Too Hot to Handle (Jackson Hole 2)

She scowled, answering Merry’s question.

“I’m a big girl, you know,” Merry said softly. “I know I act like a clueless idiot sometimes, but I’ve managed to navigate my way through a pretty complicated life.”

“I know that! You’re just a little…innocent about guys sometimes.”

“I’m not innocent! I’m not too trusting. I know what men can be like. It’s not naïveté, Grace, it’s just celibacy. And if I want to have sex with Shane, I’ll have sex with him.”

Grace’s scowl returned with a vengeance. “Fine. Whatever you want. Did you do it?”

“No!”

“Good.”

Merry groaned. “Oh, my God. Even if you thought it’d be a mistake for me to sleep with Shane, how many mistakes have you made with men? Don’t I get to take the same chances?”

“No,” Grace said sullenly. She dropped onto the couch with a huff. “No, I won’t let you make the same mistakes. You don’t deserve that.”

“And you did?”

“Yes,” Grace said without even thinking.

Merry’s throat thickened. “Oh, fuck you,” she said softly, taking Grace’s hand. “That’s not even close to true.”

“I’m not kind like you are, Merry. You’re good. And I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Not if I can stop it.” Grace’s hand tightened around Merry’s.

“You know bad things have already happened to me, and I’m fine. We come from the same place. You know that. I might seem like a helpless dork, but I’m not. And if I want to get boned like crazy by the hot guy next door, I will.”

A smile tugged at Grace’s scowl. “Yeah? What happened to ‘No one ever wants me’? Did he make a move?”

“No,” Merry lied.

Grace smiled. “Good. Because I’ll totally kick his ass no matter what you say.”

Merry rolled her eyes. “God! I’d like a penis inside me sometime in this decade, thank you very much.”

“Overrated.”

“Yeah, right. That’s why you have finger shaped bruises on your upper arms, huh? Because of your passion for Greco-Roman wrestling?”

Grace snatched her hand away and covered her arm. Her cheeks turned pink. Merry couldn’t believe it. “Are you blushing?”

“No.”

“You are! Grace Barrett is blushing like a little schoolgirl! I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of filthy memories would make you blush. You’d better keep it quiet. Not just for my sanity, but also because it’s probably illegal in this state.”

“And several others,” Grace muttered.

“Well, this is exactly my point. You get to act out your sluttiest fantasies every night. I want to be a slut, too.”

Grace sighed. “But that’s the thing, Merry. You’re not a slut. I was never bothered by men using me for sex, because I was using them, too. But you aren’t like me. Not in that way. You’re strong and amazing, but you have a soul you need to protect.”

“Oh, please. So do you.”

“Maybe I do now. Maybe. But it’s tough as hide.”

Merry laughed and elbowed her friend. “You’re starting to sound like your cowboy.”

“You’re so annoying,” Grace scoffed.