“You look like a slinker.” She pretends to study me carefully, nodding with surety. “Definitely a slinker.”
Christ, she’s cute and funny. Now that she’s talking and looking all sexy, there’s only one thing to do. I roll on top of her, settling in between those legs and bringing my lips to her neck. “I’m not a slinker. But I am definitely a morning sex kind of guy.”
Jaime laughs, bringing her arms around my neck and pulling me down to her mouth for a short kiss. “I’m not averse to morning sex at all, but I actually have to get ready for work.”
Once again, I blink in surprise. Fuck… it’s a weekday, yet it never occurred to me that she might have to be somewhere at a certain time.
Now would be the time for me to slink—I mean, saunter—out of her apartment and her life. That’s what I would do in every other instance if I’d had a one-night stand.
Instead, I find myself asking, “Can I have your number to call you sometime?”
Her eyes soften as she shakes her head. “You don’t have to do that.”
“No, but I want to.”
“Let’s just call it a one-night stand and be happy with it,” she replies firmly. “That’s what we agreed on last night. You’re the one who brought it up, so it must have been important to you.”
I’m at a loss. I don’t date. Don’t do more than one-night stands. I most certainly don’t ask for phone numbers. But now I desperately want hers.
“It’s because I’m a used-car salesman, isn’t it?” I ask, feeling jaded. I should have come up with something a bit more attractive as an occupation. “I’m not sexy enough for you.”
“You’re plenty sexy,” she says with a laugh. “I’m sure it’s a noble profession. People need transportation.”
“It’s because I didn’t play hard to get then?” I venture.
She lowers her gaze, peeking at me coyly from beneath her lashes. “You could have made me work for it a little more.”
I bust out laughing, then give her a hard kiss before rolling off her. “Okay, you’ve got to go to work, but I’m not leaving until you give me your number.”
Searching around for my clothes, I start to get dressed while Jaime watches me from the bed with an appreciative smile. I grab my phone out of my jeans pocket after I pull them on, looking pointedly at Jaime. “Number. Now.”
She rattles off her digits, and I type them in my phone. All the while, she smiles at me with an amused expression. She doesn’t believe I’ll call her.
I pocket the phone, slip my shirt on, and sit on the edge of the bed to put my shoes on. Jaime just silently watches, hand tucked under her pillow.
“I’m going to call you,” I say over my shoulder. “Just you wait and see.”
“Uh-huh.” Nothing but doubt in her tone.
I need to get out of here before I feel the urge to strip back down and make her late for work. After giving her a swift kiss, I make my way through her apartment and let myself out. Right before I close the door, I yell, “Make sure you lock up.”
“Got it,” she answers.
“And I’ll call you.” I hear her laughing in response.
I’m smiling the entire way down to the street, where I plan to order an Uber to take me to Jameson Headquarters. But before I do, I stop just outside the lobby door and pull up her number.
I tap it with confidence.
It rings twice before she answers, “Hello?”
“Told you I’d call,” I reply.
She laughs huskily. “I was just getting ready to step into the shower.”
“You’re trying to tempt me to come back up, aren’t you?” I tease.
“I wish, but I am running a bit late. So thanks for calling.”
“Wait,” I exclaim, chuckling. “I wanted to ask you something.”
“What’s that?”
“Will you go to dinner with me tonight?”
She’s silent for so long, I actually think she’s going to decline the invitation. Part of me wants her to, because this is something I don’t do.
Date.
Yet, it’s relief that hits my belly when she says, “I think that would be nice.”
“Pick you up at seven?”
“Can’t wait,” she murmurs, then she hangs up without saying goodbye.
Fascinating woman. I can’t wait either. Now I just have to figure out where to take her. I’ll probably hit Kynan up once I get into work. He knows all the great places in Pittsburgh.
?
My return to Jameson headquarters is met with great enthusiasm. I’m not the only hero who rescued Malik from his abductors, but I’m the one walking through the main floor right now. I’m greeted with backslaps, high fives, fist bumps, and one huge hug from Anna.
Anna is Kynan’s assistant. She’s only been working at Jameson for a few months. Her situation is wholly unique in that her husband was on the same mission as Malik. He’d been killed when Malik was captured. Anna’s had a tough road, but her journey led her to work here at Jameson. She feels a bond with all of us, and she’s been so invested in Malik’s rescue. She’d taken it to heart as much as the rest of us. Even though she lost Jimmy, she considers it a balm to bring Malik home alive. It was important that something good come out of this experience.