Grace Anne - By Kathi S. Barton Page 0,22
coming to terms on the Washington Building, nothing more.” Grace continued, though she was sure she was only making it worse. “He just kissed me because he knew it would irritate me. He’s forever doing stupid things like that to get on my last nerve.”
“He can be like that, yes. But he usually only gets on a woman’s last nerve at the end of a relationship, not at the beginning,” Mr. Cunningham said with a smile. “And they usually are so besotted with him they will let him break it off without much fuss. Women like our Michael.”
Grace knew that Lucas Cunningham wasn’t really Michael’s father. He’d adopted him when Joey and Lucas had gotten married twenty-five years ago. Michael had been around five and he and Joey had been living in a smallish apartment when the then millionaire Lucas had bought the building they’d lived in. Instead of tossing the young mother and boy out into the street he’d set them up in a nice place and began courting Joey.
When Michael returned she was gathering up her things to leave. He would just have to explain what was not going on between them on his own. She stood up just as he pulled her into his lap. She squealed as he clamped his hand around her middle.
“Sit,” he growled in her ear, “or I’ll tell them about the beautiful tattoo you have over your lovely ass. And I’ll tell them how I happened to know that your nipples get really dark when you’re aroused.”
She glared at him as he laughed. She knew in that moment he’d do it too. She moved to the other chair again, vowing that she wasn’t going to speak to him. Turning in her chair to face his mother she heard him laugh. She closed her eyes on the sudden urge to pick up her fork and stab him in the cock with it.
“If you do to him whatever is going on in your head, know that he’ll get you back. He’s never been one to let go of a challenge.”
Grace looked at Joey when she smiled.
“He’s got it bad for you, doesn’t he?”
“I don’t think it’s any more than just sex. And he wants something from me. I’ve already told him I’ll sell him the building. He’s just doing this because, for some reason, he wants to prolong the inevitable. I am leaving, Mrs. Cunningham. I have to.” Grace had to get away before the temptation to lean on him became more than she could bear.
“Hummm. I suppose, but I don’t think you believe that any more than he does.” Joey patted her hand. “As for the sex part, I’m reasonably sure you and he will come to some understanding on that as well.”
~~~
Thomas watched the girl with his mother. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t like her. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t have her. Just for the simple fact that she belonged to Michael, he’d have her under him. He liked having and taking things that belonged to his stepbrother. But good Christ, this one was beautiful.
Her dark hair and darker eyes made him think of hard sex. Her body looked like something he’d only seen in magazines and he knew those girls had been touched up. But this one, Grace, looked like she’d never had any work done and he was willing to bet his brother knew it. Thomas reached under the table to adjust his cock again.
He turned to look at Michael when he said something to his dad. They were talking about money again like it was all there was to talk about. His brother had this fine-looking woman next to him and all he was doing was putting his arm around her chair and practically ignoring her. He leaned over the table to speak to Grace.
“How about you move over to this side and I’ll talk to you. When Mike and my dad get to talking about spread sheets, there could be a bomb going off and they’d not hear it.”
She smiled at him.
“Come on, you know you want to.”
“Thanks, but this is fine.” She smiled at him again and he felt some of his anger fade. “You’re Thomas, aren’t you? I remember you from the party.”
“Yes. I’m the baby. My mother has these things where we’re all required to come at least once a week. It’s mostly at her house, but she’s having the house done up for my sister’s baby shower tomorrow.” He tried not to