19. Alex
CHAPTER NINETEEN
alex
Standing inside the restaurant, I busy myself with responding to the emails flooding my inbox as I wait for Jake.
He didn’t give me a ton of information about what he wants to discuss, except how he thought it would be good for us to catch up before things get too hectic leading up to the tour.
The meticulous planner side of me is rebelling against the idea of attending any type of meeting without being overly prepared, but the impromptu nature of this dinner and Jake’s lack of details have made that impossible.
While firing off another response to Jason’s assistant, Allyson, I don’t see Jake walk in the door until he’s right in front of me with his wife and Chelsi.
I’m so confused. What the hell kinda of meeting is this? Who else is going to be coming?
“Knew you’d be here already,” Jake says, pulling me into a one-arm hug. “Told Kate I couldn’t imagine you actually being late to something. If that ever happens, we know the world is about to end.” Jake laughs with Kate as he takes her hand, making their way to the hostess stand.
“Hey, Chelsi,” I say, locking eyes with her, mesmerized by the gorgeous woman in front of me.
She’s wearing a one-shoulder top, showcasing her bare skin, and a mini skirt highlighting her gorgeous legs.
And those goddamn heels that lace up her calf.
All I can think about is what it would be like to fuck her while she’s wearing nothing but those shoes.
Get a grip, man. I need to control myself. Can’t be fantasizing about her while I’m at dinner with my boss.
“Nice seeing you again, Alex. Didn’t know you’d be joining us,” Chelsi says in a hushed tone, taking a step toward me. “Thought I wouldn’t see you again until the morning.”
A wave of heat courses through my body, thinking back to her words hours earlier about potentially working out together. I wonder whether she knows the power she has over me. My body. The way I can’t stop thinking about her after I see her.
How I was glad to have time to run home from the gym to take care of myself.
The way I stroked my cock as I thought about how voluptuous her tits looked in her workout bra.
How I imagined what it would be like to help her stretch on the mat, pushing my full body weight against her leg as I bent it toward her head.
How much her flexibility could come in handy in the bedroom.
The things I would do to her body. The moans I would make come out of her mouth.
The way I’d have her screaming my name, begging for more as I edge her.
How much I would love to watch her fall apart against my fingers. My mouth. My cock.
This morning was a double-edged sword. Seeing Chelsi made me harder than ever before. And jerking myself off to thoughts of her made me almost black out in the shower when I came.
All because of her.
I startle when she touches my wrist, forcing myself to focus on her face and let the memories drift out of my mind.
“Our table’s ready,” she murmurs, letting go and following Jake and Kate into the restaurant.
I swallow hard and follow the group, taking in the sights of the upscale location Jake picked out for dinner.
It’s relatively new and extremely swanky, the exact opposite of where you’d normally see me in.
My style is more laidback and casual. Think mom-and-pop diners rather than chain restaurants.
Places without cloth napkins or a separate server for your drinks.
This place is more Jake and Kate’s style.
Although they may love hole-in-the-wall restaurants, they’re both big foodies and always want to try the hottest establishments.
Supposedly, Chelsi is the same way, so she’s probably loving this atmosphere and not itching to go home to put on a pair of sweatpants and lounge on the couch for the rest of the night.
Another example of how Chelsi and I are too different and why it would never work, assuming by some miracle she was even interested in me.
We’re taken to a private room and seated at a corner booth. Jake and Kate scoot into one side, leaving the other for Chelsi and me.
Fuck.
There’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to control my goddamn dick if I’m sitting next to her. The smell of her perfume is intoxicating, a mix of lavender, vanilla, and orange, making me want to bury my nose in the crook of her neck, nibble at her pulse point, run my tongue down her—
“Care to join us, Alex?” Chelsi asks, staring at me from the booth with a sly grin on her face. “I don’t bite. Well, not unless you ask nicely.”
Holy fuck. Is she trying to make me hard?
My breathing becomes ragged as I clench my fists, forcing myself to slide into the booth with her. Although the high backs of the booth make it look spacious, it’s an extremely cozy fit, causing my hand to accidentally graze her bare thigh.
“Sorry about that,” I mumble, looking at the table, attempting to hide my embarrassment.
“Don’t be. It’s the most action I’ve had in over a month,” Chelsi teases. “Pretty sure my vagina has cobwebs in it from the lack of use.”
“What?” I blurt out, unable to control myself and shocked at what came out of her mouth at the same time.
“Excluding toys, of course. I’m not one to deprive myself of orgasms because I’m single. Big believer in at least two to three a night to help you sleep better.” She picks up the menu, glancing at it like talking about her use of sex toys at dinner isn’t a big deal.
I look across the table at Jake and Kate, who are both perusing their menus with smirks on their faces, like this is typical Chelsi behavior.
And there goes my cock, getting harder at the thought of Chelsi, naked in her bed, using a vibrator to make herself come—apparently more than once.
Fuck me. This is going to be a long night.
The table is quiet as each of us checks out the menu and orders our drinks with the waiter. Once he leaves, Jake places his menu on the table and puts his arm around Kate, pulling her in closer.
“I’m glad we’re doing this,” Jake replies, smiling at me across the table.
“Exactly what are we doing here?” I ask, still confused by the purpose of this dinner and its attendees.
Kate blushes and smiles at Jake. “He wanted to have a nice evening out with some of our good friends. That’s all. You know how busy it gets during tour season.”
“So, you don’t want to talk about work?” I scrunch my forehead, trying to understand when I became one of Jake’s good friends.
In the past, we’ve hung out a few times after work, but it’s never been anything like this.
Granted, that was before he was with Kate.
He’s definitely changed a lot since they started dating and got married.
“Nope. Anything but work,” Jake replies. “Did you know Chelsi got a job offer from Anna?”
Chelsi lets out an exasperated sigh. “Stop telling everybody, Jake. It’s not going to convince me to take the job and stay in Nashville.”
Kate’s face falls. “Did you decide not to take it already? You’re going to move back to Chicago?”
“Ugh. No. I haven’t decided anything,” Chelsi groans. “I’m trying to be responsible and stop making knee-jerk reactions for once.”
“Well, if it involves you living in the same town as me, you know my answer,” Kate adds, smiling back at Chelsi. “You’re welcome to stay with us for as long as you want.”
“Uh-huh. Just what every mid-thirties woman wants to hear. She’s welcome to crash on the couch of her newly married best friend’s house.” Chelsi shakes her head and takes a drink of water.
Jake holds up a finger. “Wait a minute. You don’t have to sleep on the couch. Your ensuite is well-stocked and on the other end of the house from our bedroom. Definitely way better than a couch.”
I can’t help but laugh because out of all the things Chelsi has said in the last twenty minutes, that’s the one he takes an issue with.
Jake pulls out his phone, checking a message with growing concern.
“Everything okay, babe?” Kate asks, mirroring his strained expression.
Shaking his head, Jake gets up from the table and reaches for Kate’s hand. “Sorry, but there’s an issue with the home gym remodel.” Jake helps Kate out of the booth. “The contractor needs us at the house.”
“No worries. We can always have dinner another time,” I reply, starting to get up.
Jake holds his hand up. “Don’t leave. You and Chelsi should enjoy dinner. My treat.”
My eyebrows arch. “That’s not necessary, Jake.”
“Oh…so you don’t want to have dinner with me?” Chelsi teases, poking me in the back.
I turn to look at her, meeting her gaze. “That’s not what I meant. I just don’t want Jake to feel obligated to pay for dinner, or you to be forced to eat with me.”
Chelsi chuckles. “Too late for that. They’re already gone.”
I whip my head around in time to see Jake and Kate quickly walking away, almost like they’re escaping the scene of the crime.
“Would you prefer to cuddle in the booth for dinner or sit across from me like the obvious date they’ve intended this to be?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, sweet Alex.” Chelsi smiles, shaking her head gently. “Take a seat across from me, and we can discuss Jake’s meddling ways. He’s gotten so bad, he’s roped his wife into it.”
While I’m switching seats, the waiter comes back with four drinks and mentions that the meal has already been paid for. He promises to come back in a few minutes to get our orders.
My mind races through everything Jake said in his text earlier about wanting to have dinner. He framed it as a meeting, not a date. I would’ve put in a lot more effort into my appearance if I knew this had any inkling of being my one chance with Chelsi.
What am I saying? There’s no way I have any shot with her. This has to be some big misunderstanding.
She takes a slow sip from her gin and tonic. “I can tell by the confusion all over your face you didn’t pick up on Jake’s ulterior motives.”
I shake my head, unable to speak because I’m not sure what is going on.
Her eyes appraise my body as the corner of her lips turn up slightly.
“He’s been hinting for a very long time that he wants to set me up with someone in his inner circle.
Claims to know a few guys he thinks would be perfect for me.
Looks like you are one of them. I assume Shane is in the running, too. ”
I gulp, hating hearing Shane’s name come out of her mouth. Loathing the possibility that Jake could be finding ways for Chelsi to spend more time with Shane.
“We all know it’s not Jimmy. No one in their right mind should date Jimmy, which is why I like to flirt with him. Make Jake and Kate sweat. Let them get irrational and wonder whether they’ll find me in Jimmy’s bed one day.”
I clear my throat. “So, you aren’t interested in Jimmy?”
She shrugs, then takes another drink. “Definitely not for dating. Fucking might be another story. Can’t promise not to get desperate enough for dick that I won’t take his for a spin. Plus, he has the added bonus that his cock’s pierced.”
I start to choke on my drink, wishing I hadn’t made the decision to take my first sip of bourbon when she started talking about Jimmy. I’ll be forever haunted after hearing her talk about Jimmy’s pierced cock.
After wiping my mouth off with the back of my hand, I lock eyes with her, trying to figure out how to ask my next question without sounding like a complete asshole. One who has absolutely no say over what she does or who she does it with.
“Go ahead and ask. I know you want to.”
Can she read my goddamn mind? If so, that’s a real problem given my earlier thoughts about imagining her naked.
A wicked gleam spreads across her face, almost like she knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“You would…” I pause, forcing myself to say the next part even though it makes me nauseous. “You’d consider sleeping with Jimmy?”
“Not unless I was really desperate and horny. Had an itch that couldn’t be scratched by the dozens of toys that I own.”
I nod, trying to get the image of Jimmy touching Chelsi out of my mind. Wishing I had never thought of them together. Never had to see them in the same vicinity.
She reaches across the table, placing her hand on top of mine, sending a jolt of electricity rippling through my body. “You don’t need to eat dinner with me if I make you uncomfortable, Alex. You’re welcome to leave.”
Remorse courses through my veins, regretting how I’m reacting to this situation and whatever I did to make her feel like I don’t want to be with her. Having time alone with Chelsi is something I’ve only dreamed about. Now that it’s in front of me, I’m fucking it up royally.
I close my eyes, inhaling and exhaling deeply before opening my eyes and looking at her. “Please don’t ever think I don’t want to spend time with you. Who wouldn’t want to be with you?”
Curiosity and confusion color her face as it scrunches slightly, like she’s trying to solve a hard puzzle and doesn’t have all the pieces. She removes her hand from mine, but continues to watch with me with the most inquisitive look.
I’m not sure how long we stare at each other for without saying anything. It could be a few seconds or multiple minutes. It’s impossible to know because time doesn’t exist when I’m gazing into her eyes. The world moves in slow motion, and I’m completely lost to everything but her.