His body goes rigid as he looks at me, blinking his eyes like he can’t believe what I’ve just told me, then he jumps to his feet.
“Are you okay, Brax?”
“Yeah. I just remembered I have to see my accounting professor this morning and if I don’t go now I’ll miss him.” He heads to the kitchen to tidy up our dishes, then turns and heads back towards me. Wow, he seems to be rushing now.
“Brax, did I say something to upset you?”
“No, sweetheart. Just running late. I’ll see you later, beautiful girl,” he says, leaning down and kissing me deep and hard. He picks up his jacket and walks towards the door.
Wow. If that’s how he says goodbye, I don’t mind him leaving me. The look on his face and a cheeky wink tells me he knows exactly how he makes me feel.
He closes my door and I’m left standing in my living room with a goofy smile on my face.
Damn, that man is good.
As I leave Elle’s building, I look around for the car she told me about. I can’t see it immediately, then sure enough—on the corner of the street—there it is. I try to identify who the driver is, but he’s not someone I’ve seen around before. I discretely take a photo of him with my phone and send it through to Gibbons for an ID. I hope he can track him down quickly so we can work out whether he is involved or not. My gut is telling me that this is not a good thing.
Of course I had to make up a story about needing to see my accounting professor to get out of Elle’s apartment. I would love nothing more to stay there all day with her, but we both have classes and I want to tell Shay about the black Honda Elle has spotted. At first I thought she had seen Shay but he’s in a red Toyota and is a hell of a lot more careful.
I meet Shay at the coffee shop where I took Elle that first day. Grabbing two black coffees, we take a seat near the window.
“Elle asked me this morning if I’ve noticed a black Honda hanging around outside her building. Have you seen anything?” I ask him, burning my tongue on my coffee in the process.
“I’ve seen it, but it didn’t raise any alarm bells with me. But when I think about it, that car has been around a lot. I just thought it was one of her neighbors,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.
“Dude, we’re supposed to keep an eye out for this type of thing. That’s why you’re on the outside,” I reply angrily.
“Hey Chill, B. I’m on it now. I’ll get a plate number and follow it up. We can also try and get a photo of the guy and send it through to Gibbons to run through the computer.”
“I’ve already sent a photo through before I came here. What if he’s working for Brimstone or Evans?” I ask, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Sorry, Shay. I’m just as much to blame as you are. I should’ve realized that the car was suspicious.”
“All good, B. We’re on to it now. So, why did you end up going back last night?” he asks, arching his brow. I know exactly what he’s thinking.
“No, Shay. It wasn’t a booty call,” I shake my head. “She had a nightmare that really freaked her out, so I went over to stay with her. We slept on the couch.”
“Right. Not even this morning?” he questions with a wink.
“Not even this morning, although I wouldn’t have said no. She was wearing a small tank top and pajama shorts that would make a monk hard.”
“Shit, dude. That’s some wicked self-control you’ve got going on.”
“Nah, it’s different with Elle. I don’t want to rush it,” I say, reflecting on this morning’s events with a smile.
“Okay, man, enough about that. I better get back to my post. We still on for tonight?” he asks, putting his empty cup in the bin.
“Definitely. Elle can’t wait to meet you, but I haven’t told her about your terrible BO and bad jokes yet, so she might still change her mind.”
“Thanks, bro. Real nice,” he responds with a grin.
We leave the coffee shop and go our separate ways. I’m heading home for a much needed workout and cold shower. Waking up this morning with Elle lying on top of me was not easy when all my body wanted to do was to bury itself so deep inside her that no one would be able to tell us apart. Just thinking about her warm little body lying on me in her tight tank top and cute pajama shorts has me all hot and bothered again.
Yup, a workout sounds like a freaking great idea right now.
The movie and burger with Shay and Brax is great. We met Shay at the theatre around the corner and went to see a newly released comedy before heading to the restaurant next door for burgers and drinks.
Shay is great. He’s hot, definitely not in the same league as Brax, but still very nice. He’s twenty-six, with short dark blonde hair styled into a faux-hawk, crystal blue eyes and a smile that tells you he’s aware of the effect he has on people. He’s the same height as Brax, but slightly leaner. He is wearing a black wife-beater, showing off his muscular arms and a tattoo that is wrapped around his bicep of a dragon chasing a heart. His pair of dirty denim jeans complete the bad ass look. Brax can make me swoon with one simple glance where as Shay looks like he has a myriad of dirty thoughts going through his brain and they all involve you.
I can tell why these two are friends.
Once we’ve finished our burgers, we say goodbye to Shay. Brax walks me the few blocks back to my apartment, and I suddenly feel anxious again. I won’t be able to sleep tonight for fear I’m going to end up having another nightmare.
Brax stops walking and looks at me with concern. He lifts my hand that he is holding and cradles it on his chest. “What’s wrong, Elle? You’ve gone white as a ghost and tense as all hell. You’re scaring me.”
“I’m fine. I’m just scared, you know?” I can tell he’s not buying it. He has to be able to see that I’m on edge.
“Scared of what, hon?” he asks with a worried look.
“Of having another nightmare. They’re getting worse and last night’s was horrific,” I explain as my eyes fill with tears.
He pulls me in close and I nuzzle his chest while reaching my arms around his back. He holds me tight and whispers in my ear, “I’m going to stay with you tonight, in your bed, so you can get a good night’s sleep. If you have another nightmare I’m going be right there next to you, ready to hold you and kiss you and make you feel warm again.” I feel my breathing speed up and the prospect of a nightmare slips from my mind as the thought of Brax staying over invades my head instead.