“Yeah, sure.”
“Thank you,” I say. “Can you just text me one on your way out to your car? I have some things to finish up quickly, and then the girls and I are headed out.”
He frowns, his brows pulling together. “Headed out where?”
I smile. “To celebrate, of course. Agitators are coming back.” And then, I turn away from him and start walking away. If only I had a camera on him to see his reaction to my shirt. I give it a few seconds, and then I glance over my shoulder to see a stunned Eli, his hand dragging over his mouth. “See you at home,” I say.
Smiling to myself, I take off, quickly walking toward my office where I’ll hang out and watchBridgertonuntil I’ve wasted enough time making him even more jealous.
Part of me deeply hopes that he won’t resist me for much longer. Not just because I’m incredibly horny and want Eli something terrible. But because of what I didn’t show Blakely and Winnie. If he does reject me again, if this isn’t just about what Pacey says, I don’t know what I’ll do with that. I’m fairly sure it will rip a tiny piece of my heart out, though.
* * *
Eli:Hey, just checking on you, making sure you’re good and don’t need anything.
Eli:Not trying to be a nuisance or anything, but it’s getting pretty late. You good?
Eli:Penny, just let me know you’re alive.
Penny:Alive, coming home soon. <3
* * *
Bags of lingeriein hand and feeling like I’m totally owning this situation, I walk through the door of my apartment and kick my shoes off.
Eli whips around from where he’s sitting on the couch in only a pair of athletic shorts. His hair is messy, as if his fingers have been pulling on it all night, and his eyes are searching me. For what, I can’t be sure, but they’re looking me over frantically.
“Hey, I didn’t think you’d still be up.”
“Of course I’m up,” he says. “I was worried about you.”
“Worried about me?” I ask with humor. “Why? You realize before you came along, I was more than able to take care of myself and make it through a night without any worries.”
“But you’re pregnant now.”
“Yes, I am, and that doesn’t mean I’m incompetent or have to be a hermit, Eli.”
“I’m not saying you’re incompetent or have to be a hermit, I’m just saying . . .” He trails off. I don’t think he knows what he’s trying to say.
“Okay.” I work my way into the bedroom and set my bags down in the closet. I reach in and pull out the cream-colored silk nightgown the girls liked the most, and I quickly change out of my clothes and into the nightgown. I bought four others just like it, and honestly, they’re really comfortable. They have a very thin strap, and the neckline dips down to skim just above my areolas, leaving nothing to the imagination. And the hem hits me mid-thigh, offering enough coverage so if I so choose, I don’t have to wear underwear. Which is exactly what I’m doing tonight.
I free my hair from my ponytail and let it fall over my shoulders before ruffling my hand through it to break up the waves a bit.
And of course, because I thought ahead, I spritz a little perfume on my wrists and rub my wrists down my neck and over my cleavage.
Pleased, I step out of the closet, half expecting to see Eli, but when I see he’s not in the bedroom, I walk out into the living area, where he’s sitting on the armrest of the couch. The TV is shut off, and he’s massaging his forehead. When he looks up, his hand falls to his side as his eyes narrow in on me.
“Just grabbing some water, and then I’m going to head to bed. You must be tired. Get all of your adrenaline out?”
“No,” he says through a clenched jaw.
“Oh, okay, well, feel free to stay up as long as you want.” I move past him and his blazing eyes, fill up a glass with water, and walk back to the bedroom, where I grab my phone and text the bosom buddy alliance while I brush my teeth.
Penny:I think we might be at a breaking point. There’s some serious anger brewing in that man.
Blakely:Really? Wasn’t happy about you “going out”?
Penny:Didn’t seem like it. He texted me several times, and now, he looks absolutely distraught. I kind of feel bad.
