Page 23 of One Night with Number Nineteen

I open my mouth, trying to figure out how to tell her that’s absolutely not going to happen⁠—

But I don’t.

Because there’s movement down the hall behind her and my pulse is speeding through my veins and…

Fuck, Lainey is beautiful.

Dark curls flowing down her back, sumptuous curves I want to stroke. Kissable lips, sexy brown eyes. Hell, even her nose is beautiful.

And adorable.

I want to kiss the tip of it then press my lips to her forehead, to her jaw, to kiss that spot behind her ear makes her shiver and melt against me⁠—

“Lainey,” Gray says, jarring me out of my thoughts and shifting in front of me, pulling her into a hug.

And something else I want?

To fucking murder him for daring to touch her.

Especially when she pulls back and doesn’t move to hug me, just smiles shyly as she tucks a curl behind her ear—or tries to, anyway. Because it springs free and, fuck, what I wouldn’t give to feel that strand of hair trailing over my naked skin again.

“Hi,” she murmurs, her eyes flicking to the side.

Hell, Chloe’s still standing there.

“Hey,” I rasp, and Gray’s head whips in my direction, his lips twitching, the fuck.

A pause.

“Right, um, well.” She slants a look over at Faye. “I’m already late, I should go say hi.”

I turn back to Chloe.

Who’s looking at me with knowing eyes. Her mouth kicks up on one side then she murmurs, “I’ll catch you later.”

Nodding, I manage an absent goodbye.

Mostly because my eyes have drifted back to Lainey.

“My woman is the shit,” I hear and look at Gray, whose gaze is glued to his Faye as she talks to Lainey, pride shining brightly on his face.

“Yeah, she is,” I agree.

But I don’t look away from Lainey.

“What are you doing, man?” Gray mutters as I watch her walk away.

Yeah, I’m staring.

Yeah, it’s obvious.

“What?” I mutter back.

“She’s not for you.”

I whip toward him, glare. “Don’t be an asshole.”

“Takes one to know one.” A smirk. “Have you ever spent more than one night with a woman?”