Too lonely.
She opened her eyes and peered down at her cell phone again, finger paused over the call button. He was on a date. And in spite of all Cat’s jealousy-fueled sniping about her, Courtney was probably a nice person. Nicer than her, at least. She should leave them alone and let them enjoy their night together.
Night together. Overnight together? Breakfast together?
“Argh!” Cat jabbed a pin into the apricot linen dress she’d been working on. Lucky it was on a mannequin and not a model because she was pretty sure she’d have broken skin.
Maybe it doesn’t have to be like this, she reminded herself for the hundredth time. If she was just willing to take a chance…
She rolled her chair back and then held the cell phone up to press call. When it rang, she bent forward until her nose almost touched her thighs hoping to quell the sudden nausea. Three rings, then four.
He wasn’t going to answer.
“Hello.”
Her pulse careered out of control until she realized it was only his voice mail.
“This is Shane. Leave a message, and I’ll call you back.”
Her stomach bottomed out and she pressed the end button, flopping backward with a groan. She’d blown it. He was still out with Courtney, and who knew, they could be exchanging bodily fluids already, and she couldn’t even be mad. She’d encouraged this mess. She deserved whatever misery it caused her. Her cell vibrated in her hand, and she looked down at the screen through tear-filled eyes.
I saw you called. Something up?
Her fingers trembled over the letters, and she had to retype it twice.
Yeah. Me. Can’t sleep.
His response seemed to take forever, and she wondered where he was and what he was doing.
Sorry to hear it.
She read the abrupt response and pinched her eyes closed. What else was there to say in a text message? She’d hoped to talk to him on the phone. To explain how she was feeling, but if he couldn’t take her call—
The screen lit up again.
Want me to tell you a bedtime story?
She nodded breathlessly at the phone, refusing to allow herself to think about how terrifying it was that, in the span of five seconds, he’d taken her from utter despair to total, blinding exhilaration with nothing but a text. Or how much it was going to hurt if and when this didn’t work out. In fact, she didn’t allow herself to think anything at all.
Her fingers flew over the touch screen.
Yes.
…
It didn’t mean shit in the scheme of things, Shane realized. They’d danced this dance before. They’d fucked and flirted, had some near misses, and at points, he thought he’d finally gotten through to her. But he had to be realistic. If recent history was any indicator, tomorrow would come and find him right back where he’d been since their night at the hotel. Alone, frustrated, and confused.
Shane stared down at his phone, a single three-letter word staring back at him.
Yes.
He might be the world’s biggest sucker, but at that moment, it was enough for him. It had to be. He typed back.
First, tell me what you’re wearing. Never tell a bedtime story to a woman wearing more than one item of clothing, I always say.
He hit send and waited, wondering what she would do with that. His phone beeped a second later, and he picked it up to see the smiley-face emoticon and her reply.
A white T-shirt & a pair of long johns, but I’m taking the bottoms off right now, becuz I want my story.
Five seconds later.
K, they’re off. Down to 1 article of clothing. What R U wearing?
He typed back:
Same thing you saw earlier. Jeans, sports jacket, and T-shirt.
He’d dropped Courtney off half an hour ago, and when he’d passed Cat’s street, he couldn’t help but drive by. Her light had been on, and he’d considered stopping by to see if she would talk to him about why she’d really shown up at Sully’s. In the end, he’d stopped, but talked himself out of going up to the door, knowing he had to stick with the plan. Let her come to him.
His phone vibrated again.
Do u like her?
He considered the question and answered honestly.
She’s very nice.
Does she make u laugh?
He smiled a little at that. Courtney was fun, but not like Cat, who was crazy at times but a blast to be around. Still, if this was just another game to her, he didn’t want to show his whole hand.
Yes.
But even with his nifty plan in mind, it felt wrong to just leave it like that.
But not as much as you do.
Long pause, and then her reply.
I wish u were here.
That one had him shifting in his seat.
What would you do if I was?
That was the question that needed answering. Was she just jealous and confused, hoping to get his focus off Courtney, or did she really want him? His blood hummed at the thought of being inside her again. Tasting her, touching her, feeling her come against his mouth. His phone vibrated with her reply.