Chapter 30
30
KOLBI
I t had been an entire week since I heard from her after going to surprise her outside her barre class. I knew it was stupid to just show up unannounced and surprise her. It was my idea afterall to keep our relationship a secret and there I was, sitting outside a crowded barre class having to physically restrain myself from grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into me. She told me she would text me, but she hadn’t, which I thought was odd because she was always texting me. Maybe you should text her first for once , I thought as I sat at my desk fielding phone calls and making sure the teams were set for a weekend full of events around the city. Not completely hating the idea, I pulled out my phone and opened our texts.
Scanning through our messages, it was clear that the attraction between us burned brighter than the sun and was hotter than it too. I tried not to swipe too high in our thread as her not safe for work photos still lived in it if I went far enough back. Up until last Saturday, we had texted one another almost constantly about anything and everything. Work kept me busy during the week and it had become normal for me to see her when I had a break in my schedule or an open evening. Not hearing from her at all felt wrong, like something was off.
I would like to report a missing person. Female, roughly 5’2”, dark hair that feels like silk. Tends to be kind of a brat and has an attitude. You heard from her?
I watched my phone hoping for a quick reply. An email popping into my inbox caught my attention and several minutes later as I was typing a response, she texted me back.
Flower:
Don’t complain about something you asked for. Beggars can’t be choosers. I know you like that I am the way I am.
Baby I would beg for you daily if you’d let me.
Where have you been? Everything okay?
Yeah everything is fine. I’ve just been busy.
I just hadn’t heard from you in a few days…that’s unlike you.
I brought my fingers to my lips, studying my phone waiting for her answer. Maybe I was imagining the weirdness of her not reaching out before now?
I’ve just been busy is all. Really.
Don’t read into how short she’s being. You’re being paranoid.
My phone buzzed again with another message from her.
I don’t think your men like me very much.
I guess we’re moving on.
She wasn’t wrong. Hank had come into my office earlier this week complaining about how difficult Magnolia had been at some function her family was hosting to raise more money for the campaign. It was a small private event at a restaurant outside of the city so he had sent a couple of guys to run security and stayed back at the office to oversee things. This was one of the few events over the next several months the family hadn’t invited me to come to.
Maybe if you wouldn’t be so difficult and follow the rules, they’d probably like you a little more.
Rules are annoying. Plus, I’m a grown adult and should be allowed to do as I please.
I rolled my eyes at her message as we’ve already talked about how she should be doing what she’s told at these things.
You’re breaking the rule of making things for my men harder than they need to be.
I hope you punish me for it.
Gladly.
What are you doing Sunday morning?
While I wanted nothing more than to tell her just how much I would be punishing her for misbehaving, I still had several hours in the office today before I could clock out and enjoy the weekend. Plus, I was meeting my friends at the bar Malcolm works at after work and showing up with a raging hard-on would be a great way to get the third-degree from my friends about something I’ve been keeping from them for the last three months.
I was planning on meeting Margaret for brunch.
Cancel.
Excuse me?
I could see her looking at her phone with her face pinched up in disbelief at me demanding she cancel her plans. My girl didn’t like being told what to do by anyone.
I said cancel. You and I are going for a drive.
And where might we be driving to?
No questions. I’ll pick you up at eight.
What did I say about rules?
And what did I say about not following them?
Sunday morning I woke up early to shower and get ready. Knowing where I was heading for the day, I kept my outfit casual and comfortable. No need to willingly open myself up to playful mocking and jokes. I slipped on a pair of dark, loose fitting jeans, a long-sleeve henley to keep me warm in the early March air, and some dark brown leather loafers that were perfectly broken in. Before leaving my closet, I spritzed myself with some cologne and slipped on the gold watch that had been handed down to me by my grandfather that had been given to him by his grandfather. Looking at the old, scratched face, I was reminded of the generations before me. Family was important to me and this watch was a symbol of all the men who came before me. The dream of passing down the watch to my own son was one I had often.
Before heading to pick her up, I stopped into the coffee shop she and I had gone to back in November after I plucked her drunk ass off the side of the road. Who knew that when I sat across from her then that we would be together like we are just a few months later. I smiled and nodded at the barista who looked hungover and less than thrilled to be working the opening shift on a Sunday. Taking the coffees from him, I walked back to my car and started towards her condo. Once there, I grabbed her coffee and walked up the front steps before knocking twice. When she opened the door, the vision of her staring back at me was just as good as it was the last time I saw her.
She had her dark curls pulled back behind her head and was wearing a large bow in it. Instead of the lavender workout set she was wearing the last time I’d seen her, she was in a gray sweater thrown over a skirt that grazed the tops of her feet and decorated with flowers that were stitched on. I let out a low laugh when I noticed she was also wearing brown loafers that were almost identical to mine. I handed her the coffee cup and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her cheek.
“I like your shoes,” I commented before pulling away. She looked down at her feet before looking at mine and laughing.
“Great minds.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me and gave me a side smirk.
“What’d you get me?” she asked, raising the coffee cup at me as she stepped out onto the front porch.
“Your drink. A lavender latte with almond milk.”
“How’d you know that’s my drink? Is that also in that stalker file you have on me?” As we walked towards my car, her arm brushed against mine and I could feel the static jumping between our skin. I glanced up and down the sidewalk before taking her small hand in mine once I saw that we were alone. She leaned into me and smiled at the move.
Leaning down to bring my face closer to hers, I answered her question. “No, angel, I just remember from when you tried to buy me coffee before.” Then I planted a kiss on the top of her head.
“You remember that?” She looked at me with astonishment, as if she couldn’t believe that everything she did was permanently burned into my temporal lobe.
“Of course I do. Now get in.” I opened her door for her and waved for her to take her spot in the passenger seat. I offered her my hand which she took, carefully stepping into the car. Before closing the door, I leaned in and buckled the seatbelt across her lap, causing her to laugh.
“I can buckle myself in, you know?”
“Flowers are very delicate things and I want to make sure I keep mine safe.” She held my gaze for a second, her mouth falling into a small O before pulling back into a shy smile. Her cheeks were flushed and warm from my words. Before I could pull away, she put her hand on my outside cheek and pulled me in to kiss my neck.
“I’m a lot tougher than I look but thank you for caring for me like this.” Unable to hold myself back any longer, I pressed my lips to hers and she pulled me in closer as I did. I wanted to stay like this forever, but we had places to be, so I pulled away with a satisfied smirk and closed the door. Once in my own seat and buckled, she turned to face me.
“So, where are we going?”
I reached across the dash and rested my hand on her thigh. “You’ll see. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”