“I bet,” Grace said. “Well, if you broke up with her, why do you need cheering up?”
“I can still feel bad even though I instigated it, you know.”
And she did know. That was the thing about Antonio. He came off as a playboy “Romeo” as Larry would have said. But she knew a lot of his playing around came from a real fear of being hurt. Probably something that had come from being abandoned by his mother when he was five.
Just then, something drew Grace’s attention to the entrance. The door opened and in walked Larry Carson. Speak of the devil, wasn’t that the saying? Larry smirked and then waved before heading their way. She cringed.
“Aha. I caught you,” Larry jeered when he’d reached them.
“What do you mean you caught us?” Antonio asked. “If we were trying to hide, we wouldn’t go to a bar on the same block as the office.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Larry tossed them a lascivious grin. “I know everybody from the firm comes here. I didn’t mean to imply you were doing anything indecent.” His expression belied his words. “How about I buy you two a round to make up for rudeness?” he asked.
“No thanks,” Grace said.
The entrance door opened again and Brad, her ex, entered, accompanied by a hot girl.
“Great,” she snapped, spinning around on her seat.
“What is it?” Antonio asked, glancing at the door. “The asshole,” he whispered in her ear.
“Yeah,” she whispered in reply. “The gang of tools is all here tonight.”
“Let’s get a table at the back.” He rose, picked up his beer and then hers.
Before they could avoid him, Brad spotted her and, dragging his girl along after him, rushed over.
“Hello, Grace.” Brad’s lips curled in a derisive smile. “Meet my new fiancée Christina. We just got engaged tonight.” Then he turned to his girl. He inclined his head toward Grace. “This is my former fiancée. And this is the guy she cheated on me with. Antonio something or other.”
Larry Carson grinned gleefully as he looked on. “Romero,” he said. “His last name is Romero.”
Chapter Two
The trouble really began between Grace and her fiancé a year before, at the same time Antonio had come to work at the firm. For some reason, she and Antonio had immediately clicked as friends. He kidded that they could not only finish each other’s sentences but each other’s paragraphs. Brad just couldn’t deal. Fights broke out for no reason that always seemed to come back to some objection to her friendship with Antonio. Soon the sex that had been mediocre at best between Grace and her fiancé turned dreadful.
Grace had to admit she probably shared the greater part of the blame. The first time she’d seen Antonio, her jaw had literally dropped and her heart had pounded so hard she’d thought it would split her ribs. For the first time in her life, Grace understood what she was supposed to feel when she looked at the man she loved. She had known her body was capable of being thrilled, but Antonio made her tingle from head to foot. Just watching Antonio move had her inner walls pulsing. The weakness tormented her.
She should have called off the wedding, but her logical and reasonable self had taken control. Although they were fast friends and best buddies, Antonio hadn’t given any indication of attraction. He was beyond her reach, whether she was engaged or not. Plus, she owed loyalty to Brad. He was a moderately attractive guy with a good job and who wanted a family. Someone to be happy with. No wide, roller coaster rides of lust and love. Instead, a nice, steady warmth.
The blow up came the night of her bachelorette party. She’d insisted on making it unisex so she could include Antonio. Just as she’d been ready to leave for the party, Brad had cornered her at her apartment.
“Why do you need Antonio there?” Brad had asked.
“I don’t need him there,” she’d replied, rummaging in her purse for lipstick. “But why shouldn’t he be there? He’s my friend.” Grace found the tube and extracted it.
“A friendship I don’t understand,” Brad stated, pacing angrily. “Can’t you give this guy up?”
“Why?” She turned to the mirror in the hall.
“Because I’m asking you to!” Brad shouted, and then stopped behind her.
“Why are you yelling at me? You’re being ridiculous.” Grace made eye contact with him in the mirror. “There’s no sexual relationship between us. Besides, Antonio works with me. What do you want me to do? Quit my job?” She applied the ruby blush color to her lips.