Chapter 19
NINETEEN
COLSON
“Are you sure I can’t change your mind about dinner?” Hayden asked as we stood from our chairs in his office. “You’re going to be missing out on a good time. Even Abbi’s going to be there.”
His grin told me how much he adored his niece.
“I appreciate it, buddy, but I just made these plans, and I can’t cancel them.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
“Any recommendations on good places to go for dinner? It’s up to me to pick the spot, and admittedly, I didn’t do any research on some solid options nearby.”
He slung his computer bag over his shoulder and lowered his sunglasses to his face. “You’re not going to go to Charred Miami?”
I chuckled. “Not the right night for it.”
“I see.” He took out his phone. “It’s not easy, recommending restaurants to a man who owns hundreds.”
“I get that.”
“I’ll text you a few of my favorites.”
I thanked him and shook his hand, and as I walked out of the building and climbed into the back seat of the waiting SUV, I pulled up Sophie’s number that Callum had given to me and began writing her a text.
Me
Miss me?
Sophie
Who is this?
Me
Or maybe I should ask … do you miss my tongue?
Sophie
How the hell did you get my number?
Me
Ask me a harder question, Sophie. Like how I felt when you walked out of my hotel room last night.
Sophie
I don’t care how you felt. Obviously.
Me
I want to come over to your place after Abbi goes to bed.
Sophie
It’s absolutely wild to me and semi-diabolical that you think I would say yes to that.
Me
You’re saying you don’t want me to lick your pussy again?
Sophie
I think I’ve made it clear I want nothing to do with you—your tongue and dick are included in that statement.
Me
What you’ve made clear is how loudly I made you moan last night and how hard I made you come.
You can’t convince me you don’t want that to happen again.
I know your body. Your cravings. I know your need to feel submissive, which you didn’t allow me to satisfy.
Therefore, I know you’re fucking dying for me to tie you up.
Sophie
Don’t you have plans this evening?
Me
News travels fast.
Sophie
My brother asked if he could invite you to dinner.
Me
And you said yes, didn’t you?
Sophie
Ha! You know that’s not the answer I gave him. I told him no, he couldn’t. Yet he invited you anyway, and that was when he told me you have plans.
Me
I do.
Sophie
And you’re willing to give up those plans to come over?
Me
I never said I was giving them up.
Say yes, Sophie. We can celebrate the case being over. You’ve officially won. I would say that’s a moment that should be marked with a dirty martini. One you can lick off me.
Sophie
The case isn’t over until tomorrow.
Me
Then I’ll come over at midnight.
Sophie
I’ll think about it.
I tightened the towel around my waist while I stood in front of the bathroom mirror.
Once it was secure and knotted, I picked up my trimmers to edge my beard.
Drips from the shower still ran down my arms every time I moved them.
A scent of clean came off me rather than the saltwater and sun that had lived on me all day.
I was working my way across my chin when a text lit up my phone. I was hoping it was from Sophie. She still hadn’t given me an answer about tonight. My cell sat on the counter, between the sinks, and I lifted it to read the screen.
Hayden
Sorry, man. I got a little preoccupied during my drive home and forgot to send you those dinner recs. Here are three I highly recommend: Proper, Ozean, and Morale. All are downtown, not far from where you’re staying.
Me
Which is your favorite?
Hayden
Ozean. It hits every time.
Me
Thanks, buddy.