Page 96 of Snow Bound

“No,” Grant said.

“I miss all the good stuff,” Simon complained.

“You saw me get kicked in the balls,” Grant reminded him.

“Oh, yeah.” Cheered, Simon picked up his wine. “That was pretty entertaining.”

“Anna kicked you in the balls?” Michael asked, surprised.

“No, that was the friend,” Grant supplied while Simon chuckled into his wine.

“Interesting. Speaking of your balls, the cleaning crew isn’t scheduled till Friday morning,” Michael said. “So if you’re going to fuck her, make sure you clean up after yourselves.”

“And do it where we can watch,” Simon put in. “I deserve to get something out of this.”

Michael lifted his glass. “I second that.”

“Neither of you can watch,” Grant said, exasperated.

“At least let me watch if you punish her,” Simon complained. “You are going to punish her, right?”

“I haven’t decided,” Grant mumbled. “Though stealing my truck ought to be worth at least a spanking.”

“I’m sorry, she did what now?” Michael inquired pleasantly.

Cursing himself for the slip up, Grant scowled. “She stole my truck.”

Simon grinned. “Shit, I forgot about that.”

“She couldn’t get a ride share to the airport, so she drove my truck and left it in short term parking. Which she informed me of,” Grant continued, annoyed, “in the same text in which she told me she loved me.”

Simon was grinning. Michael was goggling. Then they were both laughing.

And Anna walked in.

She stopped short, nerves leaping. “What are they laughing at?”

Lola shrugged. “Who knows? How’re you doing?”

“I’m nervous,” Anna admitted. Grant was staring at her from across the room, but his face was in shadow and she couldn’t see his eyes. She’d feel better if she could see his eyes. “You sure I look okay?”

“Baby, you’re a bombshell,” Lola assured her. “But if you don’t stop fiddling with your hem I’ll chop your fingers off.”

Anna dropped her hands. “It’s too short.”

“It’s not too short.”

“And too red.”

“It’s definitely not too red.”

“You should’ve worn it,” Anna said for the third time.

“You’re in red because you’re the focus,” Lola said, also for the third time. “I’m in black because I’m the badass bitch.”

Anna almost laughed, but her breath hitched in her throat when Grant stood and began walking towards her. “Oh God, he’s coming over.”

“Breathe,” Lola instructed, and Anna tried to obey. But she could see his eyes now, glittering, icy blue, and it didn’t actually make her feel better.

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