Here With You (A Laurel Heights Novel) - By Kate Perry Page 0,23

it on with the Hulk. It boggles my mind."

"They're on their honeymoon, but they may not be getting it on." As she drew in pink ties on the sides of the panties, she wondered what Marley would say if she knew Griffin Chase was hanging out in her apartment. Or that he'd kissed her and held her hand.

"Are you serious? Did you see the way he looked at her? At the wedding, I seriously thought he was going to eat her up."

"I know. It was so sweet. That was a romantic night."

"What are you doing?"

"Just doodling." She closed the sketchpad and put the pencils aside before her friend peeked.

Marley tapped the table, staring at her expectantly. "So..."

She shook her head. "What?"

"What the hell, Nicole?" Her friend threw her hands in the air. "Are you going to tell me why Griffin Chase came and pulled you out of the reception or not? I've been waiting days. Do you know how hard it's been to respect your space and not demand an explanation?"

She sighed. "You recognized Grif?"

"Is there anyone in the world who wouldn't recognize him?"

"I'm sure not everyone is a fan of his music."

"Forget his music. The man is hot. Have you looked at him? He oozes charisma and sex. He swaggered into the room and stole every woman's breath, in a cowboy hat no less. He should have just looked ridiculous."

Nicole frowned.

"Were you immune?" Marley narrowed her gaze with suspicion. "Don't lie to me."

She lowered her gaze to her teacup. She normally drank coffee, but she'd thought she'd try chamomile tea. If there were ever a time when she needed to be calmed, it was now with Grif back. "It's not like that between me and Grif."

"That's not how he looked at you," Marley said.

Her belly fluttered, but it was probably indigestion. "How did he look at me?"

"Like you were a Stradivarius and he wanted to run his hands all over you."

She swallowed. "He plays guitar, not the violin."

Marley raised her brow.

"He kissed me," Nicole blurted, unable to hold it back even though she knew she should. "He came back into my life, told me he wanted me to help with his music, and then he kissed me."

"Wait a second." Marley held up a hand, thinking. Finally she shook her head. "Okay, I'm not sure which of those statements to attack first."

"Tell me about it." She slumped on her elbows, her chin resting on her hands. "I've been grappling with it all for days now."

"How do you even know him?"

"He was my best friend, but that was before he became a rock star."

"I can't believe you never told us you were friends with Griffin Chase. Valentine's going to kill you when she finds out."

"Grif and I aren't friends anymore. We lost touch ages ago. I never expected to see him again."

"But he kissed you."

"Yes." She leaned forward, speaking quickly. "I don't understand that. He shows up out of nowhere, kisses me, and then doesn't try it again."

"Are you upset because he kissed you, or because he hasn't kissed you again?"

She pursed her lips. "Both."

Marley nodded. "I would be, too."

"But he's just going to leave, so it's better that he doesn't, isn't it?"

"There's no chance he'd stay?"

"Music is his life. He may not feel it right now, but performing is what makes him happy."

"I read he ended a tour a few months ago."

She nodded. "He's burnt out. He needs to finish his next album and he wants me to help him remember his passion for music. He thinks I'm some sort of muse."

"How far are you willing to go to inspire him?" Marley held her hand up. "Before you get into all the reasons why you shouldn't get involved in him, let me play devil's advocate. You obviously like him. Why not play with him? You know the boundaries. You can protect yourself."

Could she? "What if he doesn't want to go that far?"

"Please. He can have any woman in the world, but he's here with you." Marley frowned. "Don't you want to kiss him again?"

"Yes," she said instantly, without thought.

"There you go."

"Excuse me," a voice said from behind her.

Nicole turned around.

The woman from Back to the Fuchsia stood behind her with an armful of white tulips and a beleaguered expression. "I stopped by Romantic Notions to deliver these. It was closed, but then I saw you in the window, so like a creepy stalker I thought I'd accost you here."

"You're the sweetest stalker ever." Nicole took the bouquet. "There's no card."

"They're