Chapter 27

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

It was wellafter midnight when London made her way down to the boathouse. The lights from Pops’ great room cast an eerie glow over the terrace. Music and male laughter floated through the air, but not loud enough to disturb the neighbors. It turned out the Growlers were pretty tame in their partying. Definitely not what she expected.

London was careful to stay in the shadows, not wanting to alert any of Trey’s friends to her presence. She was sure there was some unwritten rule about women crashing bachelor parties. At least women like her. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass Trey.

So often over the past decade, she’d snuck down to the boathouse. Whether it was to torture herself with the painful memories or purge them, she never knew. Tonight, however, the feeling to be here felt urgent. She understood the meaning as soon as her tennis shoe hit the deck where she spied the shadow of a man leaning against one of the posts. A man she’d recognize even with her eyes closed.

She inhaled softly. Her pulse began to dance as she carefully approached him from behind.

“Dammit, Fletcher,” he said. “I’m not in the mood for one of your heart-to-heart talks tonight. Go catch up on your beauty sleep before you have to return home to your teething baby tomorrow.”

London pressed her body against his back, slowly sliding her hands around his waist. “Mm. Maybe you’re in the mood for something else?”

Trey executed a move that probably stunned most opposing players, reversing their position so her back was to the pole and his lips were on her neck in less than a second.

“What are you doing here,” he murmured against her skin.

She tucked her fingers into the back pockets of his jeans and squeezed. “No one saw me come down here, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He threaded his fingers through her hair as he nipped at her lips. “How did you know I needed you?”

Her heart squeezed at his admission. Fortunately, he’d already coaxed her lips open and was plundering her mouth with deep, drugging kisses. Because she wasn’t sure how she’d answer him. How she’d explain that some instinct drove her to the lake tonight. Especially when she couldn’t explain it herself. As much as she tried to keep things on a casual level with him, the universe kept finding ways to throw them together. Not that she minded right now, considering how good his body felt beneath her hands.

Trey groaned when her hips rocked into his. His fingers left her hair to slip beneath her hoodie, leaving a trail of warmth wherever they touched. A soft moan of need arose at the back of her throat when he fingered her hard nipples. Growling, he maneuvered her into the darkness of the boathouse. The back of her legs came into contact with one of the chaises right before he pressed her onto her back, covering her body with his.

Fumbling in the dark, he managed to unfasten her jeans and work them down around her knees.

“London, I’m not sure I have the patience for taking things slow tonight.” His roughly voiced confession had her wet.

When he slid a finger inside her, she began kicking her legs free of her jeans. She worked her way out of her sweatshirt and bra while he stroked her.

“I want to see you.” He reached up to one of the shades covering the screens and snapped it open.

“Trey,” she warned.

“No one is looking down here. They’re too wrapped up in their poker game.”

The moonlight filtering through the screen illuminated her torso.

He sighed reverently. “Do you know how many times I fantasized about having you naked right here, beneath the moonlight?”

Her insides clenched when he leaned down to tongue one of her nipples.

“So many times,” he murmured.

She dragged her fingers through his hair, gently tugging his gaze up to meet hers.

“Show me what you dreamed about.”

Seconds later he was swearing as he agitatedly shucked his clothes. She might have laughed at his urgency were it not for the wild look in his eyes. The hunger she saw there incited her own. She reached for him and they were instantly a tangle of arms, legs, and tongues.

Trey wasn’t kidding about not being able to keep things slow. It was only a matter of moments before the breeze carried her cries of release across the lake. He was right behind her, swearing with pleasure.

The quiet night surrounded them as their breathing returned to normal. He rolled onto his back, taking her with him. The body heat they were generating provided some warmth against the late-night chill. Laughter from the house broke into the silence. London shivered. He reached up to the shelf above their heads, pulled down a beach towel, and draped it over them.

“Better?” he asked.

She burrowed up against him. “Mm.”

He cocked an arm behind his head.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

“Really? You have to ask after that?”

She could hear the smile in his voice.

“I meant with all the stuff about your dad.”

She leisurely traced an L on his chest with her fingertip. They’d only exchanged a few texts since her speedy departure from Chicago. Knowing he had a lot on his plate with both his father’s bombshell and the bachelor party, she’d given him space the past two days. Still, she’d worried about him. It wasn’t unusual to worry about friends, she’d rationalized. She drew an O over his slick skin.

He sighed. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of it. Just when I worried Jay was prepared to throw in the towel without putting up any fight to try and beat his cancer, my mother shows up out of the blue. She acted as though they hadn’t been bitter enemies for my whole life. Kissing and making up like they’d fought over who forgot to take out the trash. It all seems like a crazy dream really.”

This time she traced an N. “I know. Your dad stopped by Mom and Chuck’s earlier to share the good news. Apparently, my mom convinced him to reach out to your mom. She was very gracious in her thanks. My mom is very pleased with herself.”

A chuckle rumbled through his chest beneath her cheek. She traced a D around his nipple.

“Well, she might want to hold off starting a matchmaking business. Give it time for the other shoe to drop.”

An O went around his other nipple. “Why so pessimistic?”

“Because he’s a Van Horn. Love never lasts for us.”

Her finger froze in the middle of finishing an N. Her heart froze along with it. He’d said the words so matter-of-factly. So prophetically. And it wasn’t the first time. This time, though, she took his warning to heed.

Friends with benefits.

That’s all they’d ever be. She laid her palm over his heart. It was beating out a steady rhythm. Proof, at least, that he had one. He simply refused to engage it, that’s all.

At least not with me.

The back of her eyelids burned.

Stop it!

London reminded herself firmly that her heart wasn’t available, either. She was putting her career first. Love wasn’t on the agenda. Especially not with a man who didn’t believe in it.

“I should go.”

Trey sighed as she dug around on the floor for her clothes.

“I can’t convince you to stick around and watch the sunrise with me?”

She dragged her hoodie over her head. “Too cold.”

He sat up and pressed his lips to her back, halting the slide of her sweatshirt. “I’ll keep you warm.”

Parts of her were already growing warm—hot even—at the thought. Fortunately, her brain was fully in charge of the situation for once. She shook her head, not trusting that she might agree to if she tried to speak.

He gently righted her hoodie over her shoulders.

“Next time, then.”

Her stomach sank. Would there be a next time? Could there be? Her head was swimming, wondering if suddenly the risk to her heart outweighed the “benefits.” She tugged on her jeans and stood so she could step into her shoes.

He wrapped the beach towel around his bare shoulders. “We’re all headed back in the morning. Why don’t we have dinner at my place tomorrow night.”

“Can’t,” she said as she bent down to tie her shoelaces. “Chuck’s family has a big barbeque. It’s the only time I see most of them.” If you don’t count the upcoming holidays.

He rubbed his palm over her butt. “Monday then.”

She straightened her body and stepped away. “Bennie is coming out for the day.” They needed to strategize how they were going to break the news to the staff about Nolan and Hemphill absorbing the agency. “I won’t be back in Milwaukee until late morning Tuesday. It’s Kyle’s first day of school. This may be the last time he wants me around to celebrate it with him.”

Or the last time her soon-to-be busy schedule would allow.

“How’s he doing?”

The genuine interest in his voice confused her. He was obviously capable of caring when he wanted to.

“Doing well. Ready to get back to school and show off the inch and a half he’s grown this summer.”

He laughed. “Good for him.”

She took a step back. “Okay, well⁠—”

The beach towel fell away when he sprung to his feet. Trey seemed unaffected by the cool air against his nude body. He cupped her cheeks, drawing her toward him. Her hands collided with the hard planes of his chest. A sigh got trapped in her throat at the contact. His mouth brushed against hers.

“Thank you for stopping by.” He teased her bottom lip with his teeth.

“Uh, huh.”

He kissed her then. It was both tender and demanding at the same time. And her brain cells began to scatter. She broke the kiss and stepped back before her sanity completely left the building.

“Yeah,” he groaned. “If you don’t leave now, we will be enjoying the sunrise.”

Giving him a wave and a half smile, she darted toward the dock.

“London!” he called after her.

She looked back over her shoulder at him. Big mistake. Her mouth went dry watching the moonlight dance over his tousled hair and perfectly sculpted body. No woman in the world would be fool enough to walk away from those “benefits.” She’d probably have to turn in her female card.

“Have a great rest of your weekend. If we don’t catch up before, I guess I’ll see you at the gala media shoot Tuesday.”

Crap.

With everything going on, she’d forgotten all about next month’s gala.

“Sounds like a plan.” She nodded swiftly before hurrying away to find a safe place for her heart.