Unraveled (Undone) Read Free Page B

neither of us has one.
    From what Layla told me, she went out on a blind date with Chad, thrust upon her by her sister right around the time she met Michael. Apparently, three or four months ago, Michael and Layla ran into Chad on a date and they all hit it off. They’d started hanging out, going on double dates with the other couple, until Chad broke up with the girl he’d been seeing. She’d disappeared, but he’d stuck, becoming part of the group.
    I have nothing against Chad. I actually like him a lot. He’s a perfectly nice, solid guy. He’s just a bit traditional for my tastes. Yes, he’s good looking in an All American, Abercrombie and Fitch way. All tall, lean muscles and broad shoulders, with that killer jaw, high cheekbones and nice crystal-clear, blue eyes. He’s also got short, expertly messy brown hair, and a good mouth.
    He’s the kind of guy you bring home to your parents. The settling-down type. As an IT manager, with a good nine-to-five job, he’s actually kind of a catch.
    If you like that kind of thing.
    If I brought a guy like Chad home to my mother, she’d be on her knees thanking Jesus that her daughter had finally seen reason.
    Michael opens the door and the man in question walks in. In gray pants, a white button-down, and messy bedroom hair, he looks good. He wasn’t the least bit nerdy or anything, he just didn’t look dark and dangerous like Leo and Michael. He looks harmless. Clean cut.
    What was he even doing coming to a fetish party? He belonged even less than I did. Those dominant girls were going to eat him for breakfast if he wasn’t careful.
    At least watching him fumble around would keep me entertained.
    As he strolls in he doesn’t even seem to pause at Layla kneeling on the floor. He glances down at her, but there’s no flicker of surprise like I would have expected. He hands Michael a bottle of wine, shakes Leo’s hand, and gives Jillian a kiss on the cheek before waving at me. “Hey, Ruby.”
    I wave back. “Hey, Chad.”
    He winks at me. “Glad you came along to keep me company.”
    “Me too.” I relax a bit. He might not be my type, but at least I won’t be an odd man out. And we get along so well it’s hard to be put out.
    He gives Jillian a long, appraising nod before flashing a grin at Leo. “Well done.”
    Leo laughs. “I agree.”
    Michael places the bottle on the counter, and says, “Be right back.”
    When he walks out of the room and down the hallway Leo says to Chad, “Wait until you see what I do to her later.”
    Jillian flushes, gasps, and glares at her boyfriend. “Don’t say that.”
    I blink. That was overt. Leo will give poor Chad a heart attack before he even gets to the party.
    What am I doing here again? I could be at The Whisky, watching one of my favorite bands. I have my eye on the bass player, although so did a lot of females, so I’ve been playing hard to get.
    I wasn’t sure it was working though.
    Chad’s brow rises, and he looks at Jillian like she’s a horse up for auction. “I hope I get a front row seat.”
    Leo turns his attention on Jillian, his gaze raking over her. “I think that can be arranged.”
    “Leo,” Jillian hisses. “Stop that.”
    Leo kisses her soundly on the lips before twisting his hand in her hair, and saying to Chad, “Being watched makes her wet.”
    At his words shock rolls through me. I want to look away but find I can’t. I expect Chad to be shocked too, but instead he leans in and whispers something in Jillian’s ear that has her swallowing hard.
    Where’s his surprise?
    My whole body flushes hot and I finally tear my gaze away.
    Michael walks back in and Leo releases his hold on Jillian.
    Chad turns to me, an easy smile on his face. “No Valentine’s date tonight, Ruby?”
    I can only stare at him, confused and vaguely out of sorts. Why isn’t he taken aback, like I am? How is he able to adapt the easy manner I’ve been shooting for since I walked in?
    “Nope,” I say lamely. A bad