Any Man I Want by Michele Grant Page B

and unfocused, but blessedly over soon.”
    â€œOh, all right. So you won’t be appearing on an episode of I Survived to tell the tale. Good to know,” Belle joked.
    â€œI don’t want to be on television anytime soon,” I said with all earnestness.
    â€œNo one feels bad for you, Audelia Katrina,” Jewel piped up. “You are sitting in paradise with fine-ass Carter Parks. That is not bad living.”
    â€œOkay?” Belle high-fived Jewel.
    â€œWhat are you two doing noticing the fineness of Big Sexy when you are sleeping next to Roman and Beau Montgomery every night?” Yazlyn eyed them teasingly.
    â€œA woman can look and appreciate a fine form when she sees one. Is the man not nicknamed Big Sexy, for goodness sake? I appreciate things that are beautifully designed.” Belle shrugged with a guiltless smile.
    â€œIt’s not a hardship spending time with a man who looks like that in a place like this.” I gestured to the view behind me.
    â€œI hate you all,” Yazlyn said. “You’re supposed to be in crisis, Kat. Instead, you’ve landed on rose petals.”
    â€œSure, if you overlook the fact that fake, naked videos of me are all over the place, life is a rosy dream.” I leaned back and crossed my arms with attitude.
    â€œWell, there is that,” Fredrika agreed.
    â€œAt least you look good, sugar,” Belle said. “Even the paparazzi pics have you looking right.”
    â€œWe can always count on Belle to see the sunny side of things,” Jewel teased before turning serious. “The guys are coming in. Is Carter there?”
    â€œOne sec.” I paused the sound and video feed and walked to the entrance of the den. “Carter? You got a minute?” I hadn’t seen or spoken to him yet this morning. By the time I got up and spoke to my mom and dad, Carter had been behind closed doors in the room he was using as an office, buying and selling stuff or whatever mogul-y stuff it was that he did these days.
    â€œFor you, always,” he announced as he came around the corner and into the room. He was dressed casually in a T-shirt and knit shorts. Dammit, he looked good. He dropped a light kiss on my forehead as he brushed past me and sat down at the table. He patted the seat beside him.
    â€œCoffee or vitamin water?” I offered as I walked toward him.
    â€œVitamin water sounds good. Thanks, Kitty.” He smiled as I handed him the cold beverage, a napkin, and a coaster.
    I paused and frowned. Not three days ago I wanted to slap the mess out of Kevin for inferring that I should pour his beverages and here I was fetching refreshments for Big Sexy.
    â€œProblem, diva?” He twisted the top off and took a sip.
    â€œI just got you a drink,” I said slowly.
    â€œAnd I appreciate it.” He responded and raised a brow.
    I laughed at myself. “It’s just irony.” When someone didn’t expect things of you and was genuinely grateful for small gestures, it was a completely different thing. Carter was right; I’d been dating the wrong damn men.
    â€œOkay. Am I missing something?”
    â€œJust an aha moment. You’re welcome, Carter.” I grinned at his confused expression before sitting down next to him and taking the camera off pause. “We’re both here. What’s the latest?”
    â€œDo I even want to know what took you two so long to get to the computer?” Roman asked with a brow raised and a mock glowering expression on his face.
    â€œDon’t start with me,” I admonished, shooting him a look.
    Beau snickered. “I for sure do not want to know. Let’s just move on. We have good news and bad news.”
    â€œGive us the bad news first,” Carter said.
    Danila spoke up. “First, there are some naked pictures floating around.”
    â€œI’ve never posed nude,” I affirmed.
    â€œDoesn’t look like you posed at all. The