Grace (The Family Simon 5)

The cab ride out to Belle Meade hadn’t been a long one, maybe twenty minutes, and Matt watched the taillights disappear until the night swallowed them whole. It was late September and the air was chilled. He hunched his shoulders and shoved his hands into his front pockets—it was either that or put them on the woman who stood watching him silently. And that was something he was still deciding on.

“Nice place,” he murmured, eyes on Grace.

Her eyes skittered from his, and she tugged on a long piece of hair that blew in the wind. “It’s a little over the top.”

Matt’s eyebrow shot up at that. A little? Even in the dark he could see that the Tudor style mansion was impressive. Surrounded by a large circular drive, a separate four car garage, and gardens that would make Home & Garden subscribers salivate, it was more than just ‘over the top’. It reeked of money—and a lot of it.

“It belongs to Donovan but she and Jack are in Florida so…”

Right. Donovan James, the country singer. She was married to Grace’s brother Jack Simon.

Matt rolled his neck and studied the girl for a few m

oments. Her face was more angular than he remembered, framed by long dark hair that fell past her shoulders, but those lips were still luscious and soft. Next to his six-four frame, it was easy to think of her as small, yet her athletic build and confident stance screamed anything but. She had lean lines and killer legs. And damn if that tight fitting dress didn’t show off every inch of her.

She cocked her chin a bit and he hid a smile. She was a fireball and his blood heated just thinking of all the things he wanted to do to her. Hell, if she were anyone else, he wouldn’t be hesitating—he’d have had her underwear off in the cab. But the fact that her brother Beau was married to his best friend Betty Jo made things a whole lot complicated. And Matt Hawkins didn’t do complicated. He just wasn’t that guy. She needed to know that.

He cleared his throat. “So what are we doing here, Gracie?”

Her breath caught and her chest fell rapidly as she ran fingers through the tangle of hair at her neck.

“I…” She began, but then paused, her tongue darting out nervously.

“You know where this is headed right?”

She nodded, those big eyes of hers luminous.

“I want you naked.” Her eyes widened slightly at his words but she didn’t move, and she sure as hell didn’t make a sound.

“I want to fuck you from behind and watch you in a mirror while I’m doing it.” The words were rough and he knew it.

That pink tongue licked along the edge of her bottom lip and she cleared her throat as she took a step back. Her breaths fell rapidly, letting off small puffs of warm air.

“I want you to come in my mouth.” He’d always had a taste for dirty, he just wasn’t so sure she was the kind of girl who’d appreciate it.

“You want a lot,” she replied softly.

“Nothing wrong with that.”

“So do I,” she said slowly, as if measuring her words. “I want a lot too.” Something about the tilt of her chin, the look in her eyes got to him.

“Maybe you should think about this, Gracie.”

“I already have.”

Hot blood rushed to his ears, accompanied by a wave of longing and need. It was as strong as it had been two years ago when he’d first laid eyes on her.

“I’m not a nice man. In fact, if you talked to most of the women I’ve been with, they’d tell you I was a selfish bastard.” He should have been surprised by his own admission, but then how could he be surprised by the truth? “I’m not looking for anything other than tonight.”

This was it. Her chance to turn him away. He was almost hoping she would.

“I get that.” She turned toward the garage and took a few steps before pausing.

Don’t do it. The thought came from somewhere deep inside him. It was a small slice of decency that somehow managed to thrive in spite of what he was. Matt hesitated. And then her voice drifted back to him.

“You coming?”

A heartbeat passed.