I stand by the door as they switch off the lights and Presley sets the alarm. We walk outside, and Bugger secures the roll-down security gates behind us, locking up and walking off without a word. He’s a strange dude but good at his job, and I have peace of mind knowing he’s protecting my woman while she works.
Presley frowns, glancing up and down the quiet street. “Where’s your SUV?”
“At home.” I lean against the side of the shiny new Lexus SUV, sporting a cocky grin.
Her mouth opens and closes as I dangle the keys in her direction. “What’s going on, Kent?”
Pushing off the car, I take her hand, placing the keys in her palm. “You can drive us tonight.” I turn around, gesturing at the sleek black car. “In your new car.”
“No freaking way.” Imogen’s eyes are out on stilts as they roam over the car. “You bought her a car?” she shrieks.
“What the hell, Kent?” Presley whispers, shock splayed across her gorgeous face.
I drag her toward it. “C’mon, babe. It won’t bite.”
“No.” She digs in her heels, literally and figuratively.
“You don’t like it?” I ask, playing along.
“I can’t accept this,” she splutters, thrusting the keys at my chest.
“Sure, you can. I’m your boyfriend. I’m allowed to buy you gifts.”
Her eyes widen as her gaze flits between me and the car. Her hand is still scrunched against my chest, the keys digging into my flesh through my shirt. “Flowers or pencils or buying me dinner is fine. But this is too much, Kent. I can’t,I won’t, accept it.”
“I’ll take it if you don’t want it,” Imogen jokes.
“Baby.” I grasp her face in my hands, knowing what she needs to hear to stop fighting this. “This is for me as much as for you. I worry about you walking home from here at all hours of the morning. Not being able to pick you up has killed me, and I don’t sleep properly not knowing if you’re safe.” I’ve had exams all week, which means early starts, so I haven’t been able to pick her up after work like usual.
“You’ve only got two exams left,” she protests.
“Then I’ll be starting my internship, and I’ll need to be in the office early to make a good impression. I won’t be able to get you during the week.”
Dan Evans gave me a glowing reference, which secured me an interview with the biggest family law firm in Boston. I already know I want to specialize in family law, specifically in helping protect kids’ rights and fighting for justice for kids the system has failed, so getting experience during my summer breaks will go a long way toward helping get my career off the ground.
I felt like the interview went well, but this is one occasion where my family name and my reputation are more of a hindrance than a help, so I was pleasantly surprised when they reached out to offer me one of the summer intern positions. I accepted on the spot, and I start next week.
I peck her lips softly. “Please, babe. Just accept the car. If it makes you feel better, you can treat it like a loan.” Everything is in her name already, but she doesn’t need to be aware of that.
“You’re crazy,” she says, her gaze lingering on the car, and I know I’ve got her.
Step one of my “get Presley to move in” plan is in the bag.
“As a bag of cats,” I agree, nudging her toward the car. “Get in, Presley baby. Slide behind that wheel and tell me you don’t love it.”
***
“I still can’t believe you got me a car,” she says an hour later when we’re in my bedroom, getting undressed for bed. “Or that you talked me into staying here tonight. It makes no sense for me to be here when you’ll be gone all day.”
I come up behind her, wrapping my arms around her naked waist. “It makes sense because I always sleep better when you are in my arms.” True fact. In general, my nightmares have been less regular since Presley entered my life, and I have the best sleep when she’s by my side. There is also another reason, one she’ll be aware of tomorrow, and I hope that step two in my plan will seal the deal.
“I’m turning into one of those pathetic bitches who lets her boyfriend walk all over her, aren’t I?” she asks, turning in my arms.
“If that’s true, then I’m one of those pathetic bastards who wants to give his girl the world and will stop at nothing to make her happy.”
“We can be pathetic together.” She graces me with the biggest smile.
My heart thuds behind my rib cage because I am such a goner for this girl. One smile, one touch, one secret look, and I’m a mushy pile of goo on the ground. “Can we behornytogether too?” I murmur, dragging my teeth down the column of her gorgeous neck. “Because my dick has been hard from the instant you climbed behind that wheel.”
