She’d scanned past the first few pages, then stopped when a picture of an apricot almond tart caught her attention. It wasn’t chocolate, but it promised to be sweet, and she already had all the necessary ingredients. It would make a perfect dessert for tomorrow night. Perhaps she would bake up a batch of chocolate cupcakes, too. If she did, she’d add some gummy worms to the frosting. Trent would get a laugh out of that. If she had time, she’d make a chocolate soufflé for Gray.
Desserts settled upon, Kiera pulled out her unfinished crossword puzzle. While her eyes saw the empty boxes and clues, her mind wandered to what tomorrow night held in store for her. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Gray would be a wonderful lover. No one could look as sexy as him and be anything but. She just hoped he didn’t find her skills lacking. She wasn’t a virgin, but she certainly didn’t have as much experience as him.
If he wasn’t satisfied with her, how would she know? Gray wouldn’t tell her something like that. He’d be afraid of hurting her feelings. Would his facial expressions give anything away?
She tried picturing him lying there naked with a frown, but the image wouldn’t come.
Knock it off. Tomorrow night, everything will be fine. No, not fine. Exceptional.
Chapter 6
Kiera stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her, then went downstairs to check the oven timer. Another thirty minutes and her apricot almond tart would be ready. That gave her enough time to dress and blow-dry her hair before Gray got there.
Retreating back to the loft, Kiera kept the ultra-soft towel wrapped around her while she sorted through her limited wardrobe. Since she wore a uniform to work, she never bought much besides casual clothes. On those rare occasions she needed something nicer, she borrowed something from Joanna. They had a similar build and were the same height. It also helped that Joanna loved to shop. Kiera could always count on finding something perfect in her friend’s closet.
Today, she couldn’t search her friend’s closet. Joanna would ask questions, and she didn’t want to slip up like Gray had with his brother.
It took longer than she hoped, but Kiera settled on her newest pair of jeans and a blouse she’d bought in Paris. The outfit would never land her on a catwalk in Paris or Milan, but she liked the way the clothes looked together. After tossing the clothes onto the bed, she went in search of a matching bra and panty set.
Kiera ruffled through the sets. Without a doubt, she wouldn’t be the only one seeing what was under her clothes today. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of Gray naked, and her hand shook as she reached for her leopard print bra.
Less than an hour later, the intercom beeped, and Kiera buzzed Gray into the building. The weekend before, she’d considered giving him a key and had even pulled out her extra set, but she’d tossed them back into her drawer almost right away because they’d only been dating about a month.
She’d never given a boyfriend a key to her apartment. If the boyfriend in question were anyone else, she’d ask her friends for advice but that would create questions she didn’t want to answer, which meant she’d have to lie to them. Lies only made things complicated.
Kiera opened the apartment door before Gray knocked. She didn’t want him loitering outside her door where someone might spot him. Although she was quick, she wasn’t quick enough because Alexa, her neighbor, stood in conversation with Gray yet again. Does she have some kind of sixth sense and know when his was in the building?
“I can’t wait until it gets hot out. I miss the beach. Last month, I went to Cancun with a friend. We spent all our time on the beach.”
Alexa stood so close Kiera imagined she could count Gray’s eyelashes. No doubt about it, the woman had plenty of confidence.
Gray took a step closer to Kiera’s apartment door. “Everyone is ready for some warm weather.” His hand brushed her arm.
“Will you be in Providence long?” Alexa looked from Gray to Kiera, then back at Gray.
Kiera bit her lip to keep from saying something she’d regret. She did have to live next door to Alexa, so keeping a cordial relationship was in her best interests.
“Just the weekend, but I thought I’d stop in and say hello.”
Alexa considered Gray’s words before she ran a critical eye over Kiera. “Have you two been friends long?”
If Alexa was able to get her head out of her butt long enough to realize that not all men wanted a woman who resembled a living doll with big boobs and dyed blonde hair, she might have picked up on the heated glances Gray sent Kiera’s way. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately in this case, Alexa seemed oblivious.
“All our lives,” Kiera answered. She threw Gray a knock-it-off look.
Gray smiled in return and looked at Alexa. “Her parents know my father well.”
He’d left out a key detail, but she wasn’t going to fill Alexa in on the specifics.
“Then you two are old friends.” Alexa sounded pleased, if not a little surprised.
Kiera took a step back through the doorway. “I need to check on the cupcakes I have in the oven. We’ll see you later, Alexa.”
Alexa readjusted her gym bag over her shoulder, sticking her ample breasts out in the process. “I need to get to the gym anyway. It’s legs-and-butt day. Gotta keep it looking good for my fans. I’ve been told I have the best ass at The Red Room.”
Alexa turned so her butt faced them. “What do you think,
Gray? Are they right?”