came back and chose to take her home. Maybe then they’d talk and she’d get a feel for what was going on in that head of his.