Sweet Seduction (Sweet #3)(22)

The panic in her voice made Julie wrap an arm around her and squeeze. "Is it the end of the world if you are?"

Tears welled in Faiths eyes. "It is if Gray's already tired of me."

"Is the only reason you think this because he's been late getting home from work?"

Faith shook her head. "It's been every night. And Julie, the other guys live in the same apartment complex. They're all getting home on time, and I talk to Pop several times a week. He's not working late. And when Gray gets home ... he's just so tired. He hasn't been interested . .."

"In sex?" Julie prompted.

"Yeah," Faith said in a quiet voice. "Me, sex. He comes home, he eats, he takes a shower, we go to bed. All of this before we're even married. I hate to think how it will be once we've tied the knot and become an old married couple."

"Hmm, yeah, I understand your point. I don't blame you for being worried, but you've got a lot to consider here. One, you might be pregnant and it's been my experience—not personal, mind you—that pregnancy hormones turn normal women into raving bitches. Two, these hormones might be making you a tad oversensitive. Three, there might be a perfectly reasonable explanation for Gray's behavior. You won't know until you talk to him. Preferably after you've taken that EPT test."

Faith gave her a watery smile then threw her arms around her, hugging her tight. "You're right, you know. You always are, Julie. I swear I don't know what I'd do without you to keep me grounded."

"You mean I'm a total bitch and you appreciate me for it," Julie said dryly.

Faith pressed her lips to Julie's cheek and smacked noisily. "You're the best bitch I know."

"But you can't go in there!"

Both women jerked their heads toward the door just as it thrust open and Nathan strode in, Julie's new massage therapist running behind him, her hair flapping like a flag.

Nathan skidded to a halt as he spied Faith, and his mouth snapped shut. A dull flush reddened his cheeks, and he hastily backed up a step.

'Ah hell. I didn't know you were here. I mean, I thought you were home."

Julie raised a brow and followed the direction of his gaze to where Faith's robe had gaped open at her br**sts. She reached over and pulled it shut, which caused Nathan to look upward at the ceiling and Faith to grab both lapels with clenched fists.

"You wanted something?" Julie drawled.

Nathan redirected his gaze to Julie, his green eyes glittering with determination. "Hell, yeah, I want something. I want you to stop avoiding me."

He turned back to Faith, who was now decent. His eyes softened when he saw the evidence of her upset. Faith did have that kicked-puppy look going on. A guy would have to be made of stone not to go all gooey around her. But what surprised Julie was that his gaze kept going back to her, and when it did, he positively sizzled.

Very interesting, indeed.

"Faith, are you okay, honey?"

Faith smiled and kept a tight grip on her robe.

"I didn't mean to barge in. Okay, I did, but I had no idea you were here. I thought you'd gone home. Hell, that's where Gray went. . ."

Both women arched an eyebrow at that.

"Gives you time to get to the drugstore," Julie murmured. "You can come back here and pee on your stick in my bathroom."

"Yeah, uhm, I think I'll do that," Faith said as she hopped down from the table. "Give you two time to do whatever it is you're going to do."

As she moved past Nathan, he reached out to cup her elbow. "Faith, are you okay?"

She smiled and reached up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "I will be. Don't blow it this time, okay?"

He grimaced and looked beyond her to Julie as Faith left the room. With determination etched into every one of his features, he advanced toward her.

Julie swallowed, suddenly feeling like a very big fish in a very small bowl.

"Now that we're finally alone, you're going to listen to what I have to say," he said softly.

Chapter 10

Nathan leaned forward, placing his hands on either side of Julie's hips, trapping her where she sat on the massage table. Damn but the man smelled good. She actually found herself leaning more into him, her nose precariously close to the part of his shirt that was unbuttoned at the neck.

"So, uhm, what was it you wanted to say?" she asked casually.

"Date."

She raised an eyebrow in question.

"You. Me. Date. Go to dinner. Have a normal conversation. Preferably one where you'll sit through the entire meal, and I don't have to chase you down."

Her lips twitched as she battled a smile.

"A date, huh."

He nodded. "As of now, you've never given me a massage. Whatever happened in the past stays there and that includes any misunderstandings that went on in your head."

"Does that caveman approach work on all the girls?" she asked.

He blinked in confusion then stood back, running a hand over his head. "Damn it, Julie, what do you want from me? For some reason known only to you, you've decided to drive me around the bend."

"And you haven't driven me nuts over the past few months?" she asked incredulously. "I mean, come on, Nathan. What's a woman have to do?"