Chapter 19
Daisy
My ankle wasn’t as tender as it was this morning, and it was nice to be out in public. We went to the mall and grabbed a few pairs of jeans, some tanks, t-shirts, and boots. Falcon also grabbed a pair of tennis shoes in my size when I went to find underwear and socks. I couldn’t keep wearing this sports bra and, in a pinch the loaner panties were fine, but I preferred to have my own.
The guys hung back while we shopped. I tried to grab just a few things, but Falcon kept grabbing stuff that wasn’t even my size and tossing it over his arm. I put them back but took the hint.
I was a little shocked when he passed up the silky lingerie for soft cotton sleep shorts and cute matching tank tops. He was also the one who led us through the short dresses into the jeans.
At first, I was having déjà vu because Tony had taken me shopping when he was still swindling me into thinking he loved me. The difference was that he went for the tiny dresses and racy sleepwear. At the time it made sense because I was a dancer, he owned a club, and it made me feel sexy. In hindsight, he was just gross.
But Falcon grabbed boots when I was looking at heels and wedges and even found a black leather jacket. I wasn’t paying, so I didn’t argue. I just needed some clothes and something for my feet besides the flimsy flip flops.
Lacy wandered to the makeup counter and dragged me behind her. I felt weird about buying more than I needed, so I didn’t touch anything but lingered behind her. She was acting like Pretty Woman, grabbing all sorts of high-end makeup and even perfume.
Falcon walked up behind me and leaned into my ear. “I like your face bare, but if you want some makeup, get it while we’re here.” Goosebumps spread over my arms and my breath hitched.
I turned my face, and his lips were so close. “You offered to bring me. This doesn’t mean I owe you anything.” That breathy statement wasn’t even convincing to me. Especially since I couldn’t look away from his lips.
The edges of his lips turned up. He leaned in closer but stopped just short of my mouth. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I only take what’s not mine when it’s a bag of chips.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding then replied, “Or water.”
His grin widened and I clenched my jaw, then dug my nails into my palm to keep myself from grabbing his beard and dragging his face to mine. My fingers itched to grab the edge of his cut and throw him on the ground and– SHIT . No. No, no, no.
I cleared my throat and shifted away from his warmth. “I guess I can grab some mascara and gloss. And some good face cleanser wouldn’t hurt.”
He waved one arm down the aisle of cosmetics as he carried my shoe boxes in the other. “Get what you want, not just what you need. But get it now. I gotta work the next couple of days and you’re stuck with me.”
That yanked me from my swoony haze. “Stuck with you? Like take-your-hoe-to-work-day?”
His chuckle was gravelly and sexy as hell. “You sure don’t think much of yourself, do you?”
“Well, you seem to think enough of yourself for the both of us.” Although, the confidence he exuded seemed founded, unlike the idiot ex I had, and Tony with his false confidence from having money and goons to do his bully-work.
Falcon didn’t seem bothered by my comment and instead just held his head high and grinned as he carried my stuff around. I adjusted the clothes draped over my arm and browsed the makeup.
After hours of shopping and stopping for snacks at the mall kiosks, we finally headed back to the clubhouse, as they called it.
I found myself watching Falcon out of the corner of my eye and he busted me. “How’s your ankle? That was a lot of walking. ”
I was expecting some kind of snarky comment when he caught me looking at him, so I had to stop a snarky answer. “It’s a little sore but not awful. I think I just twisted it; I don’t think it was sprained. I’ve done worse in my dancing shoes.”
“I bet. Those boots will be easier to walk in. And they’ll keep your ankle steady until it’s all better.”
This guy was making it hard to not like him, but this was my M.O. Fall for a guy I just met, then get fucked. And not even fucked well. More like fucked in the ass without lube.
Looking down, I moved my ankle. Only a few pangs hit as I rolled it around and the swelling seemed to have gone down. “I think the wrap can come off. It feels a little loose.”
“We’ll get it looked at upstairs.”
Yeah, if I didn’t throw myself at him.