“Do you want to have lunch?” I ask him, leaning back in my office chair.
“I’m at the studio right now so I can’t today, how about dinner though?”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll see you later. Be good,” he says in a husky tone.
Yum.
We both hang up. I stand up, grabbing my purse, planning to head to the café across the road for something to eat. Then back to work.
This case isn’t going to research itself.
*****
“I read in a magazine that men don’t like it when women steal food from their plates,” I tell him as I do just that. I pop the fry into my mouth and raise an eyebrow. We’re sitting at a new restaurant that just opened up, some fancy overpriced place that Saxon wanted to try out.
He chuckles. “I don’t know about other men but I like sharing my food with you. I like watching you eat.”
Okay, that’s not creepy at all.
“I like watching you eat food that I don’t like,” I admit to him.
It’s a weird quirk of mine.
“Is that why you encouraged me to get the custard for dessert?” he asks, brows furrowing.
I steal another fry, chew and swallow. “Yes. Custard is disgusting—I can’t wait to watch you eat it.”
He laughs, amusement filling his eyes. “Never a dull moment with you, that’s for damn sure.”
I slide my foot up his leg until it rests on his thigh. Saxon stares at me under his lashes, his lip curving. I’m about to raise it higher when someone comes and stands at our table. I look over and see Simone, a girl I had a thing with a few years back.
When they say you should try everything once…
Well, I listened.
“Tee,” she says, eyes roving over my face. “How nice to see you.”
“Simone hi,” I say, turning to Saxon. “Saxon this is Simone, Simone this is my boyfriend Saxon.”
I don’t miss the quirk of his eyebrow at my proclamation.
I choose to ignore it.
Just because I haven’t admitted it to him yet doesn’t mean that I don’t know that it’s the truth.
It’s just a fact.
The two of them say hello and then an awkward silence settles over the table.
“Would you like to sit with us?” Saxon asks, clearly missing the silent signals I was trying to send him.
“Oh no thanks,” Simone says, waving her arms about. She’s a beautiful woman. Fair skin, black hair, red lips, and tattoos. The pin-up girl look. “It was nice seeing you again Tee. You haven’t changed one bit.”
When her eyes lower to my br**sts, I see Saxon’s eyes widening. I lift my foot up to his crotch, and yes—he’s hard as a rock.
I roll my eyes.
Men.
“I’ll see you around,” I lie, waving bye to her. She leaves and I look at Saxon to see his eyes still locked on mine, surprise written all over his face.
“No f**king way,” he mutters, blinking a few times.
I grin impishly and change the subject. “How was your day at the studio?”
“Really?” he asks, raising both eyebrows.
“I was attracted to her, and we had a little fun is all,” I reply vaguely.
She was a friend, and we both knew the score. At least I thought she did. Things turned a little awkward afterwards when she wanted more.
“Now I have to worry about men and women?” he asks, shaking his head at me
“You don’t have to worry about anyone,” I admit, lifting my shoulders in a shrug. “Unless you don’t sleep with me soon.”
He grins. “I don’t want just a casual encounter with you. I want permanence.”
I lick the saltiness from my lips after I finish another one of his fries. “You think this is casual? I’m still here aren’t I? Even though you’re keeping your dick from me.”
He laughs loudly.
“I’m glad you’re amused ass**le,” I utter, lifting my glass of water and taking a big mouthful.
“Tee,” he says, lip twitching. “Soon, and trust me, I’m gonna take care of you.”
He damn well better.
I find myself smiling back at him and even take his hand in mine. This is something really different for me as I’ve only ever done casual before. I guess I’ve never let a man get that close to me. I’ve been giving away only the parts of myself I’ve been willing to part with. I’ve been scared to be hurt, to be vulnerable. Scared to lose power and control.
Scared to lose myself.
But look how I’m changing.
I run my foot back over his crotch.
Okay, maybe I’m not changing that much.
Chapter Fourteen
Saxon
I’m at Tee’s apartment the next night, but she isn’t home. When she doesn’t answer her phone, I ring Lexi who tells me Tee most likely went for a drink after work. I shouldn’t be surprised since she’s known for doing this. Also I wasn’t going to come over tonight, but I left the studio early so I could see her.
She’s like a f**king drug, and I need my fix.
After spending all day working there is nothing I want more than to relax and spend the night with her. I’m about to haul my ass to the bar to get her when she pulls up. She grins as she sees me, waving her hand.
She’s so goofy sometimes.
“You better not be drinking and driving,” I tell her with a scowl as I open the driver’s door for her.