Page 69 of Renegade
Text me the time and I’ll be there
“Should I ask him why he’s going?” Sydney asked. “I mean, does he like you or is he horny?”
“Ohmygod, you’re killing me.” Caroline shoved off the bed. “At least I keep my overthinking to myself. Why do you always have to share it with me?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
At the door, Caroline turned back. “I’ve lusted after him for years. We’ve got a super-stressful assignment. He’s here. I’m here. When this assignment ends, he’ll probably get shipped somewhere far away, and I’ll never see him again.” Pain shot through her chest and she placed her hand over her heart. “I’m not looking for a commitment or a relationship. I’m just looking for a little fun with a man who can deliver. What’s the harm in that?”
“You’re right,” Sydney said. “I’m sorry.”
Caroline shot her a smile, then left. As she walked into her bedroom, she wondered if Sydney was right. This wasn’t like Stan, a stranger at a sex club. This was Grey—Greystone Santini.
He’s the best, and I deserve the best.
On a harrumph, she stripped out of her oversized T-shirt and stretchy pants and crawled into bed. Unlike Sydney who needed everything just-so, she pulled the other pillow close, hugged it, and closed her eyes.
Grey’s piercing blues loomed into view, along with his massive body.
She might be making a mistake, but it was a risk she was willing to take. Being with him was that important to her.
The following morning, she woke at four forty-five. After a full-tilt treadmill run in the gym in her building, she did a light workout with hand weights, then hurried back upstairs to shower. Then, it was a flurry of crazy-ass activity in the kitchen.
Once a month, on Fridays, she made a big breakfast for her and Sydney. Sydney cooked dinners for them a lot, so this was her chance to do something special for her sister.
At six-fifteen, her phone buzzed with a text from Grey.
I’m early. Want help?
She buzzed him in, hurried into the bathroom to check herself. She hadn’t gotten around to putting on makeup, so she ran her blush brush over her cheeks, fluffed her long, wavy hair with her fingers, and rinsed with mouthwash.
With a swarm of butterflies whizzing in her tummy, she covered her lips with her favorite pink stick and hurried out.
Not wanting her sister to show up for breakfast half dressed, she poked her head into her room. Sydney was dressing in a pant suit.
“I invited Grey for breakfast. He’s on his way up.”
“And you’re having him tonight for dessert. Woo-hoo, you go girlie!”
Laughing, Caroline made her way toward the front door. She opened it, stepped into the hall, and her heart slammed against her chest.
Grey stalked toward her with a colorful bouquet of flowers in hand. With his hair in a tidy man-bun, she had a clean line of sight to his face. And it was stunning. Amazingly handsome. Perfect.
Blood rushed through her veins at a frenetic pace. She dropped her gaze to his dark suit, which clung to his muscular body like a glove. The white dress shirt made his beautiful, olive skin tone pop, but it was the hunger blazing in his eyes that stole her breath.
Mygod he cleans up well.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Hey.” He stopped inches away. “You look beautiful.”
“Oh, go on.” She winked.
“I can do that.”
Eager to see what he’d do next, she stood there, her heart pounding so hard and fast, she feared he could hear it thundering away in the quiet hallway.
He dipped down, dropped a kiss on her lips. “I can’t resist you.”
