that.” He replaces it between his lips and lights the cigarette then flips the Zippo shut. “Guess we’ll both die due to our own stupidity.” He blows the smoke out.
The door opens, and Grave re-enters. Cross stands and exits without another word. “Sorry, I’m ready for lunch now.” He drops into his desk chair.
Cross thinks I love him. Jasmine thinks I love him. Do I? Am I doing something that everyone else sees but me? Am I being too clingy? Too obvious? Do I need to take a step back and look at it from a different angle? What if Grave thinks this too? Will it push him away?
“April?”
“Hmm?” My eyes snap up to Grave’s. He gives me that smile that makes my heart pick up. “You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, just been a long week,” I lie, not wanting to make him question anything. I came here to see him and I’m not going to let Cross’s words fuck that up. I get up and walk around. Pushing his chair back, I climb into his lap, straddling him.
He leans back, placing his hands behind his head, showing off his muscular arms with a cocky smile.
“A friend of yours stopped by Roses today.” I do have feelings for Grave, but I need to know where I stand before I allow myself to feel anymore.
The smile drops off his face, and he tilts his head to the side. “Who?”
“He said his name was Jimmy. Think the last name was Trust?”
He snorts. “He’s not a friend.” He drops his arms and grips my hips.
I frown. “I told him we were closed twice, but he insisted on ordering flowers.”
His jaw sharpens. “I’m installing a security camera system at the shop this week.”
“You don’t have to …”
“I’ve already ordered the equipment. It’ll be here tomorrow.”
I arch a brow. “Wanna keep an eye on me?”
“Always.” He winks.
Shit, this guy makes my underwear soaked in the worst way. But I have to know. “Well, Jimmy was there to send flowers to Lucy. Lucy Mason.” I watch his facial expression to see if he gets jealous, but nothing changes. “Don’t you find that odd?” I dig.
“Why would I find that odd? I told you he’s not my friend.”
I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly, dropping my eyes to his black Kingdom shirt to stare at his chest and try to keep my voice even. “She’s your ex.”
He lifts his hands and tangles them in my hair, lifting my face so I have to stare down at him. “Lucy Mason is not my ex.”
“Fuck buddy.” I correct my previous statement.
“Did Jimmy tell you that?” he asks.
“He didn’t have to.” I pull away from him and get up off his lap. I’m not going to rat the girls out.
“We were, yes. But I haven’t …”
“I’ve seen her call you several times when we’re together,” I interrupt him.
He snorts. “I can’t help when she calls me, but I promise you that I ignore them every time.”
“Maybe that’s the problem, you haven’t told her that you’re with me.” He may ignore her while he’s with me but what happens after he leaves?
“It’s complicated.”
I give a rough laugh. “How is your ex, fuck buddy, whatever a complication? You either still want to fuck her or you don’t.”
His jaw sharpens and he runs a hand through his hair.
I go on, “Plus, I saw her last night at the Airport. She was all over you.” Okay, so maybe that’s an exaggeration but the bitch was thirsty. And she would have jumped his bones if he would have let her. Even Jasmine said that Lucy would take him however she could have him.
He stands from his chair. “Did you see me blow her off too?” he asks, walking over to me and pushing my ass up against the side of his desk. He reaches out and gently pushes my hair off my shoulders and runs his knuckles up my neck, pushing my head back in the process.
“She wants you.” I fill the silence, my breathing picking up. Not wanting to let him distract me from the conversation. “And if that’s what you want, tell me now. Don’t string me along.”
Gripping my hair, I cry out when he jerks my head to where I’m forced to look up at him. “Let’s clear something up then.” He licks his lips. “You’re fucking mine, April. I don’t want Lucy. Not anymore.” His blue eyes roam my face. “I haven’t touched her nor anyone else since