Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,43
while I was sure she didn’t enjoy watching Tibbs get down and dirty in her classy establishment, she was saving an extra special death glare for me.
Fucking.
Awesome.
“Yeah, not going to happen, Babe.” I shook my head, making it clear that my lap and everything in it wasn’t on offer. “But thanks.”
Even if I didn’t have the woman I wanted glaring at me a few feet away, like hell I wanted to go where Tibbs had been not even a week before. We were close, but not that close. And one thing we never shared was women.
And while I was dealing with Ursula the sea witch and her many arms, Presley had made her way over to get a better view.
“Tibbs.” Her voice was ice cold, using the name we all did especially when she was pissed off. “Wasn’t expecting you tonight.” She smiled at the two ladies, both more handsy than was probably needed.
“Better I spend my money in your club than anyone else’s, right?” He winked at his sister, trying to smooth it over.
She rolled her eyes, not seeing a drink in front of him other than my half-consumed beer. “Well, then enjoy. And stay out of trouble.”
Her eyes glanced over to me, but she didn’t say anything, forcing a smile before walking off. It wasn’t even an angry walk, her measured steps taking her hot fucking legs away.
There was no need for an explanation. We weren’t dating and as far as sleeping together, well that was supposed to be stopping too. But whether or not she deserved one, didn’t matter. I wanted to give her one. To let her know that even if we weren’t a thing—which we weren’t—that I wasn’t some guy who went between women like a dog. Sure, I’d had my share of casual hook ups in the past, but nothing like Tibbs. I preferred if there was a connection, with nameless random sex making me feel weird. Maybe it was my upbringing, or maybe I just needed more than the physical release. And while I never really cared what people thought, with Presley, yeah, I fucking cared.
“Listen, it’s not going to happen.” I did my best not to shove the brunette out of my lap. “Tibbs, I’ll be back.”
Not bothering to give him any more than that, I stalked after Presley. She might have been wearing killer heels, but she could really move in them when she wanted to. My path was obscured by bodies, all of them in no hurry to get out of my way as I watched her brown curls disappear from sight.
“Looking for someone?” Raelle appeared, her hands landing on her hips.
The look on her face was enough to know she knew there was something between me and Presley. And considering she’d been the one to call Tibbs, she was partly responsible. “I’m not fucking around, Raelle. Why did you call Tibbs?”
“Because you two seem hell-bent on keeping away from each other. So, there you go.” She pointed in the direction I’d left Tibbs and his female friends. “But you can’t have it both ways. You want her, then go get her. You don’t, let her find someone else. She’s been dicked around plenty, she doesn’t need that from you.”
Raelle was maybe five-three, and would’ve been lucky to weigh one fifteen. But what she lacked in physicality she made up for in attitude, her intention to protect her friend, clear.
“I’m not dicking her around, we’re friends,” I answered, annoyed I had to justify myself to her.
She laughed, flipping me off. “Then go back to your posse, Leighton. Presley’s busy.”
Not giving me a chance to respond she left, heading back to the bar like the conversation hadn’t even taken place. Meanwhile, I was left in the middle of the floor surrounded by people I didn’t know and/or like.
Annoyed and determined to find Presley, I moved back where I knew her office was. There was a better-than-average chance that Bennett was going to stop me, but that was the risk I was willing to take.
Surprisingly, it was someone else.
Marcus.
He didn’t even speak, tipping his head and waiting for me to explain.
“I need to see Presley.”
“Does she want to see you?” he asked, drilling a hole in my head.
“Yes, she does.”
My voice had been calm but underneath I was itching to move the guy out of the way and get to her. I hated I had to do the song and dance every time, and that she was already neck deep in assumptions.