Chapter Four #2
Once I laid things out for Summer, things relax between us.
The tension is no longer thick, and we are able to coexist more easily.
But I have a difficult time trusting in Summer’s willingness to move on as friends.
For over a year, my mom never moved on, always keeping my father in her back pocket to fall back on, and my dad was there …
until he lost everything. Because he was emotionally invested in his wife.
Summer is right when she says things between us were intense the first time, and I was on the verge of falling for her and falling hard.
Losing my job in a spectacularly humiliating fashion brought me face-to-face with reality.
Getting involved with Summer was stupid.
And if I fall back into a relationship with her again, I could end up no better than my father, abandoned when something bigger comes along. And Summer’s bigger is on the horizon.
I have no doubt she’ll win this competition and take off into the stratosphere along with Jade Glow and those like her.
The stylist delivered so many clothes, she has to keep a hanging rack in the corner of her den because her small closet can’t hold them all.
Everything was provided by Jade Glow’s public relations team, which is benefitting from every public performance Summer and Tawny make during this time, as Jade’s name is plastered all over the publicity materials and mentioned by every show host who promotes the ongoing competition.
Summer is on her way to making it big, and soon she won’t have time for me or the people she’s known along the way. And I don’t want to be left in the dust. Which means we are going to have to deal with being platonic while I am guarding her delectable body.
Her schedule is sporadic at best. When she isn’t in a studio doing voice-overs, which I listen to, in awe of her talent, she spends time at the gym doing hard-core cardio and weights, the workouts giving her the stamina for her performances.
Watching her move in her tight spandex shorts and tank top, her breasts bouncing despite the sports bra, should not be a hardship except on my body, which desires her more with every passing minute, mocking me and my need to keep things between us simple.
Unfortunately, I also have to deal with the many guys who hit on her while she is doing her routine.
I am forced to watch from the sidelines, glaring at the men who flirt with Summer and who she claims are just friends.
The woman is oblivious to the desire in those so-called friends’ eyes when they look at her sexy body and gorgeous face.
They are attracted to both the outer packaging and her bubbly, welcoming personality.
Eventually, some guy is going to come along at the right time and be the one, and the thought makes me want to growl in frustration.
When she doesn’t have necessary engagements scheduled, we remain in her apartment because, for safety reasons, I don’t want her running around the city for no good reason, and I am becoming well acquainted with her sofa while I watch TV.
To her annoyance, I prohibit Starbucks trips unless we are already out of the apartment, and since there is one on the corner of her block, she begs me to go in every time we leave the building. Another place where men notice her constantly.
Her next big event is tomorrow, a nightclub opening, where she and Tawny are performing along with meeting and greeting VIPs. Tonight we are ordering in Chinese food, and I hope she’ll let me pick the movie.
“Laundry time!” Summer walks out of her room, plastic basket in hand. “Dirty clothes need to get clean.”
I rise to my feet, immediately alert because she is going to be leaving the safety of the apartment. “Where are the machines?”
“Down the hall. I’d say I don’t need an escort, but I’m guessing I’m going to have one anyway?” she asks cheekily.
I incline my head. “Good call.” I pat my holstered weapon and take the basket out of her hands.
“I can carry it. I do it all the time.” She extends her hands, requesting the heavy load back.
“Sorry. As long as I’m here, get used to having help.”
“Thank you.” She grabs her keys and tosses pods of detergent and fabric softener sheets into the basket. “Let’s get this going,” she says, striding to the door.
“I’ll go first.” I need to make certain no one is waiting for her to exit her apartment.
A quick check, and I escort her down the hall, leaning against the open doorway, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be heading into the laundry room while she sorts her clothes.
Of course, with my luck, she is pulling out her bras and panties, putting them inside a mesh bag, treating me to a look at her variety of undergarments.
Black with lace trim, beige with bows on the side, even a red bra, which torments me with images of what she’d look like with her voluptuous breasts filling the cups, her cleavage spilling out for me to see.
A man walks out of a neighboring apartment, basket in hand, heads to the laundry room.
Considering he is coming from inside the building, I give him the benefit of the doubt.
As much as I want to, I don’t frisk the guy before letting him into the communal laundry room, figuring it would be overkill.
I step aside, keeping an eye on the guy, who comes up next to Summer and places his basket on top of a neighboring machine, giving me a curious look.
“Summer, where have you been hiding?” he asks, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her.
Great. Another admirer. Everywhere Summer goes, she is surrounded by leering assholes who want to get into her pants. I fold my arms across my chest and glare at the preppy-looking guy in khaki shorts and a polo shirt.
“Greg! It’s been too long.” She pulls him into what I consider a too-friendly hug, her breasts pressing against his chest for a second before she steps back.
My skin feels tight as I watch, annoyed and jealous of their interaction.
“I saw you kick ass on TV,” Greg says, mouth curving in a smile.
“Really? Aren’t you at work in the morning?”
He laughs. “Yeah, but I watch the entertainment shows at night. You’re becoming famous. Pretty soon you’ll be moving out of this place and taking a bigger, swankier apartment befitting your status.”
She rolls her eyes, blushing at the compliment. “I’m perfectly happy here. So how’s work?” she asks.
“Doing well. I got a promotion.” He straightens his shoulders, and I am surprised he isn’t beating his chest. “So when are you going to put me out of my misery and go out with me?” Greg asks, playfully nudging her with his arm.
I grind my teeth waiting for her to answer.
Summer glances away. “Greg, you know I like you, but my life is way too busy right now to commit to dating.” She closes the top of the laundry machine, presses a few buttons, swipes her credit card, and the hum of the machine begins to sound.
“How about after things quiet down?” he asks, not giving up.
“Maybe,” Summer says, her cheeks still pink from his earlier compliment.
I don’t care if she said it to pacify Greg, I don’t like that she agreed to possibly see him some undetermined day in the future.
Greg moves in closer. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he says, just proving my unspoken feelings. That he is a smarmy ass, too slick for a woman like Summer.
“Greg—” She hesitates just long enough, giving him time to chime in.
“How about I just ask you again next time we run into each other?”
I’ve had enough of their chitchat. She’s finished her laundry, and as far as I am concerned, we can go back to her apartment.
I clear my throat. The sound comes out sounding more like an annoyed growl. “Time to go,” I say, telling myself I am rescuing Summer from an uncomfortable situation. Whether she wants to be rescued or not.
“Who is that guy?” Greg asks. “I didn’t realize he was with you.”
“That is my bodyguard,” Summer says, glancing Ben’s way.
I can’t read her expression, don’t know if she is grateful I gave her an excuse to leave or annoyed I interrupted her time with Greg.
“You need security? Is everything okay?” the other man asks.
“None of your business,” I say to the nosy man. I glance at Summer. “You’re finished here, so it’s time to go.” I know I am being a jealous dick, but I can’t bring myself to care.
Now Summer does shoot me an annoyed glare before turning to the neighbor. “Everything is fine. It’s just precautionary, but I do need to get going,” she murmurs. “It was nice seeing you.”
I grab the basket in one hand and Summer’s elbow in another and escort her out of the room, into the hall, and straight for her apartment, closing and locking the door behind us.
* * *
Summer
I let Ben lead me back to my apartment without argument only because I don’t want to make an embarrassing scene in front of my neighbor.