Yeah, that shit wasn’t happening.
When I said I would follow her home, I meant right up to the door and that I wasn’t leaving until she was locked inside. She convinced all of us to let her wait until the weekend to move so she could get her things together and finish out her week's classes, promising to be careful.
“Yes I do. My mother taught me to walk a lady to her door.”
I had no clue why that came out of my mouth. I was trying to be funny to change the semi-awkward moment but instead I made it worse.
“This isn’t a date,” she threw out, sounding horrified.
Yep, I made it a lot worse.
And why did she sound so horrified about being on a date with me? Not that I was dating her. Or anyone else for that matter. I had two girls in my life already and believe me, that took up all my time.
I’d also had my years of dating, being happy, and living the dream with a wonderful woman. My time was over. But as she started walking toward her building and I followed her, I couldn’t keep my eyes from scanning her petite frame, long silky hair, and denim-covered backside. The sway of her hips was mesmerizing. Everything about her, not only her looks, but her personality, was appealing.
With the thoughts once again in my head that I shouldn’t be having, I went on the defensive and commented on her statement.
“I am aware it’s not a date. It’s called being a gentleman. I’m sorry you haven’t experienced that before.”
She turned over her shoulder and gave me an odd look. I wasn’t sure if it was sadness I’d seen in her eyes, if she was mad, or shocked I’d said it. It had come out in a harsher tone than I meant it to and I felt like an ass. I truly meant I was sorry because she deserved to be treated right.
Gemma didn’t comment and turned back around to face her apartment right as we rounded a corner. She stopped dead in her tracks and gasped. I bumped into the back of her. My hands automatically came to her hips to hold her still and she sunk back into me, plastering her body to mine.
If I hadn’t looked up right then, I may have gotten lost in the feeling of her body against mine. Instead, my eyes caught on the man standing next to an apartment door and I knew instantly who I was looking at.
Looked like I was going to kill two birds with one stone and the conversation the guys were planning on having with the dickhead who touched the soft, sweet woman in front of me, was happening sooner rather than later.
I leaned in close to her ear and confirmed my suspicions not taking my eyes off the guy. “Is that him?”
The asshole's eyes narrowed in our direction.Dumb fucker.
“Yes,” she said hesitantly.
The one-word answer was all I needed.
I maneuvered Gemma and placed her behind me but kept hold of one of her hands. She curled the fingers of her other hand into my back pocket, holding on like a lifeline and I couldn’t help noticing how good it felt to have her need me.
“Gemma, I need to talk to you.” This guy was clearly the stupidest motherfucker ever. “Alone.”
Multiple times that day, I had growled, but the feral snarl I let loose at his words was not something the asshat should’ve ignored.
And yet he did.
Walking toward us, he tried again. “Gemma, are you seriously going to show up here with some old guy that could be your father and think that is going to stop me?”
Well that kind of stung but it wasn’t going to deter me from what was about to happen. He was right in front of me now, so in a move so fast that he didn’t see it coming, I used my free hand, grabbed the front of his polo shirt and swung him around away from her door, changing our positions.
“Gemma, honey, go inside and lock the door. I'll be there in a minute.” She didn’t immediately let go and I felt a tingle up my spine. It told me something was coming. And boy did it.
She peaked around me, still holding on, and let loose.
“You’re an abusive, prick and adumbone too. This man is not someone to mess with and he is far from my father. This man has more class and heart, is a million times hotter, and more of a man than you will ever be. He can stomp you like a bug.”
Her words dug deep into my heart, my body reacted to her calling me hot, and I couldn’t help the smile that broke free.
“Thanks, love,” I said, turning my head to the side to look into her eyes, but tightening the grip I had on the dumbshit’s shirt. “I’ll see you inside.”
Gemma nodded and I released her from my hold. When she pulled her other hand free from my pocket, I felt the loss. I also realized I’d just called herlove.The endearment, the second in the space of a few minutes had come naturally. But it was calling her love that was throwing me for a loop.
