DrawnTogether Read Free Page B

We’ve
gotten that little nugget of info out into the open. Case closed.”
    Although shy, she acted so calm. So cool. Graig processed
her statement over and over. “She’s really you?” And thank you, God.
    Tessa nodded. “Gee, that’s a rousing endorsement. I’m going
to go hide for a while so my ego can mend.”
    “No shit.” He chuckled and stretched his legs. The woman
he’d spent too many nights watching and lusting after happened to be his best
girl friend. She knew all about his proclivity and like a dope he hadn’t put
two and two together before that moment. Well, no. Deep down he knew all along
but worried about what would happen if she stopped dancing for him. He’d seen
everything from the dark curls above her pussy to the pink of her nipples. So
she let him watch and liked it. Graig nodded. Good to know.
    She stood behind her desk. “I’ll be back. I’m…going to the
bathroom.” Before he could say anything, she bolted from her safety zone and
rushed out of the room.
    So many things were so much easier—the attraction, the
desire… Now to get her to go on a date with him.
     
    For the remainder of the day, Tessa avoided Graig. She’d
blurted out the one thing she wanted to keep quiet. His reaction stung the
most. She wasn’t sure what she saw in his eyes, but disgust and dismay sounded
about right.
    She drove home and headed straight for the shower. The hot
spray would clear her mind or at least get it off her embarrassment. She tossed
her bag on the floor and stopped to scratch Mr. Black behind the ears. The
ebony-colored cat stared at her with shiny green eyes.
    “You still love me.”
    He pushed the top of his head against her hand.
    She scooped him into her arms and carried him to the
bedroom. Across the courtyard, a light burned in Graig’s apartment. She peeked
through her partially closed blinds. Graig sat at his desk, fingers thrust into
his hair.
    Tears burned behind her eyes. She liked him. A lot. More than
she probably should’ve. Even across the courtyard she saw every detail of him.
Maybe he liked to watch her, but he loved the act. Not her. She sat down on the
bed and rubbed Mr. Black’s belly. “And I blew it with honesty.”
    Graig sat back in his chair and stared in her direction. At
her? She could only hope. Instead of the smile he normally wore, a frown marred
his features.
    Tessa’s shoulders slumped. Had she screwed up that much?
Damned nonexistent self-esteem.
    Lila stepped into frame and eased up behind Graig. His scowl
faded a bit. He didn’t reach for her, but didn’t pull away either.
    “I thought she dumped him.” Tessa stood and yanked the
curtains shut. “Well, I’ve managed to embarrass myself and made lewd comments
to a man involved with someone else. Don’t I have the best timing?”
    She flicked the light switch and drowned the room in
shadows. Who needed love anyway?

Chapter Three
     
    “Why are you here?” Graig covered his papers with his arms.
“I thought you hated me.”
    Lila massaged his shoulders. “Call it a mistake in
judgment.” She rubbed her breasts on the back of his neck. “I’ve been lonely.”
    He grabbed one of the textbooks and shoved the sheath of
pages into the cover. “Lonely my ass. I saw you out with three different guys
this past weekend. You’ve really made the Dirty Cowboy your hot spot, so spare
me your sob story. Or have you gone all over town talking shit?”
    She huffed. “I could. You’re a real perv, staring at people
across the courtyard.”
    “Don’t go there. That’s a dead subject.”
    “I can go wherever I want and talk to whomever I feel like
talking to.” Lila yanked his curtains closed. “I see she finally closed her
blinds.” She plopped down on the desk and crossed her legs. Her skirt slipped
up her thigh, giving him a healthy view of her legs and her lack of
undergarments. “You really like her? The teacher, right? The prim, little art
teacher who strips in front of her window like a