His Forbidden Kiss by Jessica Lemmon

Author:Jessica Lemmon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-11-14T18:59:49+00:00

* * *

“Two rosés, please,” Gia told the bartender at her apartment’s lobby bar.

“I can’t,” Taylor told her. “I’ll sit with you, though.” The glass and a half of rosé at the party felt like it was still sitting in her throat after Royce’s surprising exit.

“No speech then,” Jack had said to the crowd, but the comment didn’t earn many smiles. Tension was thick in the air. The music started up again and, little by little, conversations restarted. Bran had been silent, his face unreadable. Gia’s wasn’t as much of a mystery.

They’d stayed only fifteen minutes or so more before Gia hooked Taylor’s arm and suggested they leave, too. Fine by Taylor. She’d had enough of the strange evening.

Now, wineglasses in front of them, Gia pushed Taylor’s closer. “Just one.”

She couldn’t turn down her friend. They needed to talk anyway and what Taylor had to say was best discussed over even the most meager amount of alcohol.

“No gray hairs, you swear?”

Taylor held up a palm. “Hand to God.”

“Jay.” Gia shook her head. “When is he going to back off and get a life?”

“When are you?” Taylor teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Bitch!” Gia laughed the word, giving Taylor a playful shove in the arm before laying her head on Taylor’s shoulder. “You’d think he’d have found some new woman to tease.”

“You’ll always be teased by Jayson Cooper,” Taylor said, confident she was right. “Has he even been on a date since you two split?”

“God. I hope so. I hope both of us haven’t been celibate for the last year-plus.”

“You’d have my sympathy if I hadn’t gone two years before sleeping with someone.” Taylor sipped her wine, not realizing until her friend’s mouth dropped open that she’d just confessed the end to her own celibacy.

“Who? Who did you sleep with recently?” Gia had been Taylor’s own personal cheerleader these last few years. Taylor had confessed she didn’t feel anything sexually after Seth left. Her father’s diagnosis had only added to her brokenness. Gia had comforted her, saying, “When you’re ready, you’ll know. No rush.”

Taylor took a gulp of her wine, though fortifying herself with the drink meant sticking around longer than she intended. “Before I tell you, you have to promise not to be mad.”

“Oh shit. You slept with Brannon?”

“No. I slept with Royce.”

Gia’s dark eyes rounded. She hadn’t been expecting that. “Royce as in my oldest, glorified accountant brother?”

“That’s the one. I showed up at his house last night wearing that La Perla slip I’ve had for way too long.”

Gia gaped at her. “Why?”

Valid question.

“My dad.”

Her friend’s eyebrows rose.

“He cautioned me against dating Royce over the years. Said he was too old for me. I guess after the kiss at the gala, and the way Royce has been looking at me...”

“He’s been looking at you? Why didn’t you tell me any of this!” Gia’s tone was accusatory, and deservedly so. Taylor normally told her friend everything.

“I wasn’t sure. He’s run a little hot and cold. Until last night. Then it was full-blast hot.

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