The Friendship List(79)

Lela covered her face with her hands. “Listen to me! I’m horrible. Stupid tequila.” She dropped her hands to her lap. “Please don’t judge me. I’m a really nice person.”

Unity patted her shoulder. “You’re protective. Friends should be protective. He’s lucky to have you in his life.”

“You’re very kind. Thank you.”

Thaddeus walked over. “What are we talking about?”

“You,” Lela said with a grin. “I’m telling her stories.”

He put his hand on Unity’s back. “They’re lies. All of them. Believe nothing.”

“I have to believe some of it,” Unity told him. “Lela was talking about your mom. She sounds wonderful.”

For a second she worried she’d said the wrong thing. Thaddeus’s gaze darkened, but then he put his hand on her cheek and smiled.

“She would have liked you a lot,” he told her.

  Unity enjoyed the rest of the evening. Dinner was great and the company was even better. The four of them talked well into the night before she and Thaddeus said their goodbyes.

“That was fun,” she said on the drive back to his condo.

“There were way too many stories about me.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Now I have a much more well-rounded picture of you.”

“It wasn’t very flattering.”

“It was charming.”

She’d liked hearing about his childhood and the pranks he and Freddy had played. Knowing how modest his upbringing had been made his current success even more impressive.

Lela was funny and honest. Unity liked her. The conversations about her children had made her want to meet all three of them. They’d also been a stark reminder that there weren’t any children in her life. While she knew how that had happened, the truth of it still shocked her.

She was thirty-four. She was supposed to be a mom by now. She’d always seen herself becoming a mother, yet here she was—childless. Worse, it was her own fault. She’d agreed to put off having kids. With the clarity of hindsight, she knew their plan had been foolish from the start.

They left the car with the valet and headed for the elevator. While they waited, Unity looked at Thaddeus.

“Thank you again for introducing me to your friends.”

“They liked you.”

“I hope so.”

They stepped onto the elevator. Thaddeus used his fob, then pressed the button for the top floor. When he turned back to her, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to move close and put her hands on his shoulders. He responded by wrapping his arms around her and kissing her.

The feel of his mouth was exactly what she wanted. She parted instantly and he swept inside, brushing his tongue against hers. She immediately felt little zaps of excitement all through her body. Wanting stirred to life. Her breasts got heavy and her nipples tightened, just like they had after she’d watched him dance in that video.

The elevator doors opened, forcing them apart. Thaddeus took her hand as they walked to his front door. When they were inside, he cupped her face and kissed her again.

Unity tossed her small handbag to the floor and leaned against him. He was taller than she was used to, and strong. As their mouths claimed each other, she ran her hands up and down his back, liking the feel of him. Their tongues circled and teased, arousing her with every stroke.

This felt good, she thought, enjoying the dull ache low in her belly. Wanting him was proof she was still alive and somewhat functional.

They continued to kiss. He moved his hands to her waist, but no farther, while she continued her exploration of his arms, then moved to his chest. It was only when she brushed against his nipples and felt his breath catch that she realized they were playing two different games. She immediately stepped back.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling awful.

“About what?”

She made a vague motion toward him. Her gaze dropped and she saw he was fully aroused. “I didn’t mean to lead you on.”

His mouth twisted. “No one has ever said that to me before. How are you leading me on?”

“With the kissing. I can’t do more than that and you’re...” She looked away. “You know.”

He surprised her by smiling. “Hard? Unity, you’re a beautiful woman I happen to like and we’ve been kissing for about fifteen minutes. What did you think would happen?”

“I wasn’t thinking. I was enjoying myself.”

“I was, too. I like kissing you and I like you touching me. I know we’re not going to make love tonight. I don’t expect that.”

“You’re not mad?”

He reached for her hands and pulled her against him. “I’m not mad. Now let’s kiss for another ten minutes, then call it a night. You can sleep with the smug knowledge I’ll be forced to take a cold shower.”

She knew he was teasing her, but couldn’t help saying, “I’m not being difficult on purpose.”

“I know that. Unity, I do get it.” He lowered his head. “Now shut up and kiss me.”

So she did.



twenty


Ellen was feeling really good. She was a little sleep deprived, but that was okay. It was for a good cause. She finished putting on mascara, trying not to smudge her upper lid, which was difficult and her own fault. She couldn’t stop smiling.