The Gallery (Contemporary Reverse Harem 4)

“Why didn’t you?” she asked, tilting her head.

“You looked so alone. It didn’t seem like the right time to chat you up. Plus, you were married.”

“Good thinking. That was quite the day,” she said.

I leaned toward her, and our lips met for the first time. As soon as they did, I knew it would not be for the last time.

In fact, I knew there would be many, many more times.

But because she didn’t know that yet, I would be patient.

Chapter 13

AVRIL

Wow. Chase Roman. Blond, dark-eyed, clean-shaven with a delicious little cleft in his baby-faced chin.

And a single dad.

That was some seriously grown-up stuff. A man, raising a daughter on his own. To be honest, it made my problems pale in comparison.

And when our lips met, well, I knew I had to know more about this man. He was part of a great group of guys.

Three of whom I’d now kissed—Ash, Sumner, and now Chase. Would Gio be next?

God, I was feeling slutty, but what was the harm in kissing? And they all knew about it, so there would be no deceiving going on.

“C’mon,” I said, taking Chase’s hand, emboldened by the hand life had dealt me.

If anyone had told me just a few weeks ago I’d be lusting after a man—actually, men—other than my husband, well, I never would have believed them. Not in a million years.

But I also never would have believed my sister would leave me so young, or that my once-adoring and attentive husband would dump my ass.

I led Chase to my office in the loft. I’d filled it with lots of white, slipcovered furniture. Not very practical, I knew, but I’d wanted something girly to soften the industrial feel of it.

“It’s nice up here,” Chase said, looking around.

“Thanks,” I said.

The new Avril was taking no prisoners. No, I had things to accomplish, and that included spending time with this gorgeous man.

And possibly his friends. In a sex club. That also happened to be my gallery.

Chase’s lips hit mine, and the stress in my body dribbled away. I didn’t know where it went, or if it would come back, but for that moment in time, I felt better than I had in ages. Better than I had when I was married. Almost better than I had before my sister died.

He pulled me to him, gently enough to let me know I could turn him away at any time, if I wanted to.

Which I didn’t.

I opened my lips to accept more of him, and wouldn’t you know, that hot and bothered feeling between my legs started up, just like it had when I’d kissed the other guys.

Boy, I was in for some trouble.

He ran kisses down the side of my neck, while grasping handfuls of my ass and squeezing.

Just as I was contemplating tearing my dress off, he excused himself, explaining he had to get back to work.

What was it with these guys?