Chapter 18
“Alright, so spill,” Sandy demanded as they sat down at one of their favorite eateries.
“Can I take a bite of my lunch before you grill me?”
“You’re just stalling.”
“No, I’m hungry,” Allie countered then took a bite of her sub sandwich. She took her time chewing before washing it down with her sweet tea.
Sandy just watched her, waiting. Her food sat in front of her untouched. “Hurry up, woman. The suspense has been killing me all morning.”
Allie dabbed the corner of her mouth. “The date was great. Besides trying to clean his dishes.”
Sandy groaned. “You have got to stop doing that. Men don’t want you cleaning their house until you’ve been dating at least two years, and you shouldn’t offer until you have a ring on it.” Sandy waved her naked fingers in front of her face.
“Yeah, well, like I said, it got better after that.”
Sandy started bouncing in her seat. “Details, woman.”
“Okay, he’s great in bed. I mean really good. He’s caring and thorough. I was a boneless heap by the end. He does this thing with his tongue, and he has a kinky side I never would have guessed.”
“Yes!” Sandy practically shouted. “Tell me more.”
“I shouldn’t be telling you all of this. He’s like your brother.”
“Hardly, old family friend. I dated his brother and always felt protective of Carson. When he moved into town, I knew you two would get along perfectly. The timing was just never right. Now tell me more about this kinky side.”
She’d walked herself into that one. Allie leaned forward. Her sandwich completely forgotten now. “You didn’t let me finish. I shouldn’t tell you, but you’re my best friend, and I have to tell someone.”
“It’s only fair after all of the stories I’ve shared.”
“Like the guy who wanted you to dress up in maid outfits and clean his dorm room?”
Sandy started laughing. “I forgot about him. Though I have to say, I did make a cute maid. Now tell me more about your sexcapade.”
“He brought out this chocolate cake for dessert.”
“Aw, your favorite. See, I told you he was a keeper.” Sandy sat back in her seat, looking like a proud mother watching her child graduate.
“Not at first, but yes.”
“Well, where does this kinkery come in?”
“We got into a bit of a food fight. A tiny one,” she held up her finger and thumb up in front of her with the digits almost touching, “then he smeared the chocolate on different parts of my body before licking it up.”
Sandy sat across from her looking shocked and for the first time since Allie had met her, speechless.
“Huh, who knew Carson had that kind of kinky side? I pegged him for a missionary man all the way. Neat and orderly. Just goes to show, you don’t know a man.
” Sandy shook her head. “You know, his brother was the same way.” Sandy waved her finger in front of her almost absently.
“I should have guessed, but Carson was always so strait-laced. I mean, he played rough like his brothers, but he was rigorous and maintained. Which was why I wasn’t shocked when he announced he was joining the Navy. He was meant to be in the military.”
Allie agreed. Everything about him oozed military. He may be out and doing the civilian side of government work now, but he was still a commanding man. She could see him leading troops or still running ops in the jungle if the paintball course was any indication.
“I’m guessing he didn’t do this in bed, so where were you?”
Allie’s cheeks heated, and she used that moment to take a drink before answering. “The dining room table,” she said quickly and softly.
Sandy’s mouth hung open; she was once again stunned into silence before her mouth widened into a grin. “Shut up.”
“It tamed down after that. We moved it to the bedroom and…” Allie sighed as memories of last night resurfaced. “Everything about last night was…”
“Amazing,” Sandy finished for her, sitting forward. Her chin rested on her hand, her elbow on the table, looking wistful.
“He was. It was. It’s never been like that for me.”
“It won’t always be.”
Tell her about it. Allie had been with some bad, quick men who’d gotten off quickly and never cared about her needs. That definitely wasn’t the case with Carson. He definitely put her first.
She glanced down at her phone. Everything had been perfect except for one thing.
“What is it?”
“I haven’t heard from Carson today. I texted him this morning when I was coming in, and he hasn’t responded. You don’t think he—”
“No.” Sandy held her finger up, looking upset. “He is not a hit-it-and-quit-it guy like some of the other people he hangs out with. I’m sure something just came up.”
Allie didn’t think so either, but she had a track record with men who’d left rather quickly. She knew she was being irrational just because she hadn’t heard from him. “Maybe he got called out of town for work again?”
“No, he would at least tell you before he left. Tell you what, call him up and tell him you miss his glorious cock, and you want to have more hot kinky sex with him.” Sandy took a bite of her sandwich, chewed it, and swallowed it quickly.
“I can’t do that.” Sandy was the bold talker, not her. Last night had been new and bold for her, but she didn’t think she could do that on a regular basis.
“Fine,” Sandy said in a pouty voice. “How about you invite him over for dinner? Cook up a nice meal and see where the night brings you.”
“If I don’t hear from him by the time we leave work, I’ll call him and ask.” She was not about to call a few hours after her text. That felt like it screamed desperation.
“Fine,” Sandy checked her watch, “Crap, we have to head back.” They tossed out the rest of their lunch and headed back to the office. It was only a few blocks away.
They were halfway to the office when someone stepped in front of Allie and Sandy. “Well, hello, beautiful ladies.”
Allie was about to scream for help when Sandy groaned. “Oh no, not you.” Sandy knew this guy? Allie had never seen him before, though he reminded her a lot of Carson. He carried himself the same way and was handsome with similar-looking scars, but she preferred Carson over this guy.
“Sandy, I’m crushed.” The man touched his chest over his heart.
“I’m sure your ego will recover.”
“It will be quicker if you give me a kiss.” He smiled. Allie was sure it was one that had dropped many a panty. Not hers and obviously not Sandy’s either.
“How about introducing my knee to your balls?”
The man didn’t seem offended by Sandy’s sharp tongue, though she didn’t know why Sandy was being so rude to him; besides, the guy was arrogant. She only knew of one guy Sandy was like that with. Jack.
The man’s crystalline-blue eyes landed on her. “Better yet, introduce me to this lovely angel next to you. Her mouth looks much sweeter than yours.”
Ew.
Allie noticed someone stopping next to this stranger. “Carson.”
“Allie.” Carson stopped in his tracks and looked at her, shocked. “What are you doing here?” He almost looked guilty seeing her.
“Sandy and I were getting some lunch and celebrating her win. We just closed a deal.” She smiled warmly at Sandy. The woman was a rock star. She didn’t know where their company would be without her.
“That’s awesome. Congrats, Sand.” Carson smiled at his friend.
“Thanks.”
They stood in awkward silence for a moment. “What are you doing here?” Allie asked, breaking the silence.
“We’re getting lunch too.”
“Oh, what a coincidence; we’re in the same area at the same time. I thought you worked on the other side of town though.” She still didn’t know where it was. He was so secretive about the most mundane things. As if knowing where he worked, she’d just randomly show up there one day.
Sandy knew where it was, so why couldn’t she? Next time they were alone, she’d ask him just that. She didn’t want to embarrass him and put him on the spot by asking now in front of his friend.
“We don’t, but Jack here likes the food at Benji’s.” Carson looked at Jack and then back at her. “Sorry, Allie, this is Jack Williams. He and I work together. Jack, this is Allie.”
“Finally, someone introduces me to this beautiful creature. A pleasure,” Jack purred, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.
“Ah, one of the elusive secret government coworkers.” Allie giggled, looking at Carson before shifting her gaze back to Jack.
He was handsome, and he seemed the type of guy who knew it and flaunted it.
Not an attractive trait in her opinion. Sandy had name-dropped him once.
She seemed to hate him for some reason. Called him a playboy.
Allie could totally see it. She pulled her hand back from his and wanted to go wash it. Who knew how many people he’d kissed with those lips? Ten? Hundreds? That was just today.
Jack’s eyes bulged open. “Carson told you that?” He looked over at Carson with a slinky grin. “Naughty boy, telling our secrets.”
“No, but he said he works for the government and doesn’t talk about it, so I just call it secret government work.”
“It’s hardly as exciting as you make it sound. Mostly paper pushing.” Carson’s phone started to ring. He pulled it from his pocket. “Excuse me a moment.” Carson stepped away and answered. “Hey, Charlotte.” He stepped even further away so Allie couldn’t hear any more of the conversation.
Allie noted how happy Carson was to be getting a call from this Charlotte woman. He was also being very secretive. She wasn’t expecting him to have a phone conversation in front of everyone, but he was hunched over and kept looking around as if worried someone would overhear him.
And what was with him saying he did paper pushing? One didn’t go on a business trip for that. There was a lot more going on here, and she was getting tired of all the non-answers. There were certain things he couldn’t tell her, that she understood. But this seemed like more.
“So, Allie, I hear you work with Sandy here,” Jack said, pulling her focus from Carson.