Undisclosed Desires Read Free

friends. He
kidded that they could not only finish each other’s sentences but each other’s
paragraphs. Brad just couldn’t deal. Fights broke out for no reason that always
seemed to come back to some objection to her friendship with Antonio. Soon the
sex that had been mediocre at best between Grace and her fiancé turned
dreadful.
    Grace had to admit she probably shared the
greater part of the blame. The first time she’d seen Antonio, her jaw had
literally dropped and her heart had pounded so hard she’d thought it would
split her ribs. For the first time in her life, Grace understood what she was
supposed to feel when she looked at the man she loved. She had known her body
was capable of being thrilled, but Antonio made her tingle from head to foot.
Just watching Antonio move had her inner walls pulsing. The weakness tormented
her.
    She should have called off the wedding,
but her logical and reasonable self had taken control. Although they were fast
friends and best buddies, Antonio hadn’t given any indication of attraction. He
was beyond her reach, whether she was engaged or not. Plus, she owed loyalty to
Brad. He was a moderately attractive guy with a good job and who wanted a
family. Someone to be happy with. No wide, roller coaster rides of lust and
love. Instead, a nice, steady warmth.
    The blow up came the night of her
bachelorette party. She’d insisted on making it unisex so she could include
Antonio. Just as she’d been ready to leave for the party, Brad had cornered her
at her apartment.
    “Why do you need Antonio there?” Brad had
asked.
    “I don’t need him there,” she’d replied, rummaging in her purse for lipstick.
“But why shouldn’t he be there? He’s my friend.” Grace found the tube and
extracted it.
    “A friendship I don’t understand,” Brad
stated, pacing angrily. “Can’t you give this guy up?”
    “Why?” She turned to the mirror in the
hall.
    “Because I’m asking you to!” Brad shouted,
and then stopped behind her.
    “Why are you yelling at me? You’re being
ridiculous.” Grace made eye contact with him in the mirror. “There’s no sexual
relationship between us. Besides, Antonio works with me. What do you want me to
do? Quit my job?” She applied the ruby blush color to her lips.
    “You would quit, if you really loved me.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “But Antonio seems more important to you than
I am. More important to you than our marriage.”
    “Because I won’t quit my job to avoid
someone and appease your unreasonable jealousy?” She whirled to face him.
    “Unreasonable?” Brad demanded, his
eyebrows converging. “You’re having an emotional affair with the guy, at the
very least.” He slammed a palm into the wall behind her head and he loomed over
her. “The wedding is off.” His eyes locked with hers. “I’m not marrying you. I
want my ring back.”
    “What? You can’t. What about all the money
we’ve already spent?”
    “Listen to yourself,” he mocked. “The
first concern is the money?”
    She hesitated. Why had her first thought
been the money and not about losing Brad? Realization dawned and an apology
hovered on her lips, but Brad interrupted before she could even open her mouth.
    “You’re a lousy fuck anyway,” he flung at
her. “My friends all told me to dump you. That you’d never get over being
frigid. That you were a bitch…They were right.”
    “Take your lousy ring!” Grace screamed,
pulling it off her finger before throwing it at Brad. “And get the hell out.”
    She’d gone to Finnegan’s anyway. No sense
in delaying. She’d have to let everyone know Brad had called off the wedding.
When she’d arrived and announced it, all her friends had quickly gone from a
happy party mood to somber and apologetic. Then one by one they’d all made a
quick departure, all except Antonio. He told her what she needed was a drink
and not to be alone. They’d snagged a table in the corner and ordered one drink
then