Chapter 17 #2
“Hey, Mal.” He nods at her, then turns toward the woman he’s been avoiding. “Um…Ellie?”
With a huff, she turns and meets his eyes. “What, Landen?”
The snappiness in her voice has me flinching for him. It’s not only if her looks could kill, it’s her tone, too.
“Would you wanna dance? Um, with me. On the dance floor. Together.”
Magnolia palms her forehead as Landen struggles to piece together a full sentence. I resist laughing at his expense, but goddamn, am I gonna give him shit for this when he’s sober.
“Awww…” Mallory and Serena coo in unison.
Landen gives her a lopsided grin.
“Sorry, I broke my toe and can’t put pressure on it.”
This time I don’t conceal the chuckle that bubbles out of me because she just gave him the same excuse Magnolia gave Harrison.
Landen’s jaw tenses at her words, presumably aware she’s full of shit.
“Didn’t look broken to me when you were dancin’ earlier to ‘Lover’?” Landen calls her out and Magnolia’s eyes are locked on them as if a telenovela is unfolding right in front of us.
“That’s because it just happened. Someone stepped on my foot when I was dancing, and I was just about to get some ice before it swelled up.”
Landen slowly nods, his lips in a flat line and fingers gripping the chair in front of him as if he’s about to snap it in half. “I’ll get some for you then.”
But Ellie doesn’t take the bait. She crosses her arms over her chest and deadpans, “No, it’s okay.”
“Why not? I’d hate for it to fall off and your barrel racing career tanks because you’re down to nine toes.”
“Fine,” she grits between her teeth.
“Be right back.” Landen flashes her a cheeky grin that has Ellie rolling her eyes.
We watch as Landen walks toward the bar.
“Can’t say he’s a quitter.” I laugh.
Magnolia shakes her head in disbelief. “She’s gonna give him a run for his money.”
“And I can’t wait to see him get knocked to his knees.”
She playfully smacks my chest. “Be nice. At least he’s puttin’ in the effort.”
I know that’s a jab at me for waiting so long, but I can’t even be mad to tease her back when I finally have her now.
“So after tomorrow, when can we see each other again?” I ask while we wait for Landen to return.
“I’ll be at the retreat Tuesday and free once I close up at three.”
“Good. What about Wednesday?” I ask.
“Same, except for working downtown.”
“And Thursday?”
“Same thing.”
“Friday?”
She smirks. “For the unforeseen future, I work until three and then I’m free the rest of the evening.”
“Geez. Get some friends, Sunny,” I mock.
She leans over and twists my nipple.
I’m too slow to smack her hand away. “Ow! That’s attached.”
She scowls. “Then don’t be rude!”
I laugh, capturing her hand and pressing my lips to it. “Just pencil me in for every night.”
She yanks it out of my grip. “No. According to you, I need friends. Maybe I’ll go ask Harrison to hang out. Or Kyle. I mean, you weren’t specific on only girl friends.”
“Do that and you’ll find out very quickly how fast a fight can break out.”
“Over me having friends you told me to get?” she challenges.
“I don’t want my girlfriend hangin’ out with guys who want to get into her panties. And I’d hope you’d feel the same way about me being around chicks who make suggestive comments about ridin’ my dick.”
She stares at me. “Did you just call me your girlfriend?”
“Yes.”
The silence lingers as Landen returns with a baggie of ice for Ellie and the anxiety of her not responding surfaces up my chest and neck until I can no longer take it. The hives are making me itch and even if she’s messing with me, I need to clear the air now.
“Have I not been clear that we’re together and a thousand percent exclusive?” I ask, no longer watching Landen ice Ellie’s fake broken toe.
“Hmm. I guess I don’t remember you askin’ for my hand in girlfriend-boyfriend matrimony.”
My hand lowers beneath the table and when I find her thigh, I squeeze it hard between my fingers. She releases a little yelp and flashes a smart-ass grin at getting me worked up.
Yeah, she knows exactly what she’s doing. The little shit.
Leaning closer until our shoulders touch and my mouth brushes her ear, I decide to fully give in to her little game and make her eat her words.
“I still have the taste of your sweet pussy on my mouth from when you came on my tongue this afternoon. The photo of you in that little lacy number is all I see when I close my eyes. The first thought I have when I wake up at five in the morning is wondering when I’ll get to talk to or see you again.
And the first time I took a woman out on a real date or let drive my truck has only ever been you.
But if you need me to drop to my knees and propose girlfriend-boyfriend to you, then just say the words, sweetheart. I’ll do it right now.”
Her throat moves and her body stiffens when I lean back in my chair. Ellie has apparently dismissed Landen after he brought her ice. And considering it’s melting on top of the table confirms she gave him a bullshit excuse to avoid dancing with him.
Magnolia turns toward me, neither of us seemingly worried about who could be watching us right now, and I arch a brow as she noticeably struggles to speak.
“Something you wanna say, Sunny?”
Her eyes narrow into a glare and my lips curl up in victory.
Finally, she swallows hard and straightens her shoulders. “No. I think I’m good.”
With a wide grin, I nod once. “Glad we’re on the same page, then.”