Chapter 7
RIGBY
My hands clutched the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were bleached of color. For the fifth time, my eyes slid over to admire Cleo's generous tits stretching the fabric of her sweatshirt before dropping down to her curvy thighs, half of which were on display because her skirt had ridden up.
I hadn’t been about to let her take a rideshare, but when I opened my mouth to offer her a ride, I demanded she come home with me instead. She’d readily agreed, giving me hope that she was feeling this connection as strongly as I was.
The drive was silent, other than the mental argument I was having where I told myself we would talk and then I would take her home while the horny devil inside me laughed hysterically. But despite the quiet, it was comfortable. Cleo was as easy to be with as I remembered.
Soon, I pulled into my designated parking spot, shut off the truck, and unbuckled my seat belt. However, I didn’t make a move to get out. I turned in my seat and met Cleo’s beautiful green orbs.
“I’d like to tell you that I’m going to be a gentleman.
That we’re going to talk, and I’m going to feed you dinner, and then make plans for a real date before taking you home.
But my reputation for being a grumpy asshole is well deserved.
And now that I’ve met you, you can add selfish to the rolling list of my faults, because I’m only going to give you one chance to hit the brakes.
I’m warning you right now, if you come upstairs with me, you won’t be leaving tonight. ”
Cleo’s emerald pools darkened, and she pressed her lips together, but I didn’t miss the small shudder that wracked her body. We sat in charged silence for what seemed like hours, then she finally raised her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. “Does this mean I have to get my own door?”
I stared at her in shock for a beat, then tossed my head back and laughed heartily.
The sound of her sweet giggles joining in sent another wave of desire through me, and my mirth quickly faded away.
Smiling, I shook my head. “I might not be gentleman enough to wait before taking you to bed, but my mama would have my head if she thought I’d ditched my Midwestern manners. ”
Still grinning, I opened my door and climbed out of my truck before slamming it shut and jogging around to help Cleo out.
Keeping her hand tucked tightly into mine, I used my other to hit the fob remote and lock the vehicle as I guided her toward the elevator.
We were alone when we stepped inside the lift, and it took a monumental amount of strength not to press her back against the wall and devour her plump lips.
I nearly lost the battle when she looked up at me through her eyelashes in a naturally seductive way.
Luckily, we reached the penthouse before I lost control, and I breathed a sigh of relief as the doors slid open.
While I was sorely tempted to throw her over my shoulder and go straight back to the bedroom, I knew we needed to talk. Also, we needed to eat if we were going to be able to keep up with all the things I had planned for the rest of the night.
I gestured to the couch situated in the middle of the spacious living room. “I’m going to drop my shit in my room and change, then I’ll make us something to eat.”
One corner of Cleo’s mouth tipped up, and she asked, “Rigby Hunt, do you know how to cook?”
I jabbed my chest with my thumb and grinned. “Hell yeah. My mama insisted that all her kids be able to take care of themselves before we left home.”
Cleo’s lips spread into a beautiful smile. “Sounds like a smart woman.”
I winked and stalked down the hallway that led to the primary suite. Before I was too far away, I looked back at her over my shoulder and drawled, “She also taught me to know a good thing when I found it and never let her go.”
Without waiting for her reaction, I resumed my trek to the bedroom. After dumping my bag in my closet, I quickly changed into a T-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts, then walked back toward the kitchen with my bare feet slapping against the travertine tiles.
I found Cleo standing in front of one of the walls of windows that looked out over the city. They were floor to ceiling and took up the entirety of two full walls in my apartment. The view was a major selling point when I’d decided to buy the place.
Although, once we had kids, it was probably more practical to buy a house in the suburbs and use this place as a getaway. Whoa. Where the fuck did that thought come from? I expected to feel panic when my mind catapulted into the future. Instead, I felt…excitement.
Cleo must’ve heard me enter the room because she pivoted and remarked, “That is an amazing view.”
“I’ve never seen one more beautiful,” I murmured, never taking my eyes off her. A pretty pink blush bloomed on her cheeks, and I fought the urge to sweep her off her feet and spread her out on the couch…or the floor…or take her to bed.
Fucking hell. I averted my gaze and imagined my teammates in tutus until the tent that had been growing in my shorts deflated a little.
The kitchen, living room, and dining room were all one open space, separated by a long, L-shaped island that had the sink and the stove built into it.
I padded over to the fridge and opened it, scanning through the items I’d had delivered earlier that morning.
It didn’t take long to gather the things I needed for spaghetti with chicken, roasted broccoli, and a salad.
“Come and talk to me.” I beckoned Cleo to join me, and when she was close enough, lifted her up and set her on the counter. She laughed and tucked her legs into a crisscross position.
“So you’re studying drama?” I prompted.
“Yes…well, sort of. I’m in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
I want to work behind the scenes, mostly for the stage.
I’ve always been fascinated by the design and construction of the sets.
I can’t wait for my first internship next year.
Tisch has an amazing internship office, and they get all kinds of calls for interns in the industry.
I’m hoping to snag one in a Broadway theatre. ”
Impressed, I murmured, “That’s amazing. I’ll have to make sure to come see you at one of your shows.”
Cleo giggled. “You won’t see me since I’ll be working with the production staff.”
I shrugged. “But I’ll see your work.”
She beamed at me, her emerald eyes sparkling. “Okay,” she agreed sweetly. “I’ll let you know when one of my projects makes it on the stage.”
The food was done and plated, so I carried our meal over and set it on the dining room table.
Then I returned and helped Cleo off the counter before opening a cabinet to grab two wineglasses.
As I was about to look through my wine selection, I paused as something occurred to me.
I turned around, glasses in hand, and my eyes landed on my girl.
I didn’t know her age, but she was definitely younger than me. I doubted they used people under eighteen as seat fillers, so I was probably safe there. Still… “Are you twenty-one?”
Cleo shook her head. “I just turned nineteen a couple of months ago.”
“No problem,” I replied with a smile. I set the glasses down on the counter and moved toward the cabinet to retrieve a couple of regular cups.
“I don’t mind if you drink,” she insisted.
I shrugged, not at all bothered. “I rarely drink anyway.” As I walked past her, I hesitated long enough to bend down and whisper, “I’m not one who likes to give up control.”
There was a wealth of innuendo and a dash of warning in that statement, but she seemed so innocent that I wasn’t sure she fully understood my meaning.
I filled the glasses with water and took them to the table, then pulled out a chair and waited for Cleo to slide into it before scooting it forward. We chatted through the meal, getting to know each other better, and with every tidbit she shared, I grew more determined to keep her.
After the meal, I told her to relax while I cleaned up, but she insisted on helping me. We moved in sync as if she’d always been here, and we did this together every night. As we worked side by side, I enjoyed the picture we painted, one that hopefully reflected our future.