Page 144 of Really Truly Yours

“Hey, she leave you a little something there, dude?” Marco inclines his head. Sure enough, a slip of paper folded into a square is tucked beneath Gray’s cup and saucer. He crinkles it into a ball and flicks it across the table. “You can have it.”

“No he cannot.” Annalise retrieves the wad and drops it into a puddle of melted ice cream that came on top of her dessert.

The tears that suddenly make my eyes sting make zero sense. It isn’t as if he took the phone number. And, yes, I’d say we all know that’s what was on the paper.

The waiter sets the check portfolio in front of Gray, and he whips out his wallet. Jim protests. Gray insists. “This party was my big idea. This is my thanks for hosting us.”

The younger couples linger around the kitchen table long after the parents have drifted off to bed. I settle into the curve of Gray’s arm and enjoy the easy-flowing laughter and conversation. I enjoy my observer status and the fact that no one tries too hard to haul me into their discussions, while still making me feel included.

Avery, hand on her stomach, is the first to call it quits. Tripp takes her hand and their footsteps retreat up the grand staircase spiraling from the foyer. Annalise and Marco go next.

Leaning in, Gray takes my hand, sweeping his thumb across it. “Walk on the beach?”

And pick up where we left off? The intensity of the temptation to do that very thing catches me off-guard.

But then what? Our kisses are fire—in a good way. In the wrong way…they could burn.

I shake my head. I trust him, I do, but boundaries have served me well.

My understanding is that Gray will be staying in the cabana, while the Walkers assigned me a beautiful guest suite on the second floor. The room is draped with gold and cream brocade, luxury beyond my experience.

At its door, Gray pulls me to his chest, sliding his hand into my hair. “I’m glad you’re here, Sydnee.”

Oh, yes. “So am I.”

“If you weren’t, I’d spend the whole time thinking about you.” His eyes hood. “Kind of am, anyway.”

The scruff on his jaw, more pronounced than before, beckons.

“Go ahead,” he whispers, hoarse.

Yes, I believe he’s a mind-reader.

His warm fingers wrap mine and press them to his cheek. “It’s always okay for you to touch me, Sydnee.”

The gruff in his voice moves me. My fingers splay across his jaw. His eyes close as I soak him in.

His groan mingles with my sigh as he hauls me in and kisses me.

Chapter 32

Sydnee

What is sleep but an elusive theory?

This entire adventure has thrown me back, like Gray’s car doing zero to sixty. And then, that kiss.

Those kisses. Both of Gray’s latest installments are seared into my soul.

The dark of night is a horrible time to sort things through.

At midnight, I was on a cloud. By three o’clock, I was in the pit, convinced Gray was a scoundrel, leading me on with the sole purpose of dumping me once he got what he wanted. It happens. I’ve witnessed it amongst friends. My brothers’ track records aren’t stellar, either. Of course, in Max’s case, the girls were the lucky ones. They were better off without him.

Gray was going to throw away that phone number…wasn’t he?

I turn the covers back and slip my feet to the plush carpet. No matted, aged, builder’s grade material here.

I throw on a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and some slip-on sandals. I heard the telltale beep of the security system indicating an opening door a little before sunrise. Now, the house is quiet as I slip through the door off the kitchen and walk to the beach.

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