“That’s probably why you’re not feeling good,” Dad said after humming thoughtfully. “You’ve been working too much. If money is an issue, I wish you would say something. Your mother and I would be happy to help. Your room at the house is still yours.” He cleared his throat. “It’s always an option if you need financial help.”
I waved a hand. “I’m okay financially. Plus, my name is on the lease. If I break it, I’m gonna have a hard time getting another apartment.” I took a breath, trying to keep the fake sickness in my voice. “I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks, Dad.”
“All right, I’ll let you get on the phone with your other job,” he said. “I hope you feel better. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I said, biting my lip. I ended the call. It took everything for me to ignore Adam hovering over my shoulder. Talking to my father had definitely killed the mood for me. “I’ve got to call in to the bar,” I said as I started scrolling through my contacts. “You got what you wanted. You’re gonna have to let me take care of this.”
“As long as I get something out of you,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around me. He was still wet, and I felt the dampness through my clothes. As well as the erection he had—it pressed insistently against my butt.
I pulled out of his arms as soon as I found Elle’s number. “I’ve got shit I’ve got to do before I can even entertain that.” My voice sounded irritated, and Adam didn’t linger behind me anymore. He got the hint.
I kept the conversation brief, not feigning illness like I did with my dad. Just a promise to switch days off with her when she needed it. For a Wednesday, the bar wouldn’t be really busy, so she didn’t seem too put out by taking my shift.
When I ended the call, Adam was standing in Cam’s doorway again. He was dressed just in a pair of basketball shorts, making no attempt to appear less appealing. I just couldn’t make myself give in. “If I can’t get you your job back, then we need to get you another job.”
He pulled a face, and his shoulders slumped. “Maybe you should go to work.”
“I already called in,” I snapped, and turned him around. “Go get your computer. Let’s look at your resume.”
I didn’t let his groan deter me. If the first idea didn’t work, the only thing there was left for us to do was find another way. I could still fix the things I fucked up.
Chapter 10
Adam
Ishouldn’t have talked Gracie into skipping work. She had my laptop in front of her on the coffee table. A job listing site took up the screen. She scrolled through it with a pensive expression. Any hopes I had of getting laid were shot.
This whole day had gone sour the moment I’d joined her in the shower. She hadn’t reacted like I’d expected her to. Sure, she woke up late and had to deal with calls from her dad, but I was just trying to smooth things over with her. That had been a spectacular failure.
So now that the person I’d been . . . distracted by was in front of me, it was hard to just sit here and watch her. And not touch her. It almost felt like I was dreaming, but I knew last night definitely wasn’t a dream.
And every fucking time I tried to touch her—stroke her back or rub her shoulders—she swatted my hands away. It’d been a while, but I was pretty positive sitting in my living room looking at jobs wasn’t making up after a breakup.
“Are you sure you don’t want to work at another dealership?” she asked. “I’m willing to bet if you had a solid customer base,you could take those people with you. Stick it to my dad and brother one last time.”
“I think fucking his sister is way better than stealing clients,” I said. Her hair was a damp mess around her shoulders. “You didn’t finish your shower. We could take one. See where it goes.”
“If I’m taking the day off, I’m gonna look like shit,” she said over her shoulder. “If you can’t handle it, say so. I’ll go home.”
“Not what I’m fucking saying,” I said as I sat forward. “I’m saying we could set this aside. Go take a shower. Have sex. Come back and see what we can find with a clear head.” I waved my hands in front of me, as if I were imparting some deep wisdom to her. “Post-nut clarity will help everyone in this situation.”
“You want sex?” she asked, turning to look at me.
“Very much so, yes, please.”
“Even with me looking like this?”
“You’re beautiful. I know it, you know it. Just because you rolled of bed doesn’t mean shit.”
“Last night wasn’t enough?” she asked, eyebrows up. Her expression was incredulous. It was like she was fishing for excuses to keep a distance between us.
“I figured proper makeup sex should happen between each of us,” I admitted as I propped my elbows up on my knees. “We had you between us, sure. But one-on-one seems fair. No interruptions, no rushing. Just a good time to smooth over a past misunderstanding.”
“It can wait,” she said dismissively. “When Cam brought me home, it was with the understanding that if there was something worth salvaging here, that we’d work on it.” She took a breath as she turned back to my computer. “While I didn’t tell my brother I was here, I am responsible for the situation that made you lose your job. I want to make up for it.”
“Sex is a perfect way to do that.”
“Adam,” she complained, flopping backward so she leaned against the couch.