Page 53 of Sloane

“God, you’re beautiful.”

And for the first time in my life, I believed it.

Chapter Fifteen

Sloane

I turned the Camry onto Ryan’s street and immediately noticed his driveway was already full of cars and tried not to scowl. I wondered how many people from last night he’d invited.

Hopefully not Nicole. He was there when Sara had been a bitch to Ashley, so I knew that wouldn’t be a problem, but Nicole had hit on me at the bar, away from everyone.

I was glad at least she hadn’t insulted Ashley—not to her face, anyway. But coming onto me when she knew I was there with someone else was a shitty thing to do. Didn’t girls have their own version of a bro code?

“Thanks again for coming with me,” I said as I put the car in park at the end of the driveway. “And for making food. Although, I still say we should have just stopped and bought something.”

“Of course. And no, we shouldn’t have. I like baking and cooking.”

“And your food is delicious. I just think we could have put that time to better use.”

“I don’t know,” she said with a naughty grin as she opened her door. “I think we used that time quite well.”

I mirrored her grin when I got out of the car, thinking about her spread on the counter with my face between her thighs.

“The Marines have taught me how to change course when necessary.”

“Well, ‘Oorah’ to your pivoting skills.”

I loved that she used the Marine’s rallying cry in her response and couldn’t help but kiss her temple when I took the dessert dish from her.

“I’ll pivot for you anytime, sweetness.”

****

Ashley

Ryan was coming out of the hall bathroom when we walked in the front door.

“Hey! You made it!”

“Sorry we’re late,” Sloane offered, although his tone wasn’t very contrite. Or maybe I only thought that because I knew he wasn’t really sorry.

I’d had to cajole him to get dressed after our shower together. He’d adamantly said he didn’t want to go.

“I saw everyone last night,” he said as he flopped on the bed naked. “I don’t need to spend another night with them.”

It was only after I reminded him that Tank was at Ryan’s that he relented and put on a pair of faded jeans and a long-sleeved olive-colored Henley.

He’d looked so hot, it almost made me change my mind about insisting we go. But as I watched him drop to his knees and hug Tank, I was glad we came.

He really did love that dog and vice versa.

Ryan gestured toward the hall leading to the family room/kitchen area.

“Come on. Grace made hors d'oeuvres.”

“That was sweet of her,” Sloane replied as he stood up.

“She’s the daughter of a socialite. There’s no way she was going to let me not have food ready when you got here.”

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