Page 35 of Mending Me
Pulling my chin from his hand, I took a few steps away and opened the front door. Slipping inside, I noticed how clean and new the inside looked, the new car smell filling my nostrils as I buckeled my seatbelt.
“I’ll bring it to the office on Monday, if that’s okay?” I asked after starting the car and rolling down the window.
“Yep, totally fine man. Have fun tonight. And remember, if you do something dumb, I’ll know about it. Company cars are lojacked too,” he admitted with a satisfied smirk on his face. I hadn’t told Conrad and Malcolm about the trackers he had on all of us but I had found the one on my bike. I don’t know when he placed it and considered ripping it off once I found it. But his words rang out in my ears,‘If you take it off, I’ll know and just put on a new one,’so I left it alone. If he wanted to know that the three places I go are my apartment, the gym, and work, so be it.
I waved at my friend as I pulled out of his driveaway and headed for Bailey’s. As I drove, my insides buzzed as I thought about being with her again. I hadn’t seen her since I left her place early Thursday morning with the exception of when we made eyes at each other at the gym. We’d exchanged some playful texts while we were both there but hadn’t actually spoken to one another. Instead, we both stayed in our own areas and watched one another from afar. There was more than one occasion when I would finish a set and look over to find her licking her lips or staring at me with her mouth open. The way I wanted my girl was something fierce and if I wasn’t mistaken, she felt the same way about me. The sexual tension between us was so strong I’m pretty sure everyone in the gym could feel it too.
Since Kolbi lived downtown, it didn’t take me long to reach her building. I sent her a quick text letting her know that I was heading up before locking the car door behind me. I waved hello to the doorman who let me in and headed towards the elevator. Anxiously tapping my leg in anticipation of seeing her again, I stood in front of the elevator waiting for the doors to open. When they did, a wave of blonde flew into me before I even knew what happened. She had her arms wrapped around my neck and without even thinking, I lifted her up around her waist and spun her around. The giggles that fell from her mouth as wespun were ones I wanted to remember forever. I carefully set her down but didn’t remove my hands from her waist nor did she remove her arms from around my neck.
“Hey there, soldier,” she hummed, her wide smile proudly stretched across her face.
“Hey there, blondie.” I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek which she responded to with a pleasant ‘hmph’. “Why did you come down? I was going to come up and get you from your door like I always do.”
“Because I couldn’t wait any longer to see you,” she said as if it was the most obvious thing. We were still locked together, our faces mere inches apart, as people in the lobby glanced at us as they passed. I didn’t care if they looked. Let them see how much my girl has me wrapped around her finger. She pulled me into a hug and I breathed in her vanilla and honey scent that I’ve grown to associate with the feeling that everything was right in the world.
“I missed you, hermosa?1,” I hummed into her ear and she wrapped her arms a little tighter around my neck.
“I missed you too.” She pulled away from me and I could see her cheeks were the faintest shade of pink. “Where are we going tonight? I’m starving!”
I looped my hand into hers and laughed, pulling her towards the front door of her building. As we walked towards the car, I noticed that she was wearing a pale blue dress and brown sandals. The color of her dress made the deep blues of her eyes pop and her golden hair shine unlike anything I’d ever seen. She was perfectly dressed for the hot summer heat which was good because my plans for us were outside. We walked together in silence but when we got to the car, she stopped short and gave me a confused look.
“Where’s your bike?” Her face was scrunched up and she almost looked disappointed.
“At Kolbi’s. I couldn’t bring it tonight because of what I have planned for our date. This is a loaner from him.” I opened the passenger side door for her but she didn’t move to get in.
“But you still have your bike?”
“Yes, hermosa?2, I still have my bike. What’s wrong?” I gave her an inquisitive look from the side of the car. She was still standing on the sidewalk, looking at the car as if it was an old beat up clunker and not a brand new SUV. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and mumbled something I couldn’t hear from where I stood. “What was that?”
“Isaid,” she shifted her weight and bit her bottom lip, smiling slightly as she spoke, “I’m glad you didn’t get rid of your bike because I think it’s sexy as hell.” Her eyes burned into me with so much desire and passion that I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and march her right back up to her bedroom. Ever since our last night together, I had been fantasizing about all the things I wanted to do with her. Once she was ready, of course.
I took a few quick steps towards her and closed the gap between us. Pulling her hips into me with one hand, I leaned down and met her gaze as she looked up at me, “I think you’re sexy as hell and I hope that one day I can show you how much I mean that. Maybe even on my bike if you’re lucky.”
Where the fuck did that come from? This woman does something to me I swear.
Her chest was rising and falling against mine as I continued to hold her against me, her eyes were wide with surprise at my words. I grinned down at her, continuing to play into what I’d said, and pressed my lips to hers. She tasted as good as I remember and I loved how she roped her fingers through my curls. Someone from across the street whistled at us which made us break apart from one another and laugh.
“Now get in the car,” I demanded. She did what I said, but not before giving me a look. As I helped her into the car andclosed the door for her, I didn’t miss when she mumbled,“God, it’s hot when he’s bossy.”
I smiled to myself as I walked towards the driver’s side door, pride swelling inside of me. I liked knowing what turned her on, and if bossy did it for her, I would be as bossy as she wanted me to be. I finally took my seat next to her and turned the car on when she spoke.
“So, where we goin’?” she asked from the passenger seat, her blue eyes threatening to completely undo me with one glance.
“You’ll see. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.” I placed my hand on her thigh, moving it just to the inside of her leg and loved how she squeezed her thighs together when I did. Keeping my eyes on the road, I pulled away from the curb and headed towards our date at last.
1 beautiful
2 beautiful
21
BAILEY
Iprobably should have let him pick me up at my door but I just couldn’t wait to see him any longer. After Ophie and I talked on Thursday, I decided that if it felt right, I would share a little more about my past with him. While I hadn’t known him very long, there was something about him that made me feel like I could trust him. Not only with my story but also with myself. Something in my gut told me that he wouldn’t hurt me or look at me any differently once I told him about what happened to me two years ago. The feeling of safety and genuine care that radiated from him was undeniable. There were a few times I tried to sneak a peek at him as we drove, but every time I tried to take in his striking jawline or strong arms, he would look over at me and I would look away, feeling embarrassed that he caught me staring.
We had been driving for almost half an hour, crossing over the Ravenel Bridge into Mount Pleasant—the next closest part of Charleston—when we turned right off of the main road. I looked at him, confused, because I knew there weren’t any restaurants in this part of the city. Only a park and some old dockedbattleships that tourists would go and explore on their annual vacations. He simply smiled at me and gently squeezed my thigh where his hand had been resting the entire drive over.If he slips his fingers just a few inches higher…
When we pulled into a parking spot, he hopped out of the car and came to my side to open the door for me. Out of all the guys I had been with before, Hank was the first to open every door for me every time without fail—a true Southern gentleman through and through. He extended his hand toward me as he opened my door and I took it, letting him help me out of the car. Once he closed my door, he went and opened the tailgate. I looked around the park and took in all the people walking around and enjoying the summer evening. I loved Charleston during this time of year. Once the sun went down, the temperature was warm but enjoyable. The dress I’d picked was perfect for this kind of evening.
