Page 20 of Pining for Pierce
I gaze down into her blue eyes, letting out a sigh. “What’s wrong?” she says, turning and reaching into the car for her purse.
“I need to talk to you.”
“I gathered that much.”
She locks her car, stepping away, but I grab her hand and pull her back, keeping hold of her.
“I—I saw you last night,” I say, stammering over my words.
“Oh? When?”
“Crossing the street… with Kaiden Bowman.”
She blushes slightly, blinking hard, and stares at a space below my chin. “I see. And what of it?”
“I didn’t realize you were seeing him.”
“I wasn’t… until last night.”
I can feel the relief wash through me. “So, it was your first date?” I say, stepping closer.
She looks up at me. “Yes.”
“That’s good,” I say without thinking.
“Why?” she asks, and I wish I’d kept my mouth shut, although I guess I came here to warn her, didn’t I? And there’s no time like the present.
“Because hopefully it means I’m not too late.”
“Too late for what, Pierce?”
“To warn you off,” I say, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Kaiden has a terrible reputation with women.”
She pulls her hand from mine, narrowing her eyes as she steps back slightly. “Who are you to talk?”
“He’s a lot worse than I am,” I say, feeling the need to justify myself.
“Even if he is, it’s none of your damn business who I see or what I do. I’m a free agent, Pierce, and I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself.”
I hadn’t expected that and I step back, surprised by the way her words get under my skin, wounding and festering. She’s right. It’s none of my business what she does… even if I want it to be, and I move a little further away.
“Was there anything else?” she says.
“No.”
“In that case…” she says, not bothering to finish her sentence before she turns and makes her way inside, leaving me to think about how badly that went.
Could it have gone any worse?
I don’t think so… although I suppose she could have told me she’d spent the night with him. That would have made it unbearable. I don’t think she did, though. I think she’d have told me… if only to score points, and to reiterate how much of a free agent she really is.
I stare at the door, wishing I could follow her and tell her she’s not a free agent at all, because she belongs with me. But I don’t think that would end well. I can’t see her welcoming my words, or my kisses… not in the way she welcomed Kaiden’s, anyway. And why would she take me seriously? After all, I’ve spent so long talking to her about my sex life, telling her about all the women I’ve shared a single date with, then promised to call, knowing I wouldn’t. She’s got no reason to trust me.
I wish she would, though.
God, do I wish she would…
I lean back against her car, unwelcome images of her and Kaiden filling my head… like the ones from my dream. I shudder against them, just as my phone rings, and I pull it from mypocket, frowning when I see Monica’s name on the screen. It’s early for her to be calling, and I wonder if I should re-assess my opinion about her not being demanding, as I connect the call.
