Caged(97)

"Katie never does anything the way you expect her to," Molly said as they entered the kitchen.

"And that is one of the very best things about her," Fee added, licking frosting off a cupcake. At Molly's frown, she said, "What? I cannot drink on an empty stomach."

"Nice justification, Fee."

She grinned. "I rule at justification, Jaz-a-reno."

"Stop calling me that!"

"Nicknames are part of the gig, hanging with us."

Jaz looked from Fee to Molly. "Bullshit. I've never heard you guys use nicknames with each other."

Fee burst out laughing. "Gotcha, DJ Jazzy-Jaz."

"Seriously gonna kick your ass one of these days, Curacao."

"Bring it." Fee licked her thumb. "Or you could become my training partner. Then you could try to kick my ass every day while I prove the superiority of Brazilian jujitsu."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Katie said, strolling into the kitchen. "Are you trying to poach Jaz from Black Arts for ABC?"

"Hell no. You think I wanna tangle with Ronin Black?" Fee shuddered. "I was just making conversation." Her eyes narrowed. "Which you should not be hearing, since you're supposed to be in your bedroom."

"I'm done with that. It's better for me to greet people at the door. That way I'll be sure to talk to everyone."

"That's actually a great idea," Molly said.

"Of course it is. That way I'll get to pick a birthday fuck."

Fee and Molly exchanged a look . . . which, of course, Katie caught.

"Stop judging me. Yes, Ivan will be here. But we're not a couple. He knows it's just sex, no strings with me."

"There's no such thing," Jaz said softly.

"I agree," Fee said.

"You wanna make this the trifecta of Katie's wrong?" Katie demanded of Molly.

"Sorry, K. Sex always has strings, and there's bound to be blowback-and no, I didn't say blow job-when the free-for-all fucking ends."

"What about one-night stands?" Katie countered.

Jaz shook her head. "Hooking up for one night only is a whole different animal."



       
         
       
        

"There can be guilt in one-nighters," Fee said. "But there's a boatload more guilt in a fuck-buddy relationship. Guilt from the person who wants it to be a real relationship. Guilt from the person who can't give them what they want."

"Speaking from experience, Fee?" Katie asked.

"I learned I'm better off getting myself off with a vibrator than with a guy." When the pause lingered too long, she smirked at Katie. "So if you don't score a birthday fuck tonight, my gift will come in very handy."

• • •

TWO hours into the party, the booze was half gone and the house was packed.

Since Molly had spent most of her time restocking food and drinks, she shouldn't have noticed Deacon in the corner, watching her from the shadows. But she did.

Just pretend you don't see him.

That was lame.

Then storm up to him, slap him across the face, and walk off.

That was mean.

He deserves it.

While she debated a course of action, Deacon acted.

He stopped before her only when she held her hand up to keep him from coming closer. "You weren't invited to this party."

"So? I knew you'd be here, so I crashed it."

"You always do what you want and damn the consequences?"

"Only when the stakes are as high as they are with you."

Don't fall for his lines.

"We need to talk."

"No, we don't. Go home, Deacon." She turned and started to walk away.

"Molly," he said her name sharply.

She hated that his tone immediately had her looking at him.

Keep walking and don't look back.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Shut down."

"If anyone is shut down, Deacon, it's you." Against her better judgment, she retorted, "While I understand you have reasons for keeping secrets, I don't have to like it, let alone accept that's part of the deal with you."

"Don't be like this."

"Be what? Rational? I don't know why I ever thought this would . . ." Molly looked away. "Your past isn't the biggest-or even the only-hurdle between us, Deacon. You know that. Now I know that. We shouldn't have pretended otherwise."

"Molly. Babe. Look at me."

The instant their eyes met, she felt the pull between them. And he knew she still felt it.

"One hour. Give me one hour to tell you everything. No bullshit. No holding back."

Don't give in.

"If you want to walk away after that, I won't stop you."