I threw my head back and blinked at how good this felt. So good. Like unsettling good …

“Gretchen?” Roxy called with a knock at the door. “Are you in there?”

In between kisses, I managed to call out, “Hi. Yes.”

Vincent wasn’t deterred by my sudden stiffness. He pawed at me like a greedy teenager.

“It’s almost time,” she said louder.

“Uh, coming,” I shouted.

“Not yet, you’re not,” Vincent whispered in my ear as a giant shudder shook my body.

Shocked—and more than a little impressed—I shoved Vincent off me.

“Have you seen Vincent?” Roxy asked. “He told me he’d swing by but I can’t find him.”

The man in question wiped his mouth and seemed to come back to his body with a dazed shake of his head.

“I’ll, uh, help find him,” I said.

“What’re you doing in there?” Roxy’s voice grew suspicious.

“Nothing,” I called.

Vincent came close and whispered in my ear, “Fixing your dress.”

I fought another shudder as I shouted, “Fixin’ my dress. Be right out and I’ll fetch him. I think I saw him head to the kitchen.”

“Thanks. And hurry!” Her footsteps stomped away.

I let out a long breath.

Just what had she interrupted? How far was I about to go? I hadn’t lost control like that in some time.

“Go ahead. I’ll be out right behind you.” He tugged at his pants. I raised an eyebrow, again, more than a little impressed. “I need a minute.”

“Okay.” I hesitated. How did one handle a hookup like this? Did I want this to continue? Nah. There was no point. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, see ya.” He didn’t look up but there was tension in his shoulders.

That had been weird. A little more intense than I would have liked.

I shook my head, fixing my dress and headed back toward the group.

Oh well. All’s well that ends well.

Glad I got that out of my system. No need to ever think about that kiss or Vincent Debono ever again.