Page 56 of Grizz

His eyes never leave mine.“I can if it’s true.”

Chapter 16

Grizz

Thelobbydoortomy building clicks shut behind us, and all I can think about is getting Daisy upstairs, out of that dress, and tossing her under me again.She’s been glued to my thoughts all damn night, and the way she looked at me across that ballroom?Yeah, I’m turned on.The cab drive home had me near delirious with her sitting so close and unable to maul her like I wanted.She knew it too, her hand on my thigh, stroking lazy circles with her thumb.

Now she’s in my domain and I’m going to take control.As soon as the elevator door closes, I’m reaching for her waist.When my phone buzzes, I ignore it.

It buzzes again.Then again.Three short vibrations, which is Eliza’s tone.That alone puts a damper on my mood and I exhale hard as I pull the phone from my pocket.

Frowning, I see her text message:Dad had another bad day.Call me when you get a chance tomorrow.

I go still.It’s not an emergency since she told me to call when I got a moment and that’s good enough for me to ignore the problem for now.

Daisy’s hand is on my chest, warm, ready.Everything inside me slams to a halt like hitting the boards at full speed.

The elevator suddenly feels too quiet.

“What is it?”Daisy asks.

I lock the phone, shove it into my pocket, and stab the button for my floor.“Nothing.”

But she’s already seen the change in me.She’s too damn perceptive for her own good.“Grizz,” she presses gently.“What happened?”

It’s that tone that undoes me… like she really cares.I rake my hands through my hair and take a step until my back hits the wall, because suddenly I’m not in the mood for sex or flirting or pretending my dad’s decline doesn’t crawl under my skin like concertina wire.

“That was a text from my sister,” I mutter.“She said my dad had another bad day.I’ll call her tomorrow.”

Daisy studies me.And it irritates the hell out of me that she can read what’s behind my eyes when most people don’t even try.I’m both touched and scared of it at the same time.The elevator chimes, indicating arrival on my floor, and the doors slide open.

“Come on,” I say, grabbing her hand.“Let’s just… have a drink.”It’s the only thing I can think to do that doesn’t involve talking or running.

She follows me quietly and waits for me to unlock the door.I push it open and let her step inside first.I shrug out of my tuxedo jacket, unknot the tie as I move to the butler’s pantry.I grab the second bottle of red I stole from Bartiz after the shoot, and pull two glasses from the cabinet.

Daisy shrugs out of her coat.Why do I like it so much that she’s comfortable enough in my home to slip off her shoes?She’s quiet but present as she sits on the far end of the couch, legs tucked under her, dress riding high on her thighs and momentarily distracting me in all the ways I don’t want to pay attention to right now.

I sink into the opposite end and pour two glasses, handing her one.

For a minute, we don’t speak.The silence should feel heavy, but it… doesn’t.It’s calmer than the static in my head, calmer than the noise of tonight’s casino party echoing through my bones.

She takes a sip.“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

She nods once, accepting it without pressing.I’m grateful and resentful at the same damn time.

I take a drink too big to enjoy and clear my throat.“How’ve you been doing?”

Her lips twitch and she’s trying not to smile.“Really?We’re doing small talk now?”

“What’s wrong with small talk?”

“Nothing.Except…” She gives me a pointed look over the rim of her glass.“You’re breaking your own rule.”

I freeze.

“What rule?”I ask, even though I know exactly which one.