“You dumped your long-time girlfriend!”
“Yes, my plan was to break up with her. I went there for that purpose and I saw you. It was fate, if you ask me. And six months is not long-term and doesn’t even compare to the time we will
be sharing.”
“It’s just so easy, huh? Move on to the next one? What does that say about you?” I put my hands on my hips, thinking of my old hurt caused by David and how easily he had pushed me aside after five long years together.
“It says I knew I was wasting my time with her. Stop being so dramatic. She and I were just another in between. You know what those are? The ‘in betweens’ to get to the good one.”
“Wow, poor girl. She must be heartbroken.”
“She wasn’t happy, but I don’t think she was completely faithful, either.”
“What do you mean?”
“I told you my schedule is crazy.”
“Yeah, so?”
“Well, last time I showed up late at her house, I found men’s boxers and an electric razor. She claimed her father left them when he visited. I seriously doubt her dad wears Armani boxers. Even if he did, why in the hell would he leave them at his daughter’s apartment? It was going nowhere. I wanted to end it then, but I got called back to Tennessee because of an emergency so I waited until I could come down again. I’m not the type of guy that can do that shit by phone or text. It’s just not me.”
“So why were you at our lecture?”
“She was nervous. She’d heard about what a hardass the doctor was and she wanted me there. I had no intention of staying until I saw you.” He popped a beer and hung his head as he looked at me. “Rose, listen to me, hear me. It’s over with her and you have no reason to feel guilty, and I sure as hell don’t. My heart wasn’t in it.” He turned on his portable speaker and I heard country music reverberate across the pond.
“Oh, hell no. Better find something else,” I said with a laugh. When it came to music, I was a snob of sorts, and country was out of the question.
“It’s my taste and I love it. Get used to it.”
“I most certainly will not!” I stated as he gave me a wink as he closed the cap to the now full float before tossing it onto the ground. “You are involved with a true Texan, kid. Deal with it.”
I rolled my eyes as he took a bag of weed from his pocket and began to roll a joint on the hood of his car. I looked around us as if the police would be running up on us at any minute.
I lifted my brow at his new chore. “Don’t expect me to smoke that with you, stoner cowboy.”
“It might do you a world of wonder...Doctor.”
“I’ve tried it. Not for me. No one smokes pot past the age of twenty-five anymore, Grant.”
His brow crested high at my statement. “Bullshit.”
“Look, I don’t condemn or condone, okay. Do what you want.” I circled around the huge float between us then grabbed a beer, downing it in seconds.
He eyed me as he twisted the last of his joint. “Like I said, it’s my only vice, aside from my newly formed addiction of living between your thighs. So, if it bothers you that much, I won’t.”
“No, it really doesn’t,” I replied before I quirked a grin up at him. “Do your thing.”
He stripped down to his briefs and I felt my body grow weak at the sight of him. He was perfectly built. He had a long torso and I could see every single muscle etched into him. His broad chest was sprinkled with dark hair, a string of tree branch tattoos that cascaded down his right forearm, and a wicked looking Cheshire cat on his shoulder. I loved tracing those branches as he hovered over me.
“Strip, beautiful. You’re safe here. There’s no one around.” He gave me a wicked grin that rivaled the cat on his arm before his next offering. “I bought sunblock. It’s in the bag in the front seat.” He took off with the float and placed it on the shallow bank in the water. I grabbed the bag from the seat, smiling as I noticed the rest of its contents. I opened the box, tucked two condoms into the padding of my bra, and hid the rest in the cab of the truck. Safe was an illusion with Grant around. The man had one hell of a sexual appetite.
Who’s got the power now, Tarzan? Jane does, that’s who.
I took off my clothes, thankful to be at least matching in my hot pink bra and panty set. I covered my body in the sunblock and whipped my head down when I felt Grant rubbing the excess onto my legs.
“Rose,” he breathed out heavily, looking up at me, his eyes asking me...something.
“Grant,” I whispered breathlessly as he kneeled before me. His blue eyes looked up at me with so much need I was instantly raw. The look he gave me was sincere and desperate.