even if you want to let my name go, I’m not letting you go—I’m not letting this go—without a fight.”
“James!” Lynn’s screech was piercing.
“I have to go.”
I stepped back with a curse as Carrie pulled out of my arms, grabbing her things and darting into the changing rooms.
Planting my hands on my hips, my gaze dropped to where my shorts jutted out, the wet spot her hot cunt had rubbed into the fabric the very least of my concerns when it came to not giving away what we’d been doing.
I couldn’t go after Carrie now, and I sure as fuck didn’t want to deal with Lynn and whatever entrapment shit she had up her sleeve. So, I did a one-eighty and made for the nearest entrance to the lake.
I needed the cool water to cool my cock, and then I needed to figure out why the hell the woman who’d risked it all for one night was now trying to hide her hand—and her heart—from me.
I looked up to the sound of a the rap on my office door.
Body, mind, and spirit all came to attention like an anti-attraction army, prepared for battle against my boss-y husband.
“Carrie?” Suzanne’s blonde waves poked through the door first and a sigh of relief escaped. “Oh, good. You’re here.”
“Hey.” I stood and motioned for her to come in and take a seat. “Sorry for the mess.”
“Oh, it’s okay. You should see my office at home—wait a second…” She bent down and returned holding a black swimsuit between her hands. “Is this… the same as my yellow one?”
I bit back a groan, cursing myself for not taking back the three boxes containing that suit and two similar, but in different colors, back up to my boss’ office and demanding he stop sending me presents.
And bringing me coffee.
And leaving a poker chip and a photo of us from that night with each item, as though he were betting on it to change my mind about him and us.
But going up there would involve seeing him… speaking to him… being near him.
And I couldn’t be trusted to do any of those things.
Especially not after what was said… what was done… at the beach last week.
“I really liked it,” I offered, my excuse weakening every moment under her curious stare.
“Well, someone sure did…” she mused with a knowing grin. “So, you’re coming to Emerald Lake tomorrow, right?”
I inhaled in one long, slow pull. “I can’t, Suz.” The words hurt to say. Even after only knowing her for such a short time, the thought of hurting her—and her kindness—stung.
But I couldn’t give myself any more excuses to be around James.
“Oh, no!” she claimed, rushing to the other side of my desk and dropping into the chair in front of it, her lip quivering and disappointment leaking from her eyes.
“I know, I’m sorry. I just—”
“It just would’ve really been nice to have you there,” she broke in, reaching for the stack of poker chips on the corner of my desk and letting them drop from her fingers one by one in an attempt to distract herself.
I had to assume the stress of the wedding and the arriving guests was really getting to her if this was all it took for her to want to cry. “We have quite a few more people coming to it, and with so many activities at the bottom. I’d hoped you be there to coordinate everything.”
“I’m sure James can handle it,” I assured her, learning it had been his job up until I’d walked into his office and he’d used it to keep me.
Her glassy eyes widened. “James isn’t coming.”
“What?” I gaped.
“He… with the hotel…” Her hands flew around her in haphazard motions before she collected herself to speak. “He told Lars last night he wouldn’t be able to come. There’s too much going on with him purchasing the hotel that he can’t make it.”
I sighed. “Well, why would he buy a hotel right here right before your wedding, am I right? He needs to learn to take it easy,” I said with a soft chuckle, hoping to lighten her mood.
Her brow creased for a moment like she didn’t understand what I’d said, but then it smoothed when the truth dawned on her.
“He didn’t tell you…” Her head shook. “Lars mentioned it at dinner the night we met. I just assumed James explained.”
“Explained what?” I crossed my arms, my memory from that night about as clumsy as the rest of me when it came to