Chapter Eleven

Greg sat down on the floor next to her and braced his back against the wall. He stretched out his long legs and handed her another beer. He was so close she could see the tiny lines around his eyes. She listened to his comments regarding the pros and cons of each color, but she had trouble focusing on his words. She was distracted by just how close he was, how his fresh, earthy scent invaded her senses, and how his voice tingled down her spine.

“So have you decided on a color yet?”

She blinked and then looked at the wall. “I think I like the third color.”

He clinked his beer bottle on hers. “You have impeccable taste. That’s the one I like, too.”

“Ah.” She grinned. “Two great minds…”

At that moment, Jack raised his head and looked at them.

Greg reached over and rubbed his head. “Okay, three great minds.”

They sat in silence for a moment, Ginger looking at the wall and Greg looking at his beer. His nearness was electric. Her skin vibrated with cognizance. They were sitting side by side, and if she moved one inch to the right, her leg would be touching his. And just when she thought she would lose the battle, and her leg would move on its own volition and slam into his, he raised his beer and took a sip.

“When I was cleaning the brushes, I noticed the roses were missing. Did you place them on your nightstand where you can see them first thing in the mornings and the last thing at night?”

Her jaw dropped, but she quickly composed herself. The damn roses. If he meant for his tone to come across as light and casual, he’d failed miserably. She’d been struggling to control her urge for a match of leg wrestling while he was wondering how close his assumption was about her and her past.

It was none of his business, but something deep down inside of her rebelled against his inaccurate opinion of her. Maybe it was pride, maybe it was her own insecurities, but whatever it was, it demanded she tell him the truth.

It took her a moment to start talking. “Have you ever been in love?” Her voice was low and soft, and she kept her gaze glued to the bottle she held.

He didn’t answer right away. After a moment she raised her head and looked at him. His jaw had tightened, and his eyes held a faraway look. Finally, he took a long drink of his beer. “Once. Turns out it wasn’t real, though.”

She almost dropped her bottle. That certainly wasn’t the answer she’d expected. He’d never even hinted at having a serious past relationship. And though his voice had been calm and matter-of-fact, she sensed he’d intentionally buried the memory so he would never have to think about it.

She could have told him that never worked.

“What happened?” she asked softly.

He gave her a small, bitter laugh and took another swig from the bottle. “It’s no big deal. We were talking about you, you know.”

She waited a moment, but it was clear he wasn’t going to discuss it any further. She’d just had a small glimpse into another facet of what embodied the total man, and her curiosity demanded more information.

He’d been hurt, of that she had no doubt. With that thought came the certain knowledge he’d taken steps to protect himself. Was this why he promoted the image of a playboy, never allowing himself to get serious about anything?

She lowered her head and bit back the questions she wanted to ask. She would respect his wishes not to talk about it. For now.

She took a deep breath, and her lips twisted in a wry grin as she began her own story. “We seem to have a lot in common. As it turns out, I thought I was in love, too.” She worked the label on the bottle with her thumbnail. He turned toward her, but if she stopped now, she might never find the courage again to explain. “His name was Todd Greene. I met him shortly after my parents died. I’m sure professionals would say I was vulnerable. However, I’d say I was just plain stupid.”

“Ginger, you don’t have to tell me any of this. I was being nosy, and I’m sorry.”

She rested her head back against the wall and ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “I was working through lunch one day, and Todd walked in. He was there to see my boss. Todd and I started talking, then we started dating, and then we started…well, the relationship turned serious, and I thought I’d found the man of my dreams. I was so happy,” she said with a self-deprecating laugh. “There were so many signs that should have warned me it wasn’t an honest relationship, but I ignored them all. I wanted to marry this man, for God’s sake! I still get embarrassed just thinking about it.”

Greg’s eyebrows drew together. “So what happened?”

She took a sip of her beer. “He was already married,” she said, a small giggle escaping. “There was already a Mrs. Greene, who I’m sure wasn’t aware her dog-slut husband was dishonoring their blissful wedding vows. I almost feel sorrier for her than I do myself. Almost,” she stressed, “because he made a bigger fool out of me than her.”

“You weren’t a fool,” he stated, his voice unusually gruff. “You can’t blame yourself for being deceived.”

“That’s not even the funniest part. Everyone I worked with knew he was married, and nobody told me. People I thought I was close to, people I thought who cared, and nobody told me he was married. Nobody wanted to step up and be the one who hurt me. God, how stupid is that?” The anger and humiliation returned, and bitterness had crept into her voice, but she couldn’t seem to stop it. She thought she’d buried the worst of the resentment long ago, but it was as if by telling Greg her most painful incident, a storm gate had opened, and she couldn’t stop the flood of words.

“I discovered Todd had another character flaw as well. Not only was he a lying cheat, he was also a very mean man, and that shocked me almost as much as discovering he was married. I guess his ego wouldn’t allow him to believe I never wanted to see him again because he kept calling my office and my cell phone. It was driving me crazy, so when he came by my apartment, I decided to set him straight once and for all. However, opening my door was a mistake.

“He tried sweet-talking at first, and when that didn’t work, he pushed through the door. He grabbed my shoulders and starting shaking me, calling me every ugly name in the book. When I struggled to break free, he pushed me, and I landed on the floor. He stood over me and gave me this sneer. He said I’d be begging him to come back before long.”

By the time she finished speaking, tears were slowly slipping down her cheeks. Disgusted with herself, she averted her face and swiped at the tears. I am not going to cry!

Quietly, Greg reached over and took the beer from her hand, carefully placing it on the floor beside his. Then he gently drew her into his arms. She resisted at first, but then pent up emotion she’d not even been aware of exploded. She collapsed against him and started to sob. He murmured soft, soothing words as she clutched the front of his T-shirt.

How much time passed before she was able to regain some control, she couldn’t say, but as the flood of emotion dissipated, embarrassment rose. The room was quiet, offering no distraction from the feel of Greg’s chin resting on top of her head as she nestled against his chest. His strong arms encircled her, and she felt safe and cared for. She was also starting to feel something else. She opened her eyes and blinked.

He must have noticed the subtle shift in the atmosphere as well. His head lifted, and one hand slowly rose to brush gently against her cheek. At that same moment, Jack stood from where he lay at their feet and walked over to Ginger’s side. He looked directly at Greg and then stuck his cold nose in Ginger’s ear.

She squealed and pulled away from Greg who was laughing out loud. Jack plopped down on his belly, his tail wagging furiously. She shook her head and ruffled the big dog’s neck before throwing her arms around him in a big hug. Saved by the bell…uh, the nose.

Greg ran his hand through his hair. “Jack probably figured I wasn’t cheering you up fast enough.”

It was more likely her dog had sensed she was about to do something stupid. She didn’t raise her head when she said, “I’m so sorry about losing it. I don’t know what came over me.”

Greg cleared his throat—twice. “No need to apologize. We all need a friend to lean on now and then. I hope you can find a way to get over Todd Greene, though. He’s not worth your tears.”

She did turn then, and her eyebrows rose. “Get over him? I was over Todd Greene a long time ago. He is nothing but pond scum. What I am not over is the humiliation. I am not over the feeling of betrayal, and I am not over having to accept my so-called friends knowing I was falling in love with a married man and saying nothing. That’s what I’m not over!” she said bitterly as she climbed to her feet. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go splash water on my face.”

She slammed the bathroom door shut. How could Greg think she was still in love with someone who had lied to her? She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. She had to be fair. Could she really blame him for not fully understanding after the emotional breakdown she’d just experienced?

Anybody else would have jumped up in horror and run for the hills, but he’d stayed and held her, comforted her, showing her she was not alone. And all of that while believing her emotions were in turmoil over feelings she still had for Todd. She might not like Greg assuming she still cared for Todd, but she had to admit his actions impressed her.

She turned on the faucet and washed her face, hoping the cool water would soothe her puffy eyes. She hung up the hand towel and looked at herself in the mirror. Her body still tingled from the electric jolt it had received when it came into contact with Greg’s. This awareness thing with him was going to drive her nuts, and it was also going to ruin any chance they had of a normal friendship. She couldn’t even get close to the man without all her senses rising to the highest alert level.

Todd Greene had been pushed to the farthest recesses of her mind while sensations of desire started coursing through her, and if Jack hadn’t distracted her, she had no doubt she would have made yet another mistake.

However, friendship was all about forgiving mistakes, wasn’t it? A friend was someone who would be there even when you fell flat on your face.

Ginger leaned against the counter and analyzed how the full meaning of friendship applied to her and Greg. She liked what they shared now, but she couldn’t help but feel their whole relationship was in danger because of dumb moments where she had to fight to keep from jumping his bones.

After a moment, she narrowed her eyes. This rollercoaster of emotions had to stop. Still she waited a while, hoping her inner voice would wake up and tell her that what she planned to do was idiotic. But that voice remained quiet.

She nodded to herself and squared her shoulders before leaving her bedroom. There was only one way she was going to be able to save this friendship.

Greg was scooping some sheetrock mud from the plastic-lined box when she walked into the room. With a metal pan in one hand and a trowel in the other, he turned. His smile faded and his brows drew together as he searched her face. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer. Ignoring the tools in his hands, she marched right up to him, grabbed his face in both of her hands, and pulled his face down to hers while her body melded tightly against his.

He stood frozen. But not for long. A loud clanging noise split the air as the tools in his hands hit the floor. He wrapped his arms around her, opening his mouth slightly to let her wandering tongue enter. He groaned and pressed her head back to deepen the kiss.

Consumed by primal desire, all she could think about was she wanted this man. All of him. The heat between her thighs grew hotter as the intensity of his kiss grew hard, passionate, and possessive. He kissed her with a thoroughness that took her breath away.

Need exploded inside her. She was a desperate, hungry animal craving appeasement. Pulling her lips from his, she jerked his T-shirt over his head, and finally—finally—she ran her hands over his hard chest, something she had been craving to do from the moment they met. Greg drew in a ragged breath, and power surged through her, wild and uninhibited. Her senses were alive as never before, and nothing mattered except satisfying the desire burning inside her.

Her hands trailed down to the snap of his shorts, but he pulled her arms up to lift her tank top over her head before crushing her mouth with his once again. Her hands returned to his shorts while he unhooked her bra, and somehow, without breaking the bond of their lips, they stood fully naked, fully aroused, and fully enveloped in the fire raging around them.

She bent her knee, raised her leg, and ran it slowly up and down his, the feel of coarse hair against smooth skin sending shivers down her spine. He trembled as the strong male body succumbed to the soft female body. He lowered his hands to her bottom and lifted her off her feet as her legs wrapped around his hips. Then he maneuvered her perfectly to accept his full manhood.

Ecstasy shot through her as her breasts rubbed against his bare chest and the dance toward the sensual pinnacle began. Suddenly, the wall was at her back, and he increased the tempo. She was lost in the incredible sensation. Her climax started slowly in her toes, winding its way through her entire being before bursting into a kaleidoscope of brilliant color at the same time he cried out, his shoulders quivering, his body coming to a quiet rest against her, the only sound their deep, ragged breaths.

After several minutes, they gently, tenderly separated, and her legs slowly slid down his legs until her toes hit the floor. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, and she clung to him, not sure her legs would hold her up yet. And he didn’t appear to be in any better shape.

Finally, she lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. “Wow.” A shy smile played on her lips.

“That’s an understatement.” His smile was tender, his voice deep and husky. “I can feel your heartbeat,” he whispered, lowering his head to nibble her earlobe.

She would have been surprised if he couldn’t. Their lovemaking had been deeper, more consuming than anything she experienced before. They had joined, standing up in the midst of tools and supplies with no foreplay, no slow seduction, and yet she’d been rocked to her core with the complete perfection of how right it was.

That hadn’t exactly been the plan, though. This had been an exercise in diffusing the sexual tension that had grown between them, a way to salvage the friendship she wanted so badly. She wasn’t supposed to feel this overpowering sense of belonging, this feeling of coming home after a lifetime of aimlessly searching for the place she was meant to be. She swallowed and lowered her eyelashes to cover her eyes. What have I done?

Suddenly, Jack jumped up and stared at the front door, a deep growl coming from his throat.

Greg frowned and leaned away slightly. “What’s wrong, Jack?” he asked quietly.

Ginger sent up a silent prayer of thanks. She wasn’t about to tell Greg it was probably nothing more than a squirrel or a neighbor getting into a car. She quickly stepped away from his embrace and began gathering her clothes. “I know for a fact it’s not a pizza delivery,” she said jokingly, “because I didn’t order any. But believe it or not, I do have some eggs. Give me a minute, and I’ll scramble some for us.” And then she practically ran from the room.

****

She couldn’t hide forever. She had to face Greg and pretend their lovemaking hadn’t just tilted the earth and dramatically changed her world. Her original plan had been to have sex, get it over with and out of the way so they could move forward with a strong friendship. That her plan had backfired spectacularly was an understatement. Still, none of this was his fault, and she couldn’t allow him to feel any pressure to escalate their friendship into something more now that they had shared an intimate moment.

Drawing a steadying breath, she wiped her palms down the sides of her shorts and headed down the hallway. Greg had already started on the eggs. She smiled but avoided looking him in the eyes. “I didn’t know you could cook.” She peered into the pan. “It looks wonderful.”

“Oh yeah, eggs are my specialty. Do you think you could cook us some toast?”

“Ah,” she said with a nod, “you’ll be surprised to learn that toast is my specialty. Get your taste buds ready, buster.”

“Oh, I’d say my taste buds are more than ready,” he said suggestively. “But regarding food, it’s good to know we’ll never have to worry about starving. Between eggs, toast, and pizza, I’d say we’ve got it made.”

Her back was to him as she dropped bread into the toaster. This was a bittersweet moment, taunting her with the image of what a normal relationship could be like as they worked together, puttering around the kitchen to prepare a meal. But it also reminded her of similar beliefs she’d had in the past, only to discover the true depth of emotion was only one-sided.

She spread butter liberally over the toast while Greg spooned the eggs onto paper plates. He carried the food to the table while she poured two glasses of milk and then joined him, Jack flopping down on the floor at her feet in the hopes there would be leftovers. She doubted it, though, because she was suddenly ravenous, digging into the simple meal with all the gusto of a Sumo wrestler. “This is surprisingly delicious.”

“Of course, it is. Did you doubt my expertise?”

“I was talking about the toast.”

If she thought sharing the meal with Greg would be awkward, she couldn’t have been more wrong. As had occurred so often in the past, the topics they discussed were varied and wide-ranging, something she really enjoyed about him. He respected her opinions even though he often disagreed, but he listened and commented without showing any impatience, sarcasm, or rancor. If his eyes softened and lingered on her face longer than usual, or his smile held traces of a special intimacy, she refused to acknowledge it. They were just two friends sharing a meal.

After having shared incredible sex.