Shot in the Dark (Blackbridge Security #2) - Marie James Page 0,16
grey, marbled spandex. I know those legs. Well, I know those leggings.
“Oh shit,” I hiss when my eyes run up the length of Whitney’s body. She isn’t smiling, not finding the catcall the least bit funny.
“Did you ju—”
“No! God no! I’d never!” I point to the bag in my hand, but the dark mesh keeps her from seeing in. “Him! He said it!”
She glares at the bag before looking back up at me. I’d call the look on her face cynical, and now my pet is going to ruin any chance with this girl.
In an attempt to try and save face, I unzip the bag. Thankfully, Puff is being cooperative this morning and sticks his head out of the bag, but since I can never determine his mood or what’s going to come out of his mouth, I’m well aware this could go to shit very quickly.
Why am I even on this elevator right now? I know this is the time she heads to the gym. Is my subconscious trying to help me out?
“So this—”
“Nice tits!”
“Yep,” she says, a wide grin transforming her perfect face from the previous scowl. “Isn’t he the cutest thing?”
“He’s offensive,” I mumble.
“They only say things they learn from their owners and things they repeatedly hear.”
She turns her head, a challenging look on her face.
“He’s a rescue.” Jesus, if we ever meet for real, I’m going to have to apologize for the lies.
“Well his previous owners were amazing then. I love a filthy-talking bird.”
As if on cue—“Hey, pretty lady! Wanna fuck?”
“Jesus,” I grumble. “I’m so sorry.”
I don’t think Whitney hears me because she’s laughing so hard.
The elevator door opens on the 3rd floor, but she doesn’t make an attempt to leave.
“What else does he know?”
“Enough to make a sailor blush,” I confess, my own mouth beginning to transform into a small smile.
Would she go out with me today if I ask her right here? Would she accept an invite to hang out at my apartment while my foul-mouthed bird ran through his extensive vocabulary?
I jostle the carrier, trying to move it so I can be the one closest to her, but it only serves to irritate Puff.
“Put your dick away!”
Whitney laughs again as the elevator doors close behind her. I know she’s going to have to get off eventually. We both will, but I’m not going to be the one to inform her.
Puff bounces his head back and forth like he hears music no one else can.
“Come give Daddy a kiss!”
“Is he always this flirtatious?”
“Only with very beautiful women.” I swallow thickly, beginning to regret the words until I see the blush begin to form on her cheeks.
“Quit being a cockblocker!” Puff screeches before making kissing noises.
Our fun is cut off when the elevator moves again, stopping on the fifth floor. Whitney looks around, a little confused, realizing she missed her chance to get off. I quickly zip up the carrier and press myself against the back of the car. Whitney does the same, looking at me in her periphery with a secret-sharing smile.
A little old lady scuttles in, pressing the ground floor button, making me realize when I got on this morning, I never pressed it for myself. If I had, I would’ve missed this interaction with Whitney. Floors ten and above are prime real estate in this building, meaning that they shoot directly to the location we select, bypassing all other floors. Had I pressed the button, Whitney would’ve had to wait until I got off in the parking lot before the car arrived for her.
“This place smells like death!”
“Shit,” I mutter. Hiding him is usually easy because I know I’m going to ride the car alone.
The old lady scoffs but doesn’t turn around. Whitney chuckles, hiding her laugh behind her hand, and I can’t help the grin that shows up on my own face. We share one last conspiratorial look as she begins to follow the old lady off the elevator.
“Oh.” She laughs again. “This isn’t the gym.”
She climbs back on the car, brushing her arm against mine as I begin to leave.
“Have a nice day,” I tell her, opting to head out front instead of riding down another floor to the parking garage.
“You, too.” She’s still smiling when the elevator closes between us.
***
“Have a nice day!”
“I’m going to fucking cook you with olive oil,” I threaten.
He’s been taunting me since we got in my car. I could’ve said a million things to Whitney, but have a nice day is what I decided