Page 7 of Trick or Tease

SAbrINA

I felt my cheeks burning as I walked back into the apartment.

My heart still hammered from that almost-kiss.

What the hell had just happened out there?

One minute we were talking about his parents’ retirement party, and the next I was leaning in like some lovesick teenager.

The wine was clearly going to my head faster than I’d expected.

No. It wasn’t the wine.

I wasn’t a lightweight. I was a country girl who could shotgun a beer and do a keg stand with the best of them.

It was him. He unsettled me in the best way.

Lucy emerged from the guest room with her hair wet.

She had changed into a pair of sweats and a hoodie.

I was glad we had all brought a change of clothes.

We were prepared to stay in a roadside motel but this was way better.

Lucy had that satisfied glow that made it obvious what she and Billy had been up to.

I tried not to roll my eyes as she tried to look innocent.

Billy wandered over to the massive stainless-steel refrigerator and pulled it open, letting out a low whistle. “Damn, Garrett. Your fridge is bigger than my entire kitchen.”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Garrett said, joining us. He’d loosened his tie even more, and I tried not to notice how the top button of his shirt was now undone, giving me a glimpse of his collarbone.

Billy pulled out a bottle of beer and held it up like it was some kind of foreign artifact. “What the hell is this? Heineken,” Billy read off the label, then looked at Garrett like he’d discovered some exotic artifact. “This is fancy beer.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Billy, Heineken isn’t that fancy.”

“It’s imported,” he said defensively. “That makes it fancy.”

Garrett shook his head, that small smile playing at his lips again. The same one that had been there right before he almost kissed me. My stomach fluttered at the memory and I quickly looked away.

“Here,” Garrett said, appearing at my elbow with a fresh glass of wine. His fingers brushed mine as he handed it to me. Electricity shot up my arm. “This one’s a little sweeter. Thought you might like it better.”

I took a sip and nodded, not trusting my voice. The wine was good, but I was more focused on the way he was looking at me. Like he was remembering exactly what had almost happened on that balcony. Like he was thinking about finishing what we’d started.

“Thanks,” I managed, then immediately walked over to the armchair furthest from the couch. If I sat anywhere near him, I might do something stupid. Like climb into his lap and pick up where we’d left off.

Billy flopped down on the leather couch with his beer, and Lucy curled up next to him, tucking her legs under her with her own beer. They looked so natural together, so comfortable. I envied that ease.

I had to stifle a yawn. The wine was relaxing, and after the long drive, I was exhausted. We all got up early to take care of chores before we left town.

And it was all catching up to me.

“Billy, I’ll come home for the party.”

All of us looked at Garrett like he sprouted a second head.

The transformation in Billy was instantaneous. His face lit up like Christmas morning, and for a second I could see the little boy he used to be. It was the Billy who would follow his big brother everywhere, hanging on his every word like gospel.

“Seriously?” Billy jumped up from the couch so fast he nearly knocked over his beer. And Lucy. “You’re not messing with me?”

“I beat my deadline on that deal, so I actually have some time. Mom and Dad deserve to have both their sons there.”

Before Garrett could say another word, Billy launched himself forward and wrapped his brother in a bear hug that lifted him clean off his feet. I watched Garrett’s carefully constructed facade crack completely as he hugged Billy back just as fiercely.

“Holy shit, I can’t believe it,” Billy was saying into Garrett’s shoulder. “Mom’s gonna lose her mind. Dad’s gonna cry. Hell, I might cry.”

“Don’t you dare.” Garrett laughed, but his voice was thick with emotion. “I have a reputation to maintain.”

Lucy was grinning. “Mission accomplished.”

She held up her beer bottle and I held up my glass in toast.

Billy really did know his brother. He just knew if he saw Garrett face to face he would convince him.

And he was right.

Lucy yawned, covering her mouth.

“We should get to bed,” Billy said. “It’s been a long day and we’ve got a long drive home tomorrow.”

I closed the guest room door behind me and leaned against it, my heart still racing from what had almost happened on that balcony. Had that really been real? Had Garrett actually been about to kiss me, or was I so wound up from seeing him again that I’d imagined the whole thing?

Damn Billy and his terrible timing.

I sat on the edge of the bed and pressed my hands to my cheeks, feeling how flushed they still were. What would have happened if Billy hadn’t interrupted? Would Garrett have actually kissed me? Would I have let him?

Who was I kidding? Of course I would have. I’d been wanting him to kiss me since I was sixteen years old.

I changed into my pajamas. The old T-shirt and cotton shorts weren’t what anyone would call sexy.

I wasn’t prepared to spend the night with a man.

I tried to settle into the ridiculously comfortable bed.

But sleep was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, I could feel Garrett’s presence next to me on that balcony.

How close we’d been sitting, our knees almost touching.

I rolled onto my side and stared out the window at the glittering skyline. What if it had just been the two of us out there?

In my mind, I let the scene play out differently. Garrett’s hand reaching up to cup my face, his thumb tracing along my cheekbone. His lips finally, finally pressing against mine. Would he have been gentle at first, testing, or would years of wanting have made him desperate?

Heat pooled low in my belly as I imagined his hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. The taste of scotch on his tongue. The way he might have groaned my name against my mouth.

I squeezed my thighs together, my body responding to thoughts I had no business thinking in his guest room. But I couldn’t stop. In my fantasy, his hands were sliding under my flannel shirt, finding warm skin. His mouth trailed down my neck while I arched against him.

The ache between my legs was becoming impossible to ignore. I listened carefully for any sounds from the rest of the apartment, but everything was quiet. Billy and Lucy had probably passed out immediately after their earlier activities.

I slipped my hand beneath the waistband of my shorts, biting my lip to stay quiet. I imagined it was Garrett’s fingers instead of mine, exploring and teasing. His voice in my ear, telling me how long he’d wanted this, how beautiful I was.

I came quietly, my body trembling as I pictured his face above mine, his eyes dark with desire. Afterward, I forced my brain to stop so I could get some sleep.

I woke up to the smell of something incredible wafting through the apartment. For a moment, I forgot where I was, expecting to see the familiar walls of my bedroom back home. Instead, I found myself staring out the window with a view of Manhattan that looked like a postcard.

I took my bag into the bathroom and took a quick shower, putting on the clean jeans and yet another T-shirt and hoodie. I really wished I had brought nicer clothes.

I walked into the kitchen and paused. Garrett had transformed his pristine kitchen into something that looked like a cooking competition.

The granite countertop was covered with white takeout containers.

He leaned against the counter, phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

He looked more relaxed than I’d seen him since we arrived.

“Good morning,” he said, glancing up with that smile that made my stomach flip. “I hope you’re hungry.”

Billy and Lucy emerged from their room at the same time, both looking rumpled and satisfied. Billy’s hair was sticking up as usual, and Lucy had that sleepy, content expression that came from a good night’s sleep and great sex.

Bitch . Some of us had to fly solo.

“Holy shit,” Billy said, surveying the spread. “Did you cook all this?”

Garrett laughed. “No. I don’t cook. Not really. I ordered from this place around the corner. They do incredible breakfast.”

I moved closer to examine the containers. Everything looked like it belonged in a magazine. Did people really eat like this? There were delicate crepes filled with what looked like fresh berries and cream, fluffy omelets that were perfectly golden, toast that somehow looked too perfect to be real.

“What’s this?” Lucy asked, pointing to one of the containers.

“Egg white omelet with truffle oil and goat cheese,” Garrett said proudly.

Billy made a face. “Where’s the yolk? That’s the best part of the egg.”

“And this?” I asked, picking up a piece of the toast. It felt lighter than regular bread.

“Gluten-free avocado toast with microgreens,” Garrett replied. “It’s actually really good.”

Lucy and Billy exchanged a look that clearly said, “City boy has lost his damn mind,” but they were trying to be polite about it. I had to admit, it all looked beautiful, even if it wasn’t exactly the hearty farm breakfast we were used to.

“Where are the pancakes?” Billy asked hopefully. “Or bacon? Please tell me there’s bacon somewhere.”

Garrett’s face fell slightly. “This is healthier. Better for you.”

The disappointment in his voice had me scowling at Billy. “It looks and smells amazing. I want all of it.”

“Dig in,” Garrett said.

And we did.

“This is amazing,” I said, pointing at the avocado toast.

“The crepes are pretty damn good,” Billy said. “I’m a big enough man to admit I judged too soon.”

Garrett moved around his kitchen, refilling coffee cups and making sure everyone had what they needed.

There was something different about him this morning.

Less guarded, maybe. The expensive suit had been replaced with dark jeans and a simple button-down shirt that made him look more like the Garrett I knew.

“We should try and get something like this back in Greenleaf,” Lucy said. “Lord knows a lot of those guys could use a little more egg white and less egg yolks. I bet we could bring down the cholesterol level of half the town.”

“I would actually eat some of this without being forced,” Billy agreed. “Not every day, mind you.”

I laughed. “High praise.”

“So what time should we head out?” Billy asked, checking his phone. “I want to get back before dark.”

“I was thinking I’ll follow you guys,” Garrett said. “In my car.”

“Sabrina, how about you hitch a ride with him?” Billy said. “No need for him to drive alone.”

I almost balked at the idea. Me. Alone. With Garrett?

That was risky. Or maybe that was just in my head. It wasn’t like he was going to jump me while he was driving.

“I’m jealous,” Lucy said. “That Mercedes is going to be way comfortable.”

I grinned. “No more springs in my ass.”

Garrett cocked an eyebrow. “Is that where you keep them?”

“The backseat,” I blurted out. “There’s springs popping through, and they… whatever, you know what I meant.”

He smirked. “I see.”

I could feel my cheeks burning.

“I’ve already packed,” Garrett said. “I’ll grab my bag and we can go.”

“Shouldn’t we clean up?” I asked.

“Housekeeper comes in at ten,” Garrett said as he made his way to his room.

I rolled my eyes. “ Housekeeper comes in at ten ,” I repeated.

Billy laughed. “Close enough to a butler.”