me already tonight. So we can just keep going. Really, I don’t mind.”
He laughed and pinched her nose. “Cute.” He helped her onto the bike and then got on himself.
—
What he’d done earlier wasn’t playing fair, he knew, but this woman infuriated him to no end. He’d had to play a little dirty, and thank fuck it had worked. It could have gone horribly wrong, but luckily her date was a dickwad.
She was piss drunk, and he had to hold her arms tight around his waist and drive carefully to make sure she didn’t slide right off his bike. Her cheek was plastered against his back, and if he felt and heard correctly, he could’ve sworn she sniffed him…repeatedly.
When they arrived, Slade helped her to the front door. “You’re not great on high heels, baby.” It was statement, not a question.
She looked down at her feet and her body swayed slightly forward. Quickly, he reached over and scooped her up before she could fall. “They’re stilettos. Men love them.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and buried her face in his neck.
“Are you sniffing me?”
She looked up dreamy-eyed, her body limp against his. “Mmm. You smell yummy.”
“You’re drunk.”
“Tipsy.”
“I’d say hammered. You almost face-planted right onto the sidewalk.”
“That’s kinda rude.” She slapped his shoulder. “It’s my shoes. I’m not good on stilettos.”
“I know. That’s what I just said. Don’t wear ’em anymore.”
He arrived at her front door and set her down. Once she found her legs, she stood up straight. “I told you, men love ’em.”
“We don’t love a broken neck or ankle.”
“I…” She put her finger against her chin and stared off into the distance, apparently deep in thought. “Good point.” She reached down and took off her shoes before searching her small purse for the keys to her house. Once the door was open, he leaned forward, gave her a kiss on the lips, and backed away slowly, hesitantly.
Leaving a drunk, pouty, cute, horny Jessica was up there on his list of the hardest things he’d ever done. He really just wanted to devour her. Was this what being a gentleman was like? What a stupid concept. He wasn’t quite enjoying the whole being-a-better-man thing. It sucked balls.
Chapter 14
Jessica tossed and turned all night. She had a feeling of foreboding she couldn’t shake off.
She walked out of her bedroom to find a note from Slade.
Dear Jess,
Hope you’re not feeling too sick this morning. I brought you coffee and your favorite bagel—they’re in the kitchen. Had to work but we’ll talk later. More sunflowers by your door for your neighbor this morning, by the way. I just threw them away at the dumpster. Shitload of flowers!
Slade
Jessica ran outside to the dumpster. There must have been two dozen sunflowers in there. Just looking at them made her eyes water and her nose itch. She began sneezing immediately.
The ominous message conveyed by the flowers made her fear for Slade. She was slightly hungover, but not enough that she didn’t remember her promise to Slade last night. But this warning…it was the precise reason she needed to stay strong and resolute and let Slade go. It was for his own good.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have much time to think. She was walking slowly back to her house, thinking about the situation she’d found herself in, when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her up against a man’s body. She looked to her right to see a crazy-eyed Dennis. She was so startled, she almost fell over, but he tightened his grip and practically dragged her back into her house. He followed her over the threshold, closing the door behind him and locking it.
“I saw your boyfriend throw your flowers away and I wasn’t sure if you were going to find them. So I waited.”
She backed away a few steps until a wall stopped her. She clenched her hand against her chest. “I—I saw them.” The words were barely a whisper. “W-what are you doing here?”
“I don’t think you’re taking me seriously.”
“I am. I swear I am. Look.” She pointed to the boxes lined up against the wall. “I’ve packed. I just needed to give notice at the bar before I left. I’ve done that—now I’m leaving.”
“Does Slade know that? Doesn’t seem like he does.”
“I obviously can’t tell him the real reason, so he’s being persistent. He doesn’t understand why I’m leaving. That’s why he’s been around. It’s not his fault. The day you came by, I broke