Page 37 of Four Money (Ever and Always 1)

Oh hell no. She wasn’t about to wound him like that woman who’d left him standing alone, ready to declare his love yet not receiving hers in return. He was a decent person. She’d seen him leap into action to help Trent when his father had passed away, and every day since.

“Lorenzo,” she murmured as she reached up and laid her hand on his cheek, directing his gaze back to hers. He licked his lips and he stared at her mouth instead.

“I’m not trying to seduce you. I’m asking you to give Trent a chance.” Lorenzo sighed. “He might have fucked up tonight, and I’m sure he will again. But he’ll fix this once he’s calmed down, I know he will. Give him another shot, okay? Please,xuxu.”

“Do you want me to forgive him because you’re a good friend or because you’re hoping for side benefits? Something that involves more than jerking off while you’re watching me come around your best friend?” Holly didn’t shy away from what she really needed to know before she decided whether or not to try to fan the sparks flying between them into a full on flame.

“I’m not nearly as good a person as Trent, don’t push me.” He shifted, setting her slightly away from him, though he didn’t let go of her shoulders. His hands were bigger than Trent’s and a little softer too. He didn’t have calluses from wrenching away on something in the shop.

Hell, he probably pampered himself more than she did, slathering oil on his shaved skin to appeal to his clientele. If she was still around the next time he was working, she was going to ask Trent to take her to his show. She wanted to see what she had been missing out on.

Unless he would give her a private demonstration…

“What if I want you too?” She ran her hand upward, across his chest. “What if I keep waking Trent up in the middle of the night to have sex with me after having dreams about you and Owen fucking me while Trent watches next? What if I want to visit your world as much as I wish Trent belonged in mine?”

“Does this answer the question for you?” Lorenzo, breathing hard, descended, crushing his lips against hers.

His kiss was wild and passionate, so different from Trent’s methodical takeover of her senses. He stormed her, unleashing all of his pent-up desire and the ragged emotions he kept locked inside most of the time.

Yes, that’s what she wanted from him. To make him take a risk and be as vulnerable as she felt.

Except that’s when the front door opened and someone came in.

Trent!What would he think of busting them making out?

She wouldn’t know, because instead it was Owen who strolled over, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Looks like I got home just in time.”

15

Holly flashed back to dinner, when Trent had proclaimed to her mom that he wasn’t a saint. Apparently she wasn’t either. In fact, she was about to trade her halo for horns and never look back. Because everything in her was ready to take Owen up on the offer gleaming in his eyes.

Maybe it was because he and Lorenzo were reassuring the part of her that had felt betrayed by Trent walking out on her, unsure of her place in his life or of whether he was starting to think of her the way she was of him. Or maybe it was simply because she had some kind of connection with them.

Lorenzo was easy to justify. She’d felt something for him—a blend of empathy, attraction, and the need to rescue him after he’d been trampled on—like she had for Trent.

But Owen? She knew practically nothing about him other than that he was loyal, that he’d been gracious to her as she’d crashed into their lives, and that both Trent and Lorenzo saw him as an equal partner in their friendship and…more.

That was enough.

It made what she was doing seem even more wild, dangerous even. Like having sex with a stranger, yet with a safety net.

For once, being a little reckless appealed. Escaping from the regimented life she’d built for herself felt incredible. If she could be someone else for an hour or two, then maybe she could get through the next few months and go back to her duties as a caretaker without the despair or resentment that had been brewing within her for a while.

Lorenzo cradled her, murmuring things in Portuguese that she didn’t understand yet still comprehended. He was reassuring, steady, and sure to keep her grounded when she finally let go of all rational thought so she could simply feel good.

Owen stalked closer, then sat on her opposite side. Sandwiched between them, an instant wave of comfort blended with desire came over her. They were going to take care of her. Make sure every hint of sadness and worry were blanked out by what they were about to do.

“Where’s your husband?” Owen asked, looking toward Trent’s room.

“He lost it.” Lorenzo shook his head. “He’ll be back. Why don’t we show him why he should stick around next time instead of walking out on Holly?”

“My pleasure.” Owen took her hand and squeezed. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. He’s doing his best. And so are we. I hope this is the right thing, but if it’s not, we’ll take the fall. I swear.”

And just like that, he’d made up her mind for her.

Holly craned her neck and met Owen halfway. He didn’t mess around. It was like he’d stored up his emotions and they burst free at once in a shockwave of rapture. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her so thoroughly that he took her breath away.

The massage of Lorenzo’s hands across her back, supporting her and pushing her toward his best friend, only added to the thrill she got from Owen’s mouth on hers. And when Lorenzo began to drag his lips across the crook of her neck, she thought she might come on the spot.

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