Page 22 of Cowboy of Convenience
"Are you threatening to have your supposed boyfriend arrest me?" He almost seemed amused by the possibility.
"First of all, he's my fiancé." Evelyn lifted her chin, fighting the urge to smile. She got why Grady was sticking it out with her. It did feel pretty good to knock Sasha down a few notches. "And second, it's not a threat if you’re actually breaking the law."
She knew Sasha was watching her every move. Discovering he was so comfortable admitting it was unnerving, and only reinforced how correct she was in refusing to go out with him again.
"Cut the shit, Evelyn." He was totally ignoring Grady at this point, focused only on her. "We both know you're lying. There's no way you would ever do more than fuck a man like this and then send him on his way." Sasha's eyes finally moved to Grady. "I'm sure she's been open and upfront about her past…" he paused, pretending to fish around for a word, "adventures."
Grady slowly cocked one eyebrow, looking Sasha up and down. "I take it you're one of those men who’s intimidated by a woman with experience." He inched closer, continuing to stare Sasha down. "That because you don't want them to have high expectations?"
Sasha's nostrils barely flared, but to his credit he didn't step back. "My personal life is none of your business."
"Good. Then you'll understand why our personal life is none of yours." Grady's hand slid from hers to snake around her waist, pulling her body flush against his. "But I'm happy to leave the windows open tonight if you'd like to hear what it sounds like when a woman actually comes.”
Grady's palm curved around her ass, the heat of his skin sinking through the thin fabric of her yoga pants. The moisture wicking fabric was buttery soft and ridiculously comfortable, but it was terrible as a barrier and she could literally feel the press of each individual finger.
Especially the ones curved close to where her cheek met her thigh. It was a possessive hold designed to make it clear Grady was comfortable touching her everywhere.
And Sasha didn't miss it. His sharp gaze narrowed, zeroing in on the spot where Grady traced the crease, following it like a path. One leading to a part she'd been neglecting.
"You're disgusting." Sasha scowled as he met her gaze. "And all this is pointless anyway." He turned back to Grady, looking him up and down. "But I guess if this is what you'd like to spend your last hurrah doing, that's your choice." He stepped away, turning to toss one last insult over his shoulder. "But you've never been particularly discerning with who you allow in your bed, so I shouldn't be surprised."
The comment stung even though every partner she’d had was chosen with purpose and intent. It sucked that a man could fuck anything and everything and be celebrated as some sort of playboy. Like bedding women was an achievement to be proud of. But when a woman did the same thing? She was nothing more than a whore. A slut.
Technically, that was what she’d been betting on, so she wouldn't have minded being saddled with those titles if her plan had worked.
Grady watched Sasha go, clearly unimpressed as he jogged away, finishing the second of his daily runs. "I do feel a little better knowing you kicked his ass to the curb."
"And I didn't sleep with him." She lifted one shoulder. "I guess there's that."
"You might've slept with him. I’m guessing it wouldn't have been memorable enough of an experience for you to recall it." Grady delivered the jab in the same sarcastic drawl as the one he aimed at her grandmother.
And this one was just as hilarious.
Evelyn laughed until her stomach hurt, wiping away the tears edging her eyes as she finally managed to rein herself in. "He has a reputation for being horrible in bed."
“I believe it." Grady eased his hand back into hers and tugged her down the sidewalk, moving them toward her little house. "The only men I know who don't want a woman to be more experienced than they are, are the ones who can’t find the nose on their face." His eyes slid to hers. "If you catch my drift."
Evelyn fought the urge to laugh again. "Are you saying they don't know where the little man in the boat is?"
Grady chuckled. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
Evelyn laughed along with him—like they shared a joke only they got—and for the first time in forever, she felt a little lighter. A little more able to breathe.
It was how she felt when she first moved here. Far from ridiculous responsibilities and ego-driven expectations.
But then Amelie had her baby and Moss Creek started to feel as lonely as New York.
Yes, she had Muriel and Gertrude and the rest of the girls, but none of them really understood her or the life she was born into. It wasn't the kind of thing that was easy to share. It changed how people saw you. How they treated you.
How they judged you.
And ultimately, that was what would probably happen with Grady. So maybe she needed to look at all of this the same way he was. As an opportunity to have a little fun before her life went back to being shit.
Grady's steps slowed as they rounded the final turn. "Are you expecting someone?"
Evelyn followed his line of sight, perplexed when her gaze landed on the exceptionally full driveway in front of her house. "No."
She didn't get many visitors outside of Amelie and occasionally one of the other women around town. But the car in her driveway was unfamiliar, so all those options were out.
