Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,72
to go to Diablo. Her insistence that we go “hang” somewhere else, taking the opportunity I might have had through the night.
I did what I said I was going to do, dropped Elena home and then walked to Presley’s club. It was still early for the public, the big black front doors still locked when I yanked on one.
“Look at you coming through the front door like a good boy.” Bennett grinned as he opened up for me. “We just need you to sit and roll over and you’ll be all trained up.”
I flipped him off, not really in the mood for his shit. “You gaining a little weight there, B? Looking a little rounder in the middle. Maybe add some cardio to the lifts, dude. Also, might want to skip the birth control pills, I hear they cause water retention.”
He laughed, stepping aside so I could come in. “Your boy is at the bar, clearly no wiser you’re doing his sister. And Presley is in her office. You going to tell him tonight? I spent the afternoon with my mother at the pediatrist, could use some comedic relief.”
“No one is saying shit,” I warned, not even joking. “I’m serious, Bennett, this is mine and Presley’s decision and I won’t have you fucking shit up because you’re bored.”
He rolled his eyes, not giving me the satisfaction of a comeback. “Go see her, I’ll keep him busy. You have five minutes though. That’s the limit of my small talk, and I’m not making exceptions, even for you two.”
It was more than I’d hoped for, the big guy coming through for me in a way I hadn’t expected. And while I was under no delusions he was doing it for me—his loyalty to Presley—I was grateful for the chance.
Tibbs was at the bar talking to Hank with his back to the door. Even though he was on the other side of the club, without a wall of bodies, there was a good chance he’d see me sneak in. But the wall of bodies wasn’t necessary when you had a three-hundred-pound giant blocking the view, enabling me to stroll past and get out of Tibbs’ sightline before he’d even noticed I was there.
I wasn’t expecting Presley’s door unlocked, the fancy block of wood that separated her from the rest of the club left ajar when I reached it. I didn’t bother knocking, not giving her the opportunity to blow me off.
“Hey,” I walked into her office, my voice making her spin around, “I’ve only got four minutes, Bennett is entertaining Tibbs. But I needed to know you were okay.”
I didn’t ask permission, moving toward her and taking her into my arms. She didn’t hesitate, letting me hold her as I kissed her forehead gently. “Presley, if what we did made you feel uncomfortable in some way, I need to know. And I get how it might have looked, but I’ve never had a girl in my room let alone did anything like that. I respect you, Presley. You’re not just a piece of ass.”
She blinked back in surprise, her eyes searching my face. “You’ve never had a girl in your room?”
“I mean, like a girlfriend. My sisters, my mom, like family and shit have obviously been in there, but not like that. I didn’t want you to think I was—”
“I was the first?” She cut me off, not letting me finish.
Not sure if that was excitement or horror in her voice, and not sure which was the better option. “Well, yeah. But it doesn’t matter. I get how weird it was, especially after and having to go downstairs and eat dinner. So, if that’s why you didn’t want us here tonight—”
“I love you.”
She’d cut me off again, but this time around it was me who was confused. Because either my hearing was fucked or she’d just told me she loved me.
“You saying that because you’re the first girl I had in my room or because you can see us being long term, Presley? Because this is the one thing I won’t joke about. Not even with you, Baby.”
I’d never said those words to a girlfriend.
Never even been tempted.
To me those words were sacred and there hadn’t been a woman I’d been with who came close to earning them. So rather than be an asshole, and say them because it might get a woman into bed quicker or something else equally as shady, I chose to not go down that road.