Chapter 10
GARRETT
Something changed back upstairs in my bed. And before I could determine what, Lexi was dressed and heading out my door. I don’t think I’ve pulled my clothes on so fast in my life. It’s a good thing I don’t mind going commando because there was no way I was hunting up underwear.
Now I’m standing on the sidewalk next to Lexi waiting for her ride to arrive because no matter how much I argue, she wouldn’t let me drive her home.
Does she not want me to know where she lives?
If I really thought that was the problem, I wouldn’t be as panicked as I am. No, knowing her address isn’t the issue.
I’ve tried to determine what happened by rerunning every second of our night together but devoid of sleep, my brain just isn’t getting there.
And every time I open my mouth to ask her what’s wrong, she finds something to say and talks right over the top of me.
As much as I want to know all about her, I don’t want to know minute details of what she has on her plate at work this week.
I think she’s finding excuses to avoid seeing me again. Reminding me how busy she is and how important she is at Exclusively Yours, the company she part owns with Livi. I think it’s a subtle hint that we aren’t more than a night tangled in the sheets.
But fuck that shit. I’m not pretending there wasn’t a significant shift in my anatomy—in my soul—each time I sank my cock inside her. She can hide from it, I’ll let her. For now.
I’ll give her today. One day. That’s all she gets before I’m in her face reminding her who I am and that she felt the connection I did last night.
It’s hard to believe that before last night I was fine to let the memory of this woman torment me and not do anything about it.
Except now I have more than a quick glimpse of her etched on my memory banks.
I’ve got hours of touching, kissing, tasting, fucking, and every second of it is engraved deep in my bones.
No. There is no way things between us end on the sidewalk outside my house.
I just need a plan, a strategy, a course of action to dig myself deeper under her skin. I’m there, but right now she’s running scared, and nothing anyone says, not even Lexi can convince me she’s doing anything else.
She wants me as much as I want her. The evidence of that was in the way she jerked forward when I placed my hand on her lower back as we exited the building behind us, the way her cheeks flush every time she glances at me.
The way her body tightens, her nipples in particular, as I move into her personal space.
Yeah, I’m under her skin. Now I just have to burrow deeper, sink into her bones like she has mine, and I’m not delusional enough to think that will happen overnight.
“I’ll take a look at the Jag today and let you know what I find.”
“Oh, right. Okay.” She stumbles over her words, her gaze flicking up to meet mine briefly. “Thanks.”
“I don’t think it’s anything major. You didn’t have any trouble before last night, right?”
“No. No trouble.” Her head swivels from side to side in search of the ride that will take her away from me.
“If I haven’t called before you finish work, drop by and see how it’s going.” I’m using anything I can think of to prolong this. Not that I have any real control. The second her ride gets here, she’ll disappear into the brightening day and leave me to stew on what went wrong and how to fix it.
“I’m really busy today,” she mutters as she looks at her phone.
“No worries. I’m not going anywhere.” I want her to understand I mean that in every facet of her life. If only she’ll accept me. Declaring my unexpected love for her isn’t a good idea and before last night, even I wouldn’t have believed anyone who told me I’d fall for a woman in one night.
“Here’s my ride.” She steps away from me, doesn’t bother looking back. “I’ll talk to you later.”
That last bit is a throwaway line. I know it. She knows it.
I wish I could call her on it but she’s too skittish right now, so I let her make her escape. But not before showing her I’ll always take care of her. Moving with her to the curb, I open the back door of her ride when it stops in front of us. “Yeah, talk later.”
Once she’s shut inside and the car pulls away, I don’t move. Instead, I watch as the little Hyundai hatchback disappears down the street. Around the corner. Leaving me on the empty sidewalk, the world around me quiet as the sun rises and baths the road in the early morning light.
I refuse to believe I’ve seen the last of Lexi.
Refuse to think what I felt with her—feel for her—isn’t the real thing. I might be young compared to her, and I’ll admit, a decade might be a stumbling block, except it’s not a wide enough gap for me to give up on her. On us.
In fact… I’m not even giving her a day to forget about me.
There is something I can do without seeing her. Grinning, I spin on my bare heel and jog over to the door. Letting myself back inside, I take the stairs two at a time. I need my phone. Once I find the information I need, I’ll organize a couple of deliveries to her office.
Ones she might get pissed about, but I don’t care. Even if she’s pissed at me, she’s thinking about me and at this point, I’ll take any attention she’s willing to give me.
I wish I could ask Livi what Lexi’s favorite coffee is, what she likes to eat for lunch, but that would require an explanation I’m not ready to give. Plus, I’m pretty sure I can speak for her as well as myself when I say we don’t need interference from outside quarters.
No, for now, last night and any future nights remain between us.
Make no mistake, there will be future nights. I won’t have it any other way and I’m a determined man when I want something.
And I want Alexandria Carmichael.
I want her with a bone-deep ache that’s only increased since I had her beneath me.
Grinning like a fool, I push through the door at the top of the stairs and search for my phone. I’ve got calls to make and a car to tinker with. As much as the start of the day put a stop to my plans for Lexi, I’m going to look at it as a new direction.
I’ve already proven I can take care of her in bed, now I’ll prove I can take care of her outside of it.