Getting up, I pull the shirt down so it hangs correctly. I crawl onto the bed, pushing him down, and situate myself on top of him, straddling his taut midsection. “I’m glad it meant so little that you didn’t think it worth mentioning, but I want to know your schedule. I have a life and I don’t want to lose it because yours is so big.”
His hands slide up the curvature of my waist and he says, “Come with me. Let me show you off.”
Smiling, I run my fingertip over his bottom lip. “That’s exactly why I’m not going.”
Grabbing my wrists, he pulls me down. With our faces mere inches apart, he says, “You’re different than other women I’ve dated.”
“That’s why I’m here and they’re not,” I whisper, then kiss him.
He rolls on top of me, and says, “That’s exactly why you’re here and they’re not. I think you’re really fucking sexy.” His hands hold me down as his body starts to grind on top of me.
My body reacts as my mind relaxes, getting lost… until his phone rings. I sigh when he drops his head to the bed next to mine with an angry grunt. “Fuck.”
“It’s fine,” I reassure him, rubbing his back. “Answer it.”
When he lifts his head up, his eyes are darker than usual in the low light of the room. “It’s not fine.” The phone is still ringing while vibrating. He picks it up and is about to throw it, but I grab his arm to stop him.
“Don’t. I won’t be able to call you until you get a replacement.”
He drops it on the bed instead. The ringing has stopped but now texts start coming in. With another sigh, I move to the edge of the bed then stand up. “It’s probably Tommy. You should get dressed and go.” I walk back to my suitcase, close the top, and zip it up. I’m annoyed. I can admit it to myself at least. I don’t want him to go, but I’m not about to tell him he can’t.
Dalton watches me, his expression not giving away any of his thoughts.
“Call me later,” I say as I wheel my suitcase out the door.
Right before I reach the stairs, he scoops up the suitcase. I see he put jeans on too. He says, “I’ll call you when I leave the wedding.” We walk the rest of the way to the car in silence. He loads the case into my trunk, then asks, “You’re gonna come back, right?” His more boyish side comes out, innocence and hope seen in his eyes. I bet the girls went crazy for him back in high school.
“If you want me to,” I reply breezily, though I’m not feeling carefree at all.
He grabs me by the waist. “I want you to.”
I lift up on my tiptoes and kiss him quickly before hurrying to the other side of the car and hopping in. He shuts my door as I start the car and roll down the window. “I’ll see you later.”
With a nod, he shoves his hands in the pockets and I back out, leaving him standing there looking more sexy than should be allowed—shirtless, shoeless, the top button of his jeans undone. I keep my eyes ahead, needing any excuse not to look back at him because if I do, I won’t be leaving. And right now, it’s best that I don’t sit at his house waiting for him to return like a desperate housewife.
Dalton left for the wedding over three hours ago. From our earlier conversation, I was under the impression that it was more of a show your face and then sneak out kind of event, but I guess not since he’s still there.
I hate my girly emotions. They make me feel weak and I hate feeling that way. Another two hours pass when a loud show comes on, waking me up. Glancing at the time, it’s just past ten. I turn off the TV and sit up. Maybe I should call a friend and go out, but it’s still early for the L.A. nightlife scene. I decide to text Dalton. Going to bed. I’m irritated and I don’t care if he knows it.
I head upstairs to the bedroom and am about to crawl under the covers but I’m too awake to lie around, I text Tracy instead. Want to grab a drink?
She responds quickly. Can’t. I’m at dinner with the future In-Laws. This week sometime?
I type, I’m game. I have lots of friends, but I’m not in the high-energy mode I’d need to be with the single ones. And most of my other girlfriends don’t do anything without their significant others and I don’t want to feel depressed that my significant other is partying without me.
I grab my e-reader from the nightstand and head out onto the patio with a warm, fuzzy blanket. After curling up in a chair, I start to read a book I’ve been wanting to for ages but haven’t had the chance.
“Whatcha readin’?”
Following the voice, my gaze lands on Danny over on his patio. With his off-kilter smile in effect, he seems to be up to no good. “A romance,” I say, laughing, sort of embarrassed I’ve been busted reading a bodice ripper.