She sighs again and turns away. “I like quiet. Simple. I don’t know if I can handle everyone being all up in my business, Jake. I don’t want them talking about me, knowing things about my personal life. I want privacy, Jake.”
“I can’t help it if someone talks about you or me anymore than you can help it. I can’t change my past, Erin. I can only help my future. And right now, all I want is to see what the future holds for you and me.”
She stares at me for a few minutes, mulling over my words in her beautiful head. I find myself holding my breath waiting for her to respond.
“Do I sound like a crazy possessive girlfriend, right now?” she asks with a small smile.
I smile back at her. “You sound like someone who doesn’t want everyone knowing our business. And that’s just what this is to me, our business. What happens between you and me is ours, not hers or anyone else’s. You are beautiful, smart, funny, stubborn as hell, and ungodly sexy. I don’t care if no one else can see that. That’s actually good for me because then I have you all to myself and don’t have constant competition to fight off.”
She laughs. “You don’t have to worry about that. I haven’t had anyone beating down my door for…well, ever.”
I lean forward and brush my lips across hers because, frankly, I can’t help but want to feel her lips on mine. “Let’s eat,” I finally say after a very satisfying kiss that leaves me yearning for more.
“Is that a question or a demand?” she asks, irritation laced in her question.
“Both. I’m starving. I know you’re starving, so let’s go eat.” I throw my truck in reverse and head out of the pizzeria parking lot.
I could care less where we go to eat, just as long as we’re there together. In the past, I’ve never really enjoyed sharing meals with women. The forced small talk and the cheesy time-filling question and answer session; it’s all a big waste of time. At least, that’s how I felt during it, so I avoided it at all costs. But not with Erin. With Erin, I want to spend as much time with her as possible, getting to know what makes her happy and sad. I just want to spend it with Erin.
Chapter Twelve
Erin
Despite being snuggled up against Jake all night, I didn’t get the best night of sleep. My mind kept repeating what that server said to Jake about me being a good girl librarian. That’s my job. So maybe I can’t be a bad girl librarian out in public. But, I can be a bad girl librarian at home. Right?
So, after Jake and I eat a quick bite of Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast and down a pot of coffee, I decide that it’s time for me¸ Erin Sophia Anderson, to channel my inner bad girl.
I don’t have any close friends here really, and the thought of doing this alone terrifies me on more than one level, so as soon as I can come up with an excuse to get out of the house without Jake – telling him I got called in to help my part timer with a few things at the library - I take off towards Avery and Maddox’s. I need girl help, and I need it now!
When I pull into their driveway, I feel the nerves take root deep in my belly. I’ve always been more of the Plain Jane type and that’s always worked for me. Case in point: my white cotton bras and white cotton panties. Living dangerously has always been wearing a pair of printed cotton panties. Stand back, folks…Erin Anderson is wearing pastel plaids! But, now I want to be sexy and desired for myself as much as for Jake.
Jake has never, ever made me feel less than desirable. If anything, he makes me feel completely and utterly desirable and appreciated despite my basic, Plain Jane appearance. But, this is something that I want to do for me. I need to do this for me.
So, I pull up my big girl panties, raise my chin, and walk up Avery and Maddox’s front walk towards their door. It doesn’t take Maddox but a few seconds to answer as soon as I knock. “Hi, Maddox. Is Avery here?”
“Yeah, come on in,” he says as he opens the door widely for me to enter.
“Ave, Erin’s here,” he yells as he shuts the door behind me.
A few moments later, Avery comes down the stairs with a big smile on her face. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you until the party tonight.”
“That’s actually why I’m here. I need your help with something.” I look at Maddox, not really wanting to continue this conversation while he’s standing here.
“I see where I’m not wanted. I’ll go up and check on Brooklyn,” Maddox says as he heads up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
“So, what’s up? You’re still coming tonight, right?’ she asks with a little panic laced in her voice.