Page 77 of Moonlit Colorado

“Yeah. Did you?”

Dane turned me to face the balcony railing, held onto my sides, and nudged his hips against me. I felt the hard ridge of his erection even through the layers of ruffles in my skirt. “That’s what you do to me. You’ll help me with that later?”

“I could do it right here. Anything you want.”What on earth was I saying?I barely even knew. Thankfully, Dane was thinking more clearly than I was.

He chuckled and said, “When we get home. I don’t want us to get arrested. That wouldreallybe one for the gossip pages.”

TWENTY-TWO

Dane

By the timewe got back to my apartment, that mixed-up fog of anger and lust had disappeared from my brain. And I realized what a complete asshole I had been.

What had I been thinking?

Leaving Grace alone while I brooded, then mauling her when she found me. She’d noticed something was wrong from the look on my face, and I’d felt this click inside me. Like Grace was the exact answer to the emptiness I’d been feeling.

It wasn’t the first time I’d felt that about her. But it was the first time I’d shoved my hand into her panties in public and then didn’t allow her a real choice about giving me what I wanted.

Anyone could’ve caught us on that balcony, which was bad enough. ButMargotcould’ve seen us. She’d been at the rehearsal dinner, though she’d stuck with other Knightly Global staff and stayed away from my family. If she knew what I’d done, she would’ve had strong words, and I’d already faced Margot’s disapproval once today. Though I deserved it.

“That was a misjudgment on my part,” I said when we were inside. “What happened on the balcony. I’m sorry.”

Grace smirked, one hand on her hip. “Why are you sorry? I enjoyed it.”

I loosened my tie. “But I didn’t give you much of a choice.”

Grace stepped up to me, still tall in her heels, and grabbed the lapels of my jacket. “I said yes because I wanted to. Having your hands on me on that balcony was the hottest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Some of my regret retreated. “It’s still possible someone saw. Imagine what your brothers would do to me if they heard. Or if we show up on some gossip website. Ashford’s had issues with those in the past.”

Just be careful with her, Ashford had said.Please.

“I highly doubt that’s going to happen.”

“I assume you didn’t get to finish your dessert, either. I never came back to the table.” After our encounter on the balcony, we’d grabbed Grace’s purse and left without even saying goodbye to anyone.

“So? We can have dessert here. Can’t we?”

“We can. I have cheesecake in the fridge.”

“New York cheesecake is high on my dessert agenda for this trip. But I was thinking of something more…metaphorical.”

Mmm, I did love that wicked look in her eyes.

I was a bad influence, but Grace brought it out in me even more.

I kissed her, less urgently than on the balcony, just enjoying the taste of her. And it was finally occurring to me that my family obligations were over for tonight, and it would be just us. I could take my time with Grace. Spoil her the way I’d promised instead of being rough andtaking.

But when I pulled back, her brows had knitted. Like she was thinking serious thoughts.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your mom being sick?”

Oh, damn it. “I meant to.”

“Then why didn’t you? I had to hear it from Ainsley, and I felt kind of ridiculous for not knowing. Not that you have to tell me everything. We’re not…involved that way.”

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