that friend who might be a good match for the managerial position in Boulder.”
“Excellent.” Beck perks up. “Tell her to send her résumé over and I’ll give her a call.”
“Will do.”
Selah is here, but keeping her distance. Hooray for small mercies. However, I can’t help noticing the longing looks she’s still casting Beck’s way. Though I note there’s also more than a touch of anger in those glances these days. The girl needs to move on with her life. Whether she’s after closure or continuance, I doubt she’s going to get either from my boyfriend any time soon.
As for Catherine, it doesn’t feel good being at the center of all this drama. The cause of it even. But then it’s not as if I started things. If Beck doesn’t wish to talk to her, then that’s his choice. And I can’t really blame him. In days of yore, our elders were revered for their wisdom. Though when the elder in question is a real piece of work, it’s hard to summon up the necessary respect. Still, I don’t like him being on the outs with her. And for me being at least partly responsible for the situation.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go say hello to Catherine?” I ask him quietly.
“Granny owes you an apology before that’s going to happen.”
As if. “She’s already taken hits to her pride and her bank balance. I think that’ll do.”
He sips his whiskey, watching me over the rim of his glass. “While I realize an admission of guilt is unlikely, you need to understand that Grandma only really respects strength. If I roll over too soon, she’ll see it as a sign that she can keep messing with you. I’m not about to allow that to happen.”
“I’m a big girl, Beck. I can stand up for myself. And she is your family. She’s also old.”
“Old enough to know better.” He lifts my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “You’re tenderhearted, brave, and ridiculously sexy, beloved. But even family need to respect boundaries. Let’s talk about something else.”
“Okay.” At least I tried. I’m not going to let her ruin our night. And what a night it turns out to be.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“How drunk are you?”
Back at home in our bedroom after midnight, Beck dips me. We’re slow dancing to Lana del Rey and there are so few perfect moments in life. But this is one of them. We managed not to make out in the back of the Bentley all the way home. Got to say, having Smith to drive us sure came in handy tonight. No one had to count their drinks or abstain altogether. However, convincing Beck to keep his hands out from under the long skirt of my dress on the drive back was an enjoyable effort. His sly smile and dark gaze affect my head and my hormones both.
“Just buzzed,” I say. “How about you?”
“High on life and you.”
I smile. “You say the sweetest things.”
“And they’re all true.”
With the Louboutin ankle strap leather high-heel sandals gone due to my sore feet, I need to reach up on tippy toes to kiss him. Not a chore given the reward. His mouth is warm and welcoming. His lips opening over mine and tongue taking possession. And I give, because giving to him is sublime. With my arms wrapped around his neck and him holding me to him I never want it to end. I could happily kiss him forever. It’s hot and delicious. My head is giddy and my heart long since lost.
His mouth moves over my jawline, down to my neck, teeth biting just so. And he’s hard against the soft of my belly making it all the more exciting. Sometimes romance just does include a hard-on digging into you and this is one of those occasions. The state of my panties is a given. My pussy’s wet and wanting, more than ready for this to be done.
And the zip in the side of my dress goes down, the material easing around my breasts and middle, down to near my hips.
“Beck?”
“Do you want to?” he asks in a low voice.
“Yes.” The man has no damn idea how much. Or maybe he does. We’ve both been waiting for just this moment for a while now. I pull back, breathing harder. “Let me just…I need a minute in the bathroom to get out of this.”
“Can I help?”
How to explain the strictures of structural underwear and how truly un-erotic it is to this man.