Free Forbidden Attraction (Forbidden Trilogy) by S.R. Watson Page B

playboy. He doesn’t do long term, but he is always honest with the women up front.”
    Hmm. So it would appear he might have had an arrangement with Vanessa too at one point. I wonder what the extent of their relationship is now. I don’t bother digging further. Bailey would definitely know something is up.
     
    We arrive at the Penthouses at Palazzao and Bailey convinces me to come up with her. “You can’t sit in the car and wait. Besides I’m going to park in the garage ... Vanessa doesn’t bite.”
    “I just don’t know her. I didn’t want to intrude.” My excuse is lame, but it beats the truth that I envy the fact that she has had Grayson. “Since you insist, I’ll come up.”
    The building lends a Mediterranean feel with burnt orange hues that pop against its scenic background. The wrought iron gates ensure privacy while adding to the overall architecture. I’m in awe as we travel through the resort type grounds. We arrive at Vanessa’s unit and knock. The door opens and we are met with a half naked Vanessa wearing only a T-shirt and panties. She welcomes us in, but looks surprised to see us.
    “I wasn’t expecting you until a little later, but let me get that contact info for the realtor,” she tells Bailey. “Aileen can also help you if you decide to buy rather than lease. I found a nice two bedroom plus den condo a few miles from here called The Carlyle Residences. I’ll be closing on it in a couple of weeks.”
    Vanessa heads in the direction I’m guessing is her bedroom. I’m so busy taking in the gorgeous hardwood floors and contemporary furnishings of this place that I miss the masculine presence when he arrives into the room.
    “Oh hey Grayson ... you remember my friend Shiv.” I’m afraid to turn around and even more afraid to see his reaction to me being here. This is why he never responded to my text. He’s back with Vanessa. I face him anyway only to find him with a fake smile. We both say hello at the same time—both determined to maintain the façade of unfamiliarity. “This is Grayson’s penthouse. Vanessa is staying here with him while she waits for her condo to be ready,” she continues.
    That piece of information would have come in handy before I agreed to get out of the car, ugh. Grayson is standing there in black silk pajamas and nothing else. His defined chest and abs taunt me, daring me not to look. His bare feet are even sexy. I swallow the lump in my throat and manage to look away.
     
    I feel like have been sucker punched. So this is why he has a fuck pad. He’s living with a woman already. We need to keep our worlds separate my ass. I keep this stupid fake smile on my face all while wanting to get as far away from here as I can. Bailey mentions changing into some clothes she keeps at her brother’s place and disappears from the room. You can cut the tension with a knife. I walk slowly to the huge windows to take in the view, praying that Grayson can’t see my defeated look.
    “I got your text,” he says from across the room.
    “There was never a doubt that you did.” I sense him walking toward me so I turn to face him. “I got your message.”
    “How so? I didn’t reply.”
    “All the same, the message was loud and clear. Our arrangement is null and void, especially since you’re back with Vanessa,” I say while trying to appear unfazed.
    “I’m not back with Vanessa.”
    “You’re living together,” I reply in a whispered hiss. He must think I’m a fool.
    Who am I kidding? I feel like a fool. I’m so over this.
    “Look, Shiv, I was planning to contact you today. I needed time to ... ” He’s cut off by Vanessa’s sudden reappearance in the room.
    “Where did Bailey run off to?”
    “She decided to shower and change here. She’ll be out soon,” Grayson responds.
    “Oh, okay. Have you eaten, Shiv?”
    “No. Bailey mentioned grabbing lunch though.”
     
    “Nonsense. Come. Join me for brunch on the balcony. This way you guys can wait to