Page 32 of When Annika Met Thom

Thom took a bite of brownie as he watched her, that steady gaze boring right into her soul. He still looked confident, not like a guy who’d been proven wrong.

Annika would not doubt.

Yet.

She found herself watching the movement of his mouth as he chewed and was mesmerized by the line of his lips. Firm, resolute, yet she suspected they could be gentle and teasing and…

Suddenly Annika realized Leo hadn’t answered her. There was no one on the line. She frowned at the phone but the call was still in progress. She heard some scuffling and what might have been a muffled moan. Then there was a grunt, the sound of something falling hard and sounds became much clearer.

Too clear.

Her eyes went round at the incoherent whispers, at the confessions she almost (but not quite) heard. She heard a zipper being torn open, then clothing landing on the floor as a man breathed heavily. A woman moaned from the depths of her soul.

Annika checked the phone. ItwasLeo’s number.

What was going on?

Thom chuckled and took another bite of brownie.

It couldn’t be. It wouldn’t be.

“Cerise!” Leo whispered hoarsely, his voice carrying through the phone.

Who the hell was this Cerise?

“Baby, I can’t hold back,” he moaned.

Leo had never once moaned with Annika. He might have been taking an exam for all the passion he showed in the heat of the moment.

“Me neither!” a woman cried in delight. “More, give me more!” Her voice rose in apparent passion. “Drive it home, Leo. Drive. It. Home.”

“Yes, Cerise,” he said, grunting as he evidently delivered what she’d requested.

“Yes, yes, yes!” they cried in unison.

Annika couldn’t believe it was even possible for Leo to be so vocal.

There was an unmistakable and rhythmic thud behind their mingled gasps of pleasure.

Leowasdriving it home.

“I want all you have to give!” Cerise roared. “Leo!”

“Cerise!”

Annika couldn’t even look at Thom. Her face was burning with mortification, but then she wasn’t the one who was out of line.

“Leo!” the woman gasped again, her voice strained.

“Cerise!” He answered. “I love you!”

Annika gasped in fury and glared at the phone. Screwing around was one thing, but confessions of love to other women? No, no, no.

That was enough.

“When you said you were coming this afternoon, I obviously misunderstood you,” she said calmly.

Cerise shrieked and there was the sound of heavy items falling. Bodies maybe. “Who is that?” she cried.

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