He looked up and smiled. “Bye, Anna.” Definitely not the smile he gave her dad.
Just when I thought he’d forgotten, he started again. “You guys left out the back door last night, right?”
I turned and looked at him. “Yeah, why?”
He looked up to where Alejandro was walking Anna out to her car, then smiled.
“When we went to leave last night, some trash cans had been knocked over, so Alejandro checked the security footage before we left. You know, in case he needed to call the police. Or the fire department,” he teased.
My face heated. “And I bet you made sure he wasn’t injured while picking up empty trash cans.”
Ben’sCheshire Catgrin was back as he held his hands up. “Hey, I was just doing my job and helping the boss. I wasn’t the one out there in the alley getting all ofHarry Potter’sDementorssucked out of my face.”
I flipped him off while he guffawed at me. All I saw was Preston, and it put the smile right back on my face.
Ben might give me hell, but I knew he was a good friend. I’d never seen Ben without a smile on his face. And if he was doing what I thought he was doing, I hoped he didn’t get hurt. But if he did, I’d be here for him.
“You know I’ve got your back, right?”
He grinned and raised his hand for a high five. “Back at ya, man.”
* * *
The following night,Preston was still perched on a bar stool after we closed, scrolling on his phone while I wiped down the tables and put up the chairs.
Alejandro took the stool next to him. “I guess I don’t have to ask why you’re still here.”
I smiled to myself, knowing he’d stayed for me.
“Well, it’s not to see you this time.”
Alejandro snorted. “Like you’ve been here all the other times to see me.”
“I like him more than you, asshole. And you don’t need a ride home.”
He laughed, and they started talking about liquor suppliers.
And that was it. No teasing, no ribbing, nothing.
When he pulled up to my apartment, I expected him to pin me to the seat and kiss the fuck out of me. But all I got was a kiss on the forehead.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night. Do you need me to pick you up?”
“No, I’ll get anUber.” I shifted in the seat, waiting for him to kiss me.
But he only nodded with a smile. “Text me when you get there, and I’ll let you in.”
“Can’t wait,” I said, shifting closer.
Preston brought his hand up to cup my face, and my pulse picked up knowing what was coming. “Good. I’m looking forward to spending some private time with you.”
I stared at him as he gently swept his thumb over my lips, amping up my desire. Opening my mouth, I took his thumb inside and ran my tongue over the pad. Preston’s eyes swirled with heat as I waited for my kiss. When he didn’t initiate it, I took what I wanted.
Reaching over, I let his thumb drop from my lips, and wrapped my hand around his neck to pull him to me. Fusing my lips to his, the taste of cinnamon filled my mouth when he slipped his tongue in with a sigh. I guess he’d been waiting for me to make the first move. So I kissed the fuck out of him, then got out of the car.
“See you tomorrow.” I said with a smile and a hard dick, then closed the door.
When I was inside the lobby, I turned to watch as he pulled away from the curb.
