Chapter 31
31
HANK
T he next two weeks—between the time I asked Bailey to attend the veterans benefit and it actually happening—flew by. Work was insane preparing for the event since Kolbi’s firm was running security and half the VIP client’s my team catered to were attending. I asked him several times if it was okay that I attended, since I was the person who typically oversaw these kinds of events, but he assured me it was.
Knowing I couldn’t take us to the benefit on my bike, Kolbi lent me a company car again so I could drive us both there. I knew Bailey liked my bike, but there was no way I was going to be able to drive us both to a black tie event on the back of it. The Annual Veteran’s Benefit was one of the city’s largest fundraisers for veterans and this would be the first time I would be attending. My insides buzzed with excitement because I got to see some of my old Army buddies again who were traveling to the city for the event.
When I asked Bailey to come with me as my date, she seemed nervous to say yes. I tried not to dwell on why that was and tried to focus more on the fact that she had agreed to come with me. While we had only known each other since the start of June, it felt like we had known each other forever. She completed me in a way I didn’t know I needed and I couldn’t wait to show up with her on my arm. How I had managed to score such a beautiful woman I will never know, but I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
I was sitting at my desk waiting for five o’clock to roll around so I could head out for the day. I still needed to pick up my uniform from the dry cleaners for the benefit and get home to shower and shave so that I wouldn’t have to do it tomorrow. It felt nice to pull out my dress blues from the back of my closet after not seeing them for a few months. When I came home, I carefully packed all my uniforms away for safekeeping. Yesterday I had dropped off my service uniform to get dry cleaned so it was pressed and up to standards. As I stared at my computer, checking off all the last minute details for the event, my phone buzzed. I looked down at the screen and read the notification.
1 New Message: Blondie
I think I found the dress.
I smiled at her message and started to type back. She told me she was worried about finding something to wear to the benefit because she didn’t want to embarrass me. I assured her time and time again that she would never embarrass me and that I felt nothing less than the luckiest man to have the opportunity to take her with me.
Oh yeah? Send me a picture.
No way, I want it to be a surprise.
Come on, just one peek.
Not a chance.
Can you at least tell me what color it is?
…fine I’ll tell you what color it is.
It’s red.
I’m sure you look stunning in it.
And sexy as hell.
Hopefully not too sexy, I don’t want to embarrass you.
I’ve already told you that’s not possible. I can’t wait to show up with you on my arm and show you off in front of everyone.
You’re going to be the most beautiful woman there, I already know it.
Thank you, soldier.
I’m still not showing you the dress.
I laughed at her second message and could picture the face she was making as she sent it. My girl was hard-headed when she wanted to be and I loved that about her. There were many things about her that I loved. But really I just loved that she was mine.
Mi hermosa. ? 1
I pulled up in front of her building promptly at 6:15 p.m. as promised. Before getting out to walk to her door, I reached across the center console of the company Bronco I’d borrowed and grabbed my jacket. Once out of the car, I slipped my navy blue dress coat on and buttoned it in front of me. I nodded to a couple walking past me as I walked towards the front door of her building and headed inside. It wasn’t very often you saw people in their dress uniforms, so I wasn’t surprised by their stares.
The elevator took me up to her floor and I stepped into her hallway brimming with anticipation. This was the first time I would see her all dressed up, and ever since her texts yesterday, I had been visualizing what her dress could look like. I loved how casual she was in her day to day life, but part of me was salivating at the thought of seeing her in a sexy red dress all done up. My arm reached for the door and knocked a few times. Ophelia opened the door with a wide grin on her face.
“You’re gonna die. I hope you brought yourself an extra pair of clean pants because if Bailey doesn’t make you come immediately upon seeing her, you don’t like her enough,” she quipped without even saying hello first.
“Ophelia!” I heard her shout from her room. “Stop it right now! Hank, I’m so sorry, just ignore her. Ophie, get away from him before I come out there and beat your ass for saying things like that.” The volume of her voice grew as she moved closer to the door. As soon as she stepped out of her room and into my line of sight, my heart nearly stopped and I fully understood why Ophelia had made the comment about my pants.
She looked stunning. Not just stunning, she looked drop dead gorgeous. Her dress was sexy as hell but still inside the realm of appropriate for the evening. Deep red and floor-length, it had a slit that ran up her thigh, showcasing her strong, toned legs. She was wearing a pair of strappy heels that matched the bejeweled neckline of her dress. The way it hugged her neck made me jealous. My heart rate increased as she smiled and posed for me, absolutely radiating.
“What do you think, soldier?” she remarked, holding her arms out away from her body. When she spun around and exposed how deep the back of her dress fell, I nearly dropped to my knees in front of her. I must have waited too long to answer because Ophelia smacked me hard on the back.
“Well, Hank, what do you think of our girl?”
“I think she looks stunning. Like the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I sputtered, tripping over my own tongue as I stared at her. She giggled before taking a few steps closer to me. She rested her hands on my arms and brought her face close to mine.
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” she hummed as her lips pulled back into a warm smile.
“Here, let me take a picture of you both and then you can go.” Ophelia took Bailey’s phone from her hand and positioned us in front of the wall. I felt like I was back in high school having my prom pictures taken. Unable to keep my eyes off of her, I looked down at her and felt my lips pull into a smile. She continued to look at the camera, putting my favorite smile of hers on full display. She shined as she stood next to me and with every picture taken, I could feel my heart falling for her even further.
“Okay, I think I got some good ones,” Ophelia exclaimed, handing the phone back to Bailey. She slipped her phone into the small silver purse she was holding and turned to me.
“You ready to go?” Her sapphire blues pierced straight through every logical thought I was trying to form. Just one look from her turned me inside out. Unable to hold myself back from her, I pulled her into my chest, wrapping my arm around her waist and pressed my lips to her cheek.
“Yes, hermosa? 2 , I am.” Ophelia let out a soft sigh at my words and looked at us with hearts in her eyes.
We waved goodbye and headed out towards the car hand in hand. As the elevator doors closed, I pulled her into me again, pressing her hips into my side. I tucked my lips behind her ear and growled.
“I just need you to know that the sight of you in that dress is the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. You’re an evil woman for thinking it’s fair to make me sit next to you all night wearing that when you know I can’t have you until after we leave.” Her breath hitched in her throat and I loved how an evil, knowing smirk grew on her face. “You knew this dress would drive me crazy, didn’t you, mi diablita? 3 ?”
She turned her face to meet mine as our bodies got closer together in the elevator. “I was hoping it would get that kind of reaction out of you.”
I grabbed her chin with my hand and forced her to look at me. “You’re a naughty girl and I promise to make you pay for this later. I hope you aren’t planning on wearing this dress again after tonight because I fully intend on tearing it off of you once I get you back to my apartment.” Her eyes burned into me with desire and I didn’t miss how her chest was rising and falling more quickly.
“I hope you do,” was all she could say before the elevator doors opened.
As we walked towards the car, I tried to focus on all the things I knew would help to kill an erection. Part of me knew, though, that I was fighting a losing battle.
1 ? My beautiful girl.
2 ? beautiful
3 ? little devil