my brother it’s not even funny. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he whispers back. “I’ll be waiting for your text.”
The dial tone echoes in my ear, but I can’t manage to pull the phone away from my head. Jesse comes over and waves her hands in front of me. When I blink at her, she yanks the receiver from my hand and puts it to her ear, then hangs it up. “Why are you all red?”
“He called me baby.”
Her eyes bug out of her head. “Oh, my God. Oh, shit.”
I incline my head. “I know. And I offered to bring Judy with me so he could get her later.”
“Oh, my God. Oh, shit.”
“I know!”
“You should go early. Get all…” She motions in the general area of her crotch. “Nice down there. He deserves that kind of perfection.”
I gape at her. “He’s not gonna see down here.” I do the same motion she just did.
“Girl, do you have any idea how lucky you are that, that man wants you so badly? You’re seriously telling me with you two alone in your house, late at night, a little somethin’ somethin’ isn’t happening?”
Why didn’t I think of that? “Oh, crap.”
“Just leave an hour early instead of taking a lunch.”
“Yeah. Okay. Shit, Jesse.” My leg bounces so quickly it doesn’t even seem like it’s moving. “What did I do?”
“You hit the jackpot. You’re gonna be fine, Bella. Seriously. This was bound to happen eventually. He’s a nice guy, and he likes you just as much as you like him. Maybe more.”
There’s no way that’s possible.
I can barely function for the rest of the day, but I do manage to program his number and text him. When I finally get home with Judy, the first thing I do is take a shower and shave everywhere. I don’t want to come across as too desperate, so I put on a long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of gray yoga pants that give a little lift to my booty.
Judy waits for me at the bottom of the stairs, and when I return, she wanders around my little two-story house, and after she acquaints herself, she plops down on the rug that connects the kitchen and living room while I eat dinner.
Thinking that Damien may be hungry when he gets here, I make an extra plate of pasta and chicken for him and put it in the fridge. My nerves are totally wired right now, and as I flit around and light some candles, my hands are shaky, and the back of my neck is sweating. This is stupid. I’m stupid. I should have never offered, but the suggestion came out of my mouth before my brain even knew it came up with the idea.
Judy must be able to sense that I’m freaked because she’s sitting on my bare feet and has her head on my lap. She does calm me some, so I keep petting her on the couch until my phone beeps with a text from Damien.
I’m outside.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
As soon as I stand, Judy does too. She must know that Damien is here because she runs to the door and whines. “Is that your daddy?” I scratch her head and open the door, not afraid that she’ll run out. Damien waits for me to push open the screen door before he steps inside. While he’s making his way in, he gives Judy some love, and I check out his powerful frame in a black suit that fits him like a glove. Good to know he’s hot in a suit, too. Not that I doubted it.
“Missed you too, Judy girl. Yes, I did.” He finally gives me his attention, and his irresistible grin makes my knees wobble. “Thanks, Izzy.”
“Of course. She was an angel. I’d be happy to do it anytime.” I laugh when Judy tilts her head as though she knows I’m talking about her.
“I appreciate it, and I know she does, too.”
Instead of answering, I just smile, words lodged in my throat.
“That boss of yours give you any more shit?”
“No.” That I answer immediately.
“Good.”
I can tell he’s about to say goodbye, and I don’t want him to go. I want to get to know him and find out more about the man who drives me crazy. I’m dying to discover if my feelings are one-sided or not. I’ve never been shy about getting what I want, so why am I being so reserved to reach for the one thing I want the most? “Are you hungry? I made