Undisclosed Desires(5)

“You would quit, if you really loved me.” He raked a hand through his hair. “But Antonio seems more important to you than I am. More important to you than our marriage.”

“Because I won’t quit my job to avoid someone and appease your unreasonable jealousy?” She whirled to face him.

“Unreasonable?” Brad demanded, his eyebrows converging. “You’re having an emotional affair with the guy, at the very least.” He slammed a palm into the wall behind her head and he loomed over her. “The wedding is off.” His eyes locked with hers. “I’m not marrying you. I want my ring back.”

“What? You can’t. What about all the money we’ve already spent?”

“Listen to yourself,” he mocked. “The first concern is the money?”

She hesitated. Why had her first thought been the money and not about losing Brad? Realization dawned and an apology hovered on her lips, but Brad interrupted before she could even open her mouth.

“You’re a lousy fuck anyway,” he flung at her. “My friends all told me to dump you. That you’d never get over being frigid. That you were a bitch…They were right.”

“Take your lousy ring!” Grace screamed, pulling it off her finger before throwing it at Brad. “And get the hell out.”

She’d gone to Finnegan’s anyway. No sense in delaying. She’d have to let everyone know Brad had called off the wedding. When she’d arrived and announced it, all her friends had quickly gone from a happy party mood to somber and apologetic. Then one by one they’d all made a quick departure, all except Antonio. He told her what she needed was a drink and not to be alone. They’d snagged a table in the corner and ordered one drink then two, and then she lost track.

“I’ll have to notify everyone on the guest list. And of course there’s all of the arrangements to cancel.” Shame filled Grace’s voice. She rubbed at her temples. “The worst thing about this is the humiliation. Everyone will know Brad thought I wasn’t good enough.”

“Asshole scumbag,” Antonio tossed out as he finished off his fourth beer. “If I see Brad, I’ll beat him to a bloody quarter-sized pulp and leave him to bake on the sidewalk.”

Of course she hadn’t told him the details of the fight leading up to the break. “It’s not necessarily just his fault,” Grace admitted, still sipping on her drink. “I can be a bitch.”

“Nonsense,” he declared, slurring the “s” a bit. “He’s a douche. You’re perfect.”

She laughed. “You must be drunk.” Grace grabbed his beer bottle. “No more for you tonight.” He must have begun drinking before she’d arrived. She’d never seen him this inebriated.

“Really,” Antonio started, grabbing her hand. At his touch, a buzz stirred her core and incited lecherous, yearning thoughts. Grace involuntarily licked her lips and then blushed. She shouldn’t have had even one drink. It had made her wanton. Then he took the beer back and chugged down the rest. “Don’t let this jerk make you think you’re not good enough.” Antonio’s eyes were bleary but sincere. “He’s the loser, not you.”

“Thanks, buddy.” Grace offered him a slight smile before sliding out of the chair. “Come on. I’m gonna drive you home.”

“It’s early,” Antonio protested. “I shouldn’t leave you alone. You’re devastated.”

Not really…Which was weird, wasn’t it?

“You’re not leaving me alone. I’m coming with you.” Grace retrieved her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “Remember?”

After a few seconds of mulling over that reasoning, he nodded. “Oh…okay,” he said, standing. Then he swayed a little as he took a step. Grace put an arm around him and the two of them walked out.

Once they were in her car, Antonio passed out and snored loudly throughout the twenty-minute ride. Grace managed to awaken him just enough to pull him out of the car. Throwing his arm around her shoulder, she supported him, and the two of them staggered up the sidewalk to his house. Then began the production of rummaging in his pocket for his house key. Her questing fingers encountered rock-hard thighs and something else that had surged in hardness level.

“Oh baby,” he said with a suggestive laugh and a drunken head wag. “A little to the left, please.”

“Real funny,” she said, extracting the key and unlocking his front door. Inside, she dumped him on the sofa. Kneeling, she took one foot in her hand and began to untie his dress shoe.