Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,69

banked millions on the idea of being able to entice us with concoctions designed to send us into a frenzy, but frenzied wasn’t what I felt.

I felt happy, safe, content. Like my heart was expanding in my chest as my lungs drew it in. It wasn’t sexual. Okay, it wasn’t just sexual. It was more.

Oh.

My.

God.

It wasn’t just sexual.

And not in the same friendly way I used to appreciate him either. It was different.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

I paced nervously around the room, my pulse quickening as I padded around in bare feet. It was waaaaay too soon to be having those kinds of feelings. Not only did I have my bad-news ex still trying to fuck up my life, but I was literally on the verge of the biggest move of my career. I didn’t have time for a serious relationship, not one that attracted the L word.

Had I ever been in love? Like real love, and not just infatuation or lust. Maybe? I didn’t know, my chest tightening as I tried to talk myself off the ledge. It wasn’t the time. It was NOT the time. And it wasn’t like I could just confess to Jared I was tangled up in feelings. I mean, obviously we’d cared about each other for a really long time, but this was so incredibly different.

I was in love with a guy—and other than Raelle and Bennett—no one knew I was even dating.

Fuck.

“You okay there, Sweetie?” Leighton’s mom rapped at the door. “We’re just about to sit down and have dinner, you find everything you need?”

Yes, unfortunately I did, Orla, but the fucking timing sucks and now I’m in love with your amazing son and I don’t think he loves me like that.

“Yes,” I croaked out, trying to clear my throat as I pulled open the door. “I’m sorry, I just thought since I was up here it was just easier to get changed.”

Her smile spread, looking me over from head to toe as she crossed the threshold and entered the room. “Oh, Presley, you look stunning.”

“Thanks.” I nodded, not wanting to correct her that I was actually a hot mess and wasn’t even taking into account my shoeless feet and smudged makeup. I was so far from stunning in every single way and my head was spinning out of control.

She clasped my hands, tapping them with hers as she took in my outfit. It was my Stella McCartney cocktail dress which plunged low at the front so I couldn’t wear a bra. Which probably wasn’t appropriate when I was going to be sitting around children, and something I should have considered before changing.

Fuck.

“I should probably put something else on.” I reached down to my discarded T-shirt on the bed, thinking Jared’s nephew was going to get more familiar with boobs than his parents were probably comfortable with.

“Nonsense. You look lovely. No need to cover up. My heart might belong to the Lord, but I’m not a prude,” she chuckled. “So come down and have dinner. I set a place for you and Justin right beside Jared.”

Great.

“Thanks so much, Orla. That’s so kind. I’ll just be another few minutes, but you can go ahead and start without me.”

She shook her head, watching as I shoved the clothes I’d arrived in back into the bag and pulled out my black patent leather pumps. “You take your time. We’ll get the grandkids started.”

Leaving me to my panic, she closed the bedroom door behind me. Then I was a whirlwind of arms, cleaning up my face and reapplying my makeup as I slid on my shoes. I was so not ready to go down and face Jared. Having to look at him and smile like I hadn’t just discovered I loved him after he fingered me in his old bedroom.

Because who even thinks like that.

Harnessing the bravado of Presley past—the woman who could run one of the biggest nightclubs in the city and negotiate deals with multi-millionaires—I walked out of the safety of the room.

It was fine.

No one could read what was going on in my head, and I certainly didn’t need to be advertising it. Especially not to Jared who was probably expecting a blowjob, not declarations of love and other complicated feelings.

Heads turned when I walked in, eyes focusing on me and my ill-suited dinner attire as I took a seat in between Jared and Tibbs and pretended I didn’t feel the stares.

“That dress is amazing.” Deanna, Leighton’s oldest sister, was the first to talk. “If you weren’t so