CHAPTER 38 BOWER
BOWER
“How do you feel about all the women lusting after your man?” Adalade asks.
We’re sitting in our suite together, just me and her. She has Cracker Jack in her hand, and I’m chowing down on some nachos.
“I like it,” I say, taking in the sights and sounds of the stadium. Below us everyone is decorated in their Bombers gear, a high percentage of them with Brinkman on their backs, sprinkled in with some Hart and Peppers as well.
“Interesting. I’d assumed you’d be upset about it.”
“Why would you assume that?” I ask, taking a big bite of one of my nachos.
“Because you seem like the type who would get jealous over someone trying to make a move on your man.”
I shake my head. “Bennett would never even glance their way.” I think about how much he likes me and how long he’s been waiting to be with me and I love it.
I love this feeling of reassurance, that he’s all mine, no one else’s and no one could even bother him to look the other way.
“This might sound full of myself, but it’s the truth.
Bennett’s obsessed with me, and I know for a fact that no woman will ever be able to turn his head.
He only has eyes for me, so seeing all the women lust after him to get his attention, it almost turns me on in a weird way—” I say to my freaking boss.
“Because I know I have something they’ll never have. ”
“Mm, yes, I can see how that would make you feel. Valued and protected, so for you to look at a woman who is trying to get your man’s attention, it’s almost thrilling to see.”
“Exactly, I like it.”
“Well, isn’t that a healthy new take on a relationship?”
“I guess so, but I will say this—he does not like it when I even speak another man’s name. Ever. Very possessive.”
“Now that is a turn of events. So he can talk about other women—”
“But he doesn’t.”
“But you can’t talk about other men.”
I shake my head. “Nope, it’s not a two-way street where that’s concerned, and call me weird, but I actually really like that that’s our scenario.”
“I can see the appeal. Do you ask him about other women?”
“I do. And he’s honest with me. I find the whole thing fascinating, what and who turned him on, what he likes and doesn’t like. I guess I’m at a point where I just want to know everything about him, especially when it comes to his sex life. I’ve never been like that with anyone else.”
“Because you didn’t care enough about them. Bennett is different.”
“He is,” I answer as the Bombers take the field and my eyes narrow in on Bennett at third. He adjusts his cap and waits for the ball to be thrown to him, tossing around a whole bunch of swagger with every step he takes.
God, he’s so hot out there. And that ass, it’s such a nice ass, but framed in those pants, even nicer. I can see why the women are all feral. Hell, so am I. I’m about to march down to the field and rub my whole body all over him like a cat in heat because I can.
“I knew you two would get together,” Adalade says. “After I saw you two together at that dinner, I knew it would happen, sooner rather than later too. You both just looked…infatuated with each other.”
“We are,” I say, thinking about how much I can’t stop thinking about him. “Enough about me. What about you? Whatever happened with Draco?”
She smirks as the game starts, the pitcher throwing the first ball.
“Well, you know the dinner party we’re throwing? I’m putting it together in the hopes of getting Draco there.”
“Wait…really?” I ask, turning to Adalade. “How come you didn’t tell me that? I feel like that’s a huge thing you need to tell me so I can make sure everything is perfect.”
“I wasn’t sure if it was in the realm of possibility to invite him, but I just got confirmation that he’d be open to an invite, so now everything has to be perfect.
The styling of the table, the menu of the food, the drink pairings—it all has to be cohesive and flow because he is a food critic, and if I can put on a good show, he very well might consider going on a date with me. ”
“Don’t you think he’d go on a date just because he wants to?”
“It’s about building trust and a bond,” she says. “Why do you think Bennett and you work so flawlessly together? Because you’ve built a base of friendship and understanding and you’ve worked up from there. That’s what I plan on doing with Draco.”
“I actually kind of love that.”
“Thank you.” She tosses some Cracker Jack in her mouth. “But that is why it’s so important that we get everything right.”
“Understood.” I pull my phone out and open up the notes app. “Let’s brainstorm on other things that we can make perfect for this dinner party.”
“Don’t you want to watch the game?”
“I’m good at multitasking,” I say, just as a ball is hit to Bennett.
I watch him cut across the diamond, catch the ball on what seems like some sort of insane hop off the ground in front of him, and then he chucks the ball, his arm flying across his body and shooting the ball straight into the first baseman’s glove.
I cup my mouth and let out a loud cheer, cheering for Bennett before I pull the phone back up and say, “See, multitasking.”
“I guess so,” she answers and then chuckles. “Also, next time you plan on cheering like a drunken man with nothing better to do with his life, can you give me a warning to prepare? Your yelping rattled my bones, and you know how fragile I am.”
“Sorry.” I chuckle as she adjusts herself in her chair.
“You may cheer, but it can be with a fancy clap.”
“What’s a fancy clap?”
She holds up her hands, and with her fingertips, she raps them on the palm of her hand, barely making any noise.
“He won’t be able to hear me cheering for him with that,” I say.
“As if he can hear you cheering against the rest of the crowd. Common sense, my girl.”
“Oh, he can hear. He knows exactly what my screaming sounds like.” I smirk just as Adalade slowly turns toward me.
“Well, that’s an innuendo if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Perhaps, and perhaps you’re not the only one who has had their bones rattled recently.”
She chuckles. “Oh, I know what you’ve been doing. I can see it all over your face. And all I have to say is…keep doing it.”
Bower: Are you sure you don’t want to celebrate with your team?
Bennett: There’s only one person I want to celebrate with.
Bower: OC?
Bennett: LOL. No. You.
Bower: I’m finishing up some work things, kind of knee deep since I went to the game and Adalade and I made a list of things that have to get done. Trying to sort through all of that. So go out with the guys and when you’re done, I can celebrate.
Bennett: You’re serious?
Bower: Yeah. I’m sorry. I know you probably had plans, but I really want to make sure I get this right. Do you mind?
Bennett: I can just sit with you.
Bower: No, you will be bored and distracting. Seriously, go celebrate with Nolan and everyone else and then I’ll catch you when you get home. I’ll come to your place.
Bennett: Okay. Sure.
Bower: Are you mad?
Bennett: No, not mad. I get it, babe. Just want to see you is all.
Bower: I know, tonight, promise. I’ll come to you.
Bennett: If you’re coming, you’re coming naked.
Bower: It’s the only way I like to come. XOXO
Knock. Knock.
Startled, I lift my head up from where I’m lying on the couch, notebook and computer scattered next to me, a pen still in my hand.
What the hell…?
I glance around, trying to gain my bearings, and that’s when I notice the sunlight pouring in through the windows and my front door opening, Bennett stepping through with two to-go cups of coffee in hand and a brown bag.
Fuck.
“Oh my God,” I say, dragging my hand over my face as I sit up. “I fell asleep while working. Bennett, I’m so sorry.”
He takes a seat next to me, sets our breakfast down, and then drags me up on his lap, where he cradles my cheek and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
“I missed you last night.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, guilt consuming me in a way I’ve never felt before.
“It’s okay.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not. You won the wild card spot last night, and I wasn’t there to celebrate. I just got caught up and, ugh, there’s no excuse for the behavior. I’m sorry.”
“Funny thing about relationships, it’s all about give and take. There are going to be times where I’m really busy and will mess up, and there will be times where you do the same. The key isn’t to try to make each other feel bad about it, but to have understanding and grace.”
Where the hell did that mature response come from?
“That is…very mature,” I say, shocked.
“I might be eight years younger, but I’m not a buffoon.”
I laugh as he leans back on the couch, and I snuggle into him, missing his warm embrace. “You’re not a buffoon at all; was just surprised.”
“I have a lot of wisdom, you know.”
“Do you? What other kind of wisdom do you have?”
“Well, let’s see, I know where the G-spot is and how to make my girlfriend scream so the entire building hears her.”
“Girlfriend,” I say, slightly surprised by the title. I mean, yes, we’re dating and we’re exclusive, but it just feels so foreign to me. I haven’t been called someone’s girlfriend in a long time.
“Yeah, girlfriend,” he says. “Is there a problem with that?”
“No, just surprised is all.”
“Why are you surprised?” he asks, pulling away so I can look him in the eyes.
“Just haven’t been called that in a long time. I’m not used to it, and I guess we never really had that conversation.”
“What conversation is there to have?” he asks, looking truly insulted. “We are dating, we are exclusive to each other, my cock belongs to you…that qualifies you as my girlfriend.”
I try to soothe the tension by leaning in and kissing his chest. “Yes, I’m sorry.”
He studies me for a moment. I can see doubt in his eyes and I hate that. “Listen, Bower, if you’re second-guessing—”
“I’m not,” I say quickly, not wanting his mind to go there at all. “I’m not second-guessing anything.”
“Okay, because it just seems…” He pauses and then shakes his head.
“What?” I ask, not wanting him to hide his feelings from me. “Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”