Chapter 11
ELEVEN
DON’T LIE
Addison
The residents slowly filtered out of the room, and I gathered the leftover prizes to save for next month. I could feel Beckett behind me without having to look.
I’d felt his eyes on me all night, so I knew the sensation well. Like my body was burning from the inside out, and all I wanted to do was succumb to the heat and the flames. And I think there was a permanent blush staining my cheeks.
“Enjoy your night?” I asked, pushing through the odd way my throat constricted. It would have been nice if his presence hadn’t affected me, but I wasn’t that lucky.
“I did,” he said. He came to stand beside me and immediately began helping me bag up the prizes. I cut my eyes his direction, but he was intent on his task. “You’re impressive.”
I jerked my head at him, and he smiled like he expected my reaction. My laugh was sardonic.
“I led bingo night. I’m not sure anything about that is impressive. It’s not like I’m practicing law or something.”
He chuckled, and I really enjoyed the deep timbre of the sound.
“No, I guess it’s not, but it’s still impressive. They really care about you, that much is obvious. And you seem to really care about them. I can tell you’re really good at your job.”
Looking up at him, I scanned the side of his face for any sign of insincerity but found none. He caught me, and I looked away quickly.
“Well, they haven’t fired me yet, so that’s a good sign.” He grabbed the bag we’d been packing and the ball machine. “You don’t have to help me clean up, though. I’m used to doing this by myself.”
But he didn’t move to hand over the bag or the machine. “Just because you’re used to doing it alone doesn’t mean I can’t help. I’m here, I’m able, and I’m going to help.”
His words hit me directly in the chest, and my heart stuttered. But I ignored the weird feeling in my gut and focused on the task at hand. Not the very gorgeous man in front of me or his sweet words.
“Okay, but this doesn’t change anything about the date,” I said over my shoulder as I led us toward my office. I heard Beckett chuckle behind me.
Flipping on the light, I strode across the room and into the closet that held most of my event decorations and other items. It was organized chaos. As was my life, honestly.
“I’m not helping you because I want something in return,” he said, following me to the closet. “I’m doing this because I care—holy shit.”
Placing the few bottles of wine that were left in the small wine fridge a resident had left behind, I turned to find Beckett just outside the closet door, staring up and around the small space in awe.
I knew where everything was. Where the craft supplies, Valentine’s Day decorations, and the back-up bingo supplies were. But anyone else would probably have the same reaction.
“How—there is so much stuff in here,” he muttered.
I took the bag and ball machine from him, stacking them in the bingo corner by the wine fridge.
“There is. This is the only space I really have right now, so I’ve perfected my system. I know where everything is.”
“I believe you,” he said, eyeing the easels and leftover canvases from our art class a few weeks ago. He looked so out of place in his pristine suit surrounded by my chaos.
“I’m sure this is probably the opposite of what your office or house looks like. I can imagine everything has its place, and you don’t really like clutter.”
His eyes dropped to me, and suddenly the world felt much, much smaller.
“My apartment and my office, yes. You’re mostly right, but I kind of like your chaos and the color you bring to…everything.” He slowly peered down my body, and goose bumps erupted over every inch of my skin. He was good at compliments, I just didn’t know how to take them.
I glanced down at myself, my pink and orange sweater, light-wash jeans, and matching orange shoes.
“I am fond of color,” I said, offering him a small smile. When he returned it, one side of his mouth kicking up in a lopsided grin and flashing me that dimple, my stomach somersaulted. “I should probably get home. I have an event tomorrow.”
“An event you planned or are attending?”
He stepped to the side and let me exit the closet, turning off the light and shutting the door behind me. But he was still there, watching all my movements carefully.
I grabbed my bag and water bottle before turning off my computer for the night.
“One I helped plan,” I said. I waved for him to walk out of my office first so I could turn off the light and lock the door. “It’s an engagement party, and I have to be there early to help set up.”
“Oh, the one for the young couple?” he asked, and I was surprised he remembered. I’d told him about it a few days ago, but we’d talked about a lot of other things since then.
“Yeah, the young couple.”
He opened the front door for me, and I was thankful that the cold night air cooled my warm cheeks.
“Where’s your car?”
I cringed and pointed to my little silver car parked in one of the first spaces. “I’m right next to you.” I didn’t miss the very obvious contradiction between our cars. His pretty black sports car looked expensive. I think it was a Porsche, but it was hard to tell in the dark.
And it looked even better next to my little beat-up Toyota.
We walked over together, in silence, and my anxiety ramped up with each step. Goodbyes were always weird, but they were worse when it was my previous one-night stand and a man who wasn’t shy about how much he wanted more from me.
I didn’t know if he’d kiss me again, but if he did, I wouldn’t have the willpower to stop him. I was craving another taste, another touch.
“I know I kind of already explained that the law firm I run, it was my dad’s first,” he said.
We stopped at my car, and I tossed my bag over the driver’s seat and onto the passenger’s side. Turning back around, I hugged my arms around myself to keep the chill away as best I could.
When we’d texted, we’d talked a lot about his career and family. He’d asked about mine, too. I was just less willing to give up the nitty-gritty details. Beckett, however, was an open book.
“Anyway,” he continued. “We’re about to start planning the thirtieth anniversary party. I usually use Grant Events. My office manager, Natalie, is best friends with Caroline, the owner. But maybe you’d be interested in the business? Or the company you work for?”
My eyebrows shot up, and I rolled my lips, trying to hide my expression. But as usual, I didn’t do the best job, and Beckett’s eyes narrowed.
Rather than keep up the pretense, I sighed and dropped my hands. “You should just use Grant Events.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“Because I work there, too. So, if you do the freaking party with Caroline, it’s likely I’ll end up helping out with it, too.”
“Ahh,” he said, smiling to himself and running a hand through his hair. “Your reaction makes sense now. They’re the best in the city, so I’m not surprised they picked you up. Wait, I called Grant Events and asked who went to the party on their behalf. The woman on the phone—”
“Was me,” I finally said. I didn’t have to fess up, but it felt wrong not to.
He’d been so sincere, and I’d been so secretive.
I couldn’t stand it anymore. “I intercepted your call, realized who you were, and that you were looking for me. I gave you the incorrect information. We don’t even have a woman named Meredith working with us. ”
He was silent for several seconds before he licked his lips and took a step closer. He reached forward and brushed my hair back so he could easily grip the side of my neck. His thumb tenderly ran the length of my chin as he shook his head.
“Addison, so wicked and defiant. I can’t believe you lied to me.
” His voice was a low purr that I immediately felt pulsing between my legs.
One simple touch, a few simple words, and I was putty in his hands.
And gosh, the way he looked at my mouth, like he wanted to consume me and savor every drop.
“You never have to lie to me. And you know, if you were mine, I would teach you that you don’t have to.
Show you that you never have to lie to me again. ”
My knees went weak, and I leaned against my car to help me stay standing. Never had the thought of punishment sounded so appealing.
“How so?” I heard myself asking before I realized what I was doing. I was just too intrigued. I needed to know so I could imagine it and play it out in my wildest fantasies.
His grin was dark and devious. His thumb wandered over my lower lip, and I could faintly taste the salt of his skin. His other hand landed on the curve of my hip, and whatever distance was left between us was immediately gone.
“Well, I think you’d look fucking beautiful laid on my lap with your ass in the air.
I’d spank you over and over again until your skin was red and hot from my hand.
Then I’d spank your pussy a few times. Enough to make you scream and beg for me to let you come.
Then I’d soothe your sensitive skin with my tongue.
And we’d do it again and again until you knew for certain that you never have to lie to me. ”
Desire roared through my veins, and my breath came out in stuttered pants as I imagined the scene.
Spanking would be new to me, but it was something I was eager to explore.
And doing it with Beckett, I knew he’d take care of me.
He’d done it once before, and it was startling how much I trusted him.
In the little time we’d spent together, he’d done nothing but prove I could.
“How does that sound, baby girl?”
My eyes flashed from his lips to his hungry, amber eyes, and I was pleased to see that his words had also affected him. He looked about ready to throw me over his shoulder and make it happen.
“Intriguing,” I said, but my voice belied more than that.
“One date, Bubbles. I want to see you again.”
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, which was a horrible idea because my lungs filled with him. “Look,” I said, mustering all my strength to drop my hands against his chest and push.
He heeded my request and stepped back. His hands dropped to his sides, and I immediately missed his touch. But it was better this way. I needed to be honest with him and myself.
Staring down at my hands, I just started talking, saying the first thing that came to mind.
“I just got out of a crappy relationship, and I don’t want another one.
So, if you want to take me out on a date just because you want to sleep with me again or because you think the universe is trying to tell us something because we ran into each other, I can’t do it.
Pretty much, unless you really think you might want a relationship with me at some point in the future, I don’t want to put my energy into it.
I can’t. I have too much going on to waste my time on something that is likely never going to go anywhere.
So, yeah…unless you think there might be more here, I need you to walk away. I need to walk away.”
Beckett was quiet, and I chanced a look up at him.
“What about Sunday?”
Of all the responses I expected, that was not one of them. “Did you hear what I just said? Unless you think that—”
“Yes, unless I think that there could be something more here,” he said, gesturing between us, “then don’t waste your time. I heard all of it. So, I’m asking, does Sunday evening work for you?”
Trying my best to hide my surprise, I nodded. “I can make Sunday evening work.”
“Perfect. Text me your address, and I’ll pick you up, probably around seven.”
I panicked a little and shook my head. “Umm…” I muttered, searching for a solution that didn’t require him picking me up at my front door.
After I’d left Owen, I’d had to find a new place to live quickly, and where I’d landed wasn’t exactly a place I wanted Beckett to see.
“You can just pick me up here,” I finally said.
Settled on that solution, I felt a little better.
“Yeah, I have a few things I have to get done that afternoon, so that’ll probably just be easier. ”
“Okay, I’ll see you Sunday, Bubbles.” I nodded, and he leaned forward, clasping the door handle and opening it for me. When I slipped into my seat and he closed the door behind me, I realized my disappointment.
Right or not, good or bad, I’d desperately wanted him to kiss me again.