I nod, and then make the rounds, giving hugs and saying goodbye. And with the book club book, along with three others, tucked under my arm, I set off with my man.
“Did you leave work early?” I ask him as he takes my hand and links our fingers.
“I want to spend time with you.”
Excitement bubbles up in my chest. “Good. I was kicked out of my place earlier. Apparently, I’m in the way.”
“You’re not inmyway,” he says and kisses the top of my head. “Let me show you just hownotin my way you are.”
“That sounds like a really good idea.”
Chapter Sixteen
BROOKS
Ifuckinghatethe way the fire left her eyes when she got that goddamn text at the bookstore. My wildfire was having fun, laughing with her friends, and then the text came through, and her gorgeous face dropped.
I wanted to smash that phone to pieces for giving her even amomentof pain.
After pulling into the driveway behind Jules, we walk in through the back door, and she kicks off her shoes, sighs, and grabs a bottle of water out of the fridge.
“It was fun to see the girls at the bookstore,” she says as she twists off the cap and takes a sip. “Darby looks fantastic. I haven’t seen her since high school.”
I cross to her, set her bottle on the counter, then tip her chin up and cover her lips with mine, kissing her thoroughly.
“What was that for?” she asks, her breath coming faster when I pull back.
“It’s been too long since I kissed you.”
Jules smirks. “Yeah. Like twenty minutes.”
Her phone pings with another text, and when she pulls it out of her pocket, it’s another message like the last one.
Unknown Number: Are you listening? Send the fucking money!
“That’s enough of that bullshit,” I growl, and Jules bites her lip.
“She’s not supposed to be contacting me on my phone at all. Email only. She knows that.”
“Then ignore it.”
She sighs and nods. “I will. I usually do. Actually, from what I understand, I’m not supposed to approveanyextra money for her. As a trustee, that’s the whole job, according to Google. Butfuck, I hate being the trustee.”
Another text comes through, full of shitty, angry emoji, so I take the phone, turn it off, and toss it on the counter.
“We’re going to consult with an attorney, baby. There’s no reason in this world that you should be in charge of that shit. Not to mention, she’s abusive, and I won’t have it.”
“I’ll change my number, too,” she murmurs and hops up on the counter, reaching for me. I move close and cage her in, breathing in her flowery scent. “Let’s not think about that anymore.”
“Good idea.”Fuck, I love having free access to her again. My hands glide up her thighs and around to her ass, squeezing. She bites that plump lip, and her blue eyes go wide with lust. “I want to take you for a ride.”
“It’s raining,” she reminds me, and her eyes lower to my lips.
Yeah, baby, I want to kiss you, too.
“Not on the bike.” I chuckle and nibble her lips, making her sigh.
Her brow furrows. “I mean, we just had sex this morning, but okay.”
