Surprised laughter burst from James’s mouth, coming out like a bark. “Maybe you don’t know the right type of women, Shane.”
Shane rolled his eyes, but before he could speak Mitch came into the room. He walked over to the fridge and pulled it open, grabbing a bottle of beer. He twisted off the top and tossed it onto the counter, kicking back against the counter much like Shane. He raised a brow. “So, you finally took care of that, did you?”
“See, I told you,” Shane said, before shifting his attention to Mitch. “He’s still denying it.”
James hadn’t actually denied as much as he’d evaded.
“Don’t even bother. The only one who doesn’t know is Maddie, who thinks it’s cute you guys are making such an effort.” Mitch rubbed his jaw. “Must be some effort. You have Gracie almost speechless and I never thought I’d see that.”
James experienced a swell of satisfaction, knowing deep down he’d wanted her marked, needed to be different from the other men she dated, but he still avoided their questions. “I promised Maddie I’d be nice and I’m fulfilling my promise.”
Shane laughed.
“I’d say you’re going above and beyond the call of duty.” Mitch raised his beer in a toast.
The door swung open again and Cecilia came in.
James sighed.
She pointed at him, putting one hand on her narrow hips. “All right, what did you do to make sure she didn’t tell me?”
James shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Cecilia scowled, looking very disgruntled as she appealed to her fiancé. “I’m one of her best friends. I can understand Maddie, but me—Why me?”
“I don’t know what game they’re playing, Ce-Ce.” Shane reached for her and pulled her next to him, sliding his arm around her waist. “Now you’ve gone and upset her.”
James opened his mouth to speak but then Maddie entered, flying into the room like a mini tornado. “What’s going on here?”
Cecilia pointed at James. “Your brother is violating Gracie.”
“Wait, what?” Maddie’s attention flew to James.
James once again opened his mouth to calmly explain, but then Mitch said, “Gracie and James are sleeping together.”
“But that’s impossible.” Maddie shot him a confused glance. “You don’t even like each other.”
When Shane jumped in, James leaned back and let the conversation swirl around him, since nobody seemed to be interested in what he had to say about the subject. He should have known they couldn’t keep it discreet; this group was far too nosy.
“You’re just too blind to see it because he’s your brother,” Shane said.
“He’s your brother too,” Maddie responded. “Maybe you’re wrong.”
“He’s not wrong, Maddie,” Mitch said.
Maddie shifted to her husband. “How do you know?”
Mitch grinned at her. “They sat next to each other at dinner.”
“I asked them to be nice,” Maddie said.
“Oh, I’d say he’s having no trouble there,” Shane said.
Maddie glanced at Cecilia. “Do you think it’s true?”
“Yes. I’m sure,” Cecilia said, frowning. “But I don’t understand why she didn’t tell us.”
They continued on, all talking over each other as they hashed out what they believed was going on, and James leaned back against the counter, drinking his wine, and didn’t say one word.
The door swung open again and Gracie strolled in on those spectacular boots that he intended to wrap around his waist very soon. “What is going on in here? Why are you all yelling?”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Maddie shouted, her expression flashing.
Gracie’s eyes slid guiltily to James’s, and she asked in a low voice, “Tell you what?”
“I knew you weren’t staying in some spa by yourself!” Cecilia raised her brows, shaking her head and sending her hair flying.
Gracie yanked her attention to James and demanded, “What did you tell them?”
Thus confirming all their suspicions.
Maddie and Cecilia gasped and the men laughed.
Gracie’s eyes went wide and James saw the exact moment she’d recognized her mistake.
James spoke up for the first time. “I have literally not said one word.”
“Well, you must have said something,” Gracie said, taking a warrior’s stance, committed to the line of questioning now that she’d given away their secret.
“I have not,” James said, calmly. “None of them would even let me speak.”
Gracie chewed on her lower lip.
Maddie stepped forward. “Is it true?”
Gracie met his gaze and he shrugged, taking a sip of his wine. She sighed. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us? We’re your best friends,” Cecilia said.
“It’s complicated.” Gracie took a deep breath. “But now that you all know, get the hell out. I need to speak to James alone.”
Maddie’s expression creased with concern. “Oh no, don’t be mad at him. He didn’t do anything. It was all us.”
“Maddie, I love you, but you need to leave,” Gracie said.
James crossed one foot over his ankle and grinned into his wine glass. He knew damned well what she wanted. And it wasn’t to yell at him. He gave his sister a somber look. “Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.”
Shane snorted and Cecilia elbowed him in the ribs.
Gracie’s expression flashed and she narrowed her gaze on him. “Don’t encourage her.”
Maddie wrung her hands, clearly not caught up to the fact that Gracie and James’s relationship had changed so drastically. “Okay, but promise me you won’t be too hard on him.”
Gracie raised her gaze to the ceiling. “God help me, I haven’t had sex in nearly a month! Get out!”
James chuckled, enjoying himself too much to be embarrassed.
Mitch scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I’m not sure that’s the kind of help God provides, Gracie.”
She curled her hands into fists and stomped her foot and screamed, “Get out!”
“Geez, chill,” Shane said, turning a sly smile on James. “What did you do to her?”
She pointed toward the door. “Now! Or so help me, you’ll regret it.”
With both amusement and surprise they all filed out of the kitchen, finally leaving them alone.
James shot her his most cocky, arrogant grin. “I’d say you’ve finally reached your breaking point, baby girl.”
She stalked over, grabbed him by the shirt and hauled him toward her. “Shut up and fuck me.”
He growled and kissed her.
It was out of control. She clawed at his shoulders, as he feasted on her mouth.
She fisted the fabric of his shirt and practically tried to crawl into him, rubbing and rocking against him.
He’d always been the quiet one, careful to never call attention to himself, but he threw that to the wind and pushed her back, knocking a chair over in the process. Her ass hit the table and he pushed plates and dishes out of the way. Loud crashing filled the air but they didn’t even break stride.
She groaned and fumbled for his zipper while his hands slid under her top and cupped her breasts. He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples and she arched into him. Her head fell back as she put her hands on the table in back of her. He yanked up her shirt, flicking over the clasp of her bra with one hand and peeling the cups away from her spectacular breasts.
He leaned down and sucked the peaked buds into his mouth, hard and urgent. She gripped his head, her nails digging into his skull as she pressed him closer. He bit and she let out a mewling cry and a second later another dish shattered on the floor.
He knew they were making a lot of noise, that as soon as they left this room there’d be a million questions, and he just didn’t give a fuck.
All he cared about was her.
He swirled his tongue over first one nipple then the other,
pinching and plucking in a way that drove her wild. “James, yes, God . . . I’ve missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, Gracie,” he murmured against her breast.
He slid his hand around her throat, brushing his thumb over the pulse hammering in her neck. He’d think about how much later. Much, much later. After he managed to quench his impossible hunger.
Chapter Twenty-Five
With a batch of vanilla-bean cupcakes and oatmeal-raisin cookies in the oven, and James asleep upstairs in her bedroom, Gracie sat at her table and wrote out her list of the things she needed to get done this week, including things she could delegate to Harmony, who was a godsend.
She’d mulled over the list of her Chicago orders, which seemed to be growing by the day.
The logistics of getting products to Chicago continued to be the problem. She’d checked with some local distribution companies and the costs were too high. And even after hiring Harmony, who’d made some kick-ass pumpkin cupcakes and duplicated Gracie’s red velvet ones so well she hadn’t been able to tell the difference, it wasn’t feasible to continue to travel back and forth to Chicago. She kept waiting for the orders to slow down, but it never happened. She was going to have to think of something, but at the moment she was at a loss.
There was a knock at her back door and Gracie glanced up and waved Maddie inside.
Maddie smiled as she entered and said politely, “Is this a good time?”
Gracie sighed at the distant, cordial tone. “Just because I’m sleeping with James doesn’t mean we’re strangers.”
Maddie shut the door behind her. “I’m sorry, I just . . . I don’t know. I’m not sure what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. Nothing has changed between us.” Gracie swallowed hard. This was exactly why she hadn’t wanted to say anything. Her best friend was already treating her differently.
Maddie grabbed some coffee and sat down at the table. “But that’s just the thing, it has changed things between us. You’ve been acting different for weeks. You won’t talk to me. I knew something was going on and you didn’t trust me enough to tell me.” She shrugged. “I thought you felt like you could tell me anything, like I tell you.”
Gracie put down her pen and took a deep breath. Of course, Maddie was right. Gracie had been acting differently. Maddie had tried again and again to break through, but Gracie had avoided her. Now it was time to rectify the problem she’d created. “I’m sorry. I have a confession to make, but you’re not going to like it.”
Maddie frowned. “I’m listening.”
Gracie ran her hand through her hair, hating that she had to admit it, but not seeing a way around it. “Ever since Shane and Cecilia got engaged, I’ve been fighting a bad case of jealousy.”
“Because they’re getting married?” Maddie asked.
Gracie shook her head. “No. Because you and Cecilia get to be sisters.”
Maddie’s hand slid across the table, touching Gracie’s. “You are my sister. Just as much as Cecilia.”
Throat tight, Gracie nodded. “I know you feel like that, but you guys are so close now. And I got it into my head you have a special bond that doesn’t include me. You were family, while I was a friend. I love Sam, but it’s just us, and I guess I wanted what you guys had.”
When Maddie’s eyes turned too bright, Gracie’s own eyes welled. She shook her head, blinking the wetness away. “I hated that I felt so petty, so I hid it.”
Maddie squeezed her fingers. “I wish I’d known. I love you, and no matter how big my family gets, you are always a part of it.”
“I love you too, Maddie. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I should have trusted our friendship more.”
“I understand.” Another last squeeze before Maddie’s fingers slipped away. “And James?”
Gracie blew out a long breath and took a sip of coffee to compose herself. “In my own stupid way, I was protecting our friendship. Since I was already worried, I didn’t want to put you in the difficult spot of having to choose between your brother and me when things end between us. It seemed easier to keep it private until things played out. Then life would go on and things wouldn’t change.”
Maddie cleared her throat. “What is going on with you guys?”
Gracie’s heart started to pound fast in her chest. Last night had been awesome, and since they hadn’t had to hide, he’d stayed over and they’d talked and made love until the wee hours of the morning. It scared her, how she felt about him, the look in his eyes when he watched her, and how damn good they were together. They didn’t speak about the future. In fact, they actively avoided it, but everything unspoken sat between them, rife in the air. She said softly, “I don’t know.”
“Gracie,” Maddie said, her voice turning soft. “Please don’t break his heart. He doesn’t deserve that.”
Her chest squeezed. “I know he doesn’t.”
Maddie worried her lower lip. “The way he looks at you, the way he acts, I’ve never seen him like that. He’s always been so . . . well, you know how he is.”
“I do,” Gracie said.
“I’ve never even seen him touch another girl. He’s never engaged in public displays of affection. But last night, with you, he wasn’t being at all shy.”
“Is that bad?”
Maddie gazed at her, her eyes wide. “You broke half my dishes.”
Gracie had the good grace to flush. She’d been a touched crazed. “Yeah, sorry about that. I’ll replace them.”
“It just didn’t seem like him. Does that make sense?”
Gracie nodded. She couldn’t pretend it wasn’t something she’d wondered about before. He barely seemed like the man she’d come to know over the last year. She was changing him like he changed her. But she didn’t know what it meant. She swallowed. “Maybe he’s loosening up. You’ve always been concerned about how controlled he is, so isn’t that a good thing?”
“I think so.” But Maddie didn’t really sound sure.
“Are you upset?” Gracie’s throat tightened.
Maddie shook her head. “No, I just don’t want him to get hurt.”
Gracie didn’t blame Maddie for her worry. After all, she hardly had a good track record when it came to relationships. But it hurt all the same. “I don’t want that either.”
Maddie blew out an exasperated breath. “It’s just that you’re the girl everybody loves and James is as susceptible as the next guy.”
“But that’s the thing, Maddie,” Gracie said, her tone angrier than she wanted it to be. “I’m not the girl everybody loves. I’m the girl everybody wants and that’s sure as hell not the same thing.”
Surprise flashed over Maddie’s expression. “That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. Plenty of guys want to sleep with me but they don’t want to know me. All they want is who they think I am. They don’t care about the real me.”
It wasn’t the guys’ fault. She’d always let that be enough, because deep down she feared she didn’t have it in her to go the distance. Yes, she was nicer and didn’t have a raging drinking problem, but how was she really different from her father? Everyone always said they were exactly alike. He’d been a snake charmer, captivating his audience, but behind the mask, there wasn’t anything there.
Maddie frowned, her expression concerned. “And James is different?”
And wasn’t that exactly the problem niggling away at her? He was different. In some ways she felt more herself with James than she ever had. Somehow, the man she least expected to, had managed to work past all her defenses. He saw past her charm, saw past the sex kitten—but what if there was nothing there?
“Yes, I’m different,” James said from the doorway of the kitchen, his voice stern. “Now stop worrying.”
Gracie’s shoulders tensed. How much had he heard?
Maddie averted her gaze from her brother’s bare chest. “Well, this is awkward.”
“It’s only awkward if you make it that way. But back off, you’re
upsetting her.”
“Am I?” Maddie frowned.
Gracie shrugged. Didn’t anyone understand James wasn’t the only one who could end up hurt here?
Maddie’s green eyes, so much like her brother’s, clouded. “I’m making things worse, aren’t I?”
“Yes,” James said.
“Cecilia told me to leave it alone for a while but I wouldn’t listen,” Maddie said, her expression tight with concern.
Gracie didn’t want to discuss this anymore. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it. I understand.”
“I’m sorry,” Maddie said, straightening in her chair. “Just give me a chance to catch up, okay? I mean, in fairness, I spent the last year trying to keep you from murdering each other. This is a bit of a shock.”
James sat down at the table and raised a brow at Gracie.
“It will be fine,” Gracie insisted, putting on her happy face. “How about we go to Big Reds tonight, just the girls?”
Maddie’s expression brightened. “Really?”
“Yep, we’ll have guys buy us drinks all night.”
With a smile, James winked and opened his iPad to scroll through the morning news, as usual, and Gracie released a pent-up breath she hadn’t known she held.
That’s what she loved about him. Most guys would kick up some sort of fuss about being abandoned after twenty-four hours so she could make peace with her girlfriends, but James just took it in stride. Not remotely fazed that she planned to pimp other men for free drinks. A man couldn’t fake confidence like that.
“I’d love that,” Maddie said.
“Great—you, me, and Ce-ce, just like old times.”
Maddie shot a wayward glance at her brother, then cleared her throat. “I should let you get back to work.”
The timer dinged and Gracie laughed. “It seems it’s about that time.”
There was still a touch of awkwardness between them, but hopefully by tonight it would be gone and they could go back to normal. Maddie waved and took her leave as Gracie pulled her cookies from the oven.
From behind her, James said, “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
The Name of the Game Page 26
