Unable to speak, I reached down and lifted her up, settling her onto my lap so I could bury my face in her shoulder. After my breathing calmed, I kissed her neck. “That was…incredible. It feels weird to want to say thank you after that. But shit, thank you.”
She giggled. The sound made me smile like an idiot. “You’re welcome.”
I held her on my lap for a long time. When blood finally came back to my brain, I remembered I’d spoken to Alexa.
“Stay with me again tonight. I have to fly to Atlanta tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll be leaving the office early.”
“Oh? How long will you be gone?”
“Just the night. It’s a long story. But I’m flying down to pick up my son and flying back with him an hour later. Alexa is staying down there for another week, and I don’t want him flying alone.”
“That’s nice. So you’ll have him for the week all to yourself then?”
Without even thinking about it, I said, “Yeah. He’s gonna love you. He’s a real ladies’ man.”
She smiled. “I’d love to stay tonight, and I can’t wait to meet your son.”
I’d never introduced any woman to Beck before. But for some reason, I wanted Beck to meet Emerie. Maybe it was the best blowjob I’d had in my life making me not think clearly, but I got the feeling he was supposed to meet her.
Chapter 29
Emerie
I woke up first. Even though I was generally the late riser, Drew was the one still sleeping at nearly seven-thirty in the morning. He lay on his stomach, the sheet tangled around his waist, leaving his taut ass on full display. Both of his arms were over his head, tucked under his pillow as he slept peacefully, facing my direction. He’d grown a five o’clock shadow and his hair was unruly—we’d only fallen asleep four hours ago—yet if it was possible, he looked even sexier than he had yesterday.
Could he have grown sexier? Possibly, but it was more likely that I’d grown to appreciate him more, to like him more. It was probably good that Drew’s son was going to be with him for the next week. It wouldn’t be hard to grow attached quickly, and the last thing I needed was to jump from a man who wasn’t interested in me to a man who wasn’t interested in a relationship.
My phone vibrated on the nightstand, so I reached over to grab it before it woke Drew up. After typing in my password, I found a new text had arrived.
Baldwin: Casablanca tonight? I’ll bring Moroccan meatballs from Marrak on Fifty-Third.
I sighed. This was our thing. We both loved renting movies and turning them into a theme for dinner. Back in college, we’d take turns picking out the movie, and the other would have to bring food to pair with it. I’d pick Sweet Home Alabama, and he’d bring southern fried chicken. He’d pick Shawshank Redemption, and I’d bring bologna sandwiches.
Two weeks ago I would have jumped at a movie night with Baldwin, but now I felt conflicted for some reason. It wasn’t like Drew and I were really dating, or even if we were, that Baldwin had any interest in me other than friendship anyway. So why did it feel wrong to say yes? Maybe because I was lying naked in bed with one man, thinking about making plans with another. That was probably what wasn’t sitting right. I pushed the button on the side of my phone and decided later I’d give Baldwin’s invitation more thought before I responded.
Since my bladder was calling, I decided to go to the bathroom and then make coffee before slipping out. I needed to get to my apartment for clean clothes and a quick shower before my nine o’clock appointment downstairs.
When I was done, I left a note under an empty coffee mug on the kitchen counter and headed to the subway.
Around the second stop, I realized I’d left my phone on Drew’s nightstand. At least I wouldn’t have far to go to get it when I got to work in a little while.
***
The office phone was ringing when I walked in with a few minutes to spare before my appointment arrived. I reached over the reception desk and grabbed it.
“Drew Jagger’s office. How may I help you?”
“I need to speak to Drew.” I’d only heard Alexa’s voice once, but I knew it was her. Not too many of his clients had a southern accent and an attitude.
Over-the-top sweetness oozed from my voice. “May I say who’s calling?”
“No, you may not.”
Bitch.
I glanced over the reception desk at the phone and saw that Drew’s office line was red. He was already on the phone.
I smiled as I got back on the line. “Mr. Jagger isn’t available right now. Would you like to leave a message?”