Toward the end, Jelani turned to me. “I have no hair because of chemo. I’m in the middle of treatment. Colon cancer.”
Oh, no.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s alright.”
“How are you feeling?”
“There are good days and some very bad days. Today is a good day.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I pondered the fact that you never quite know what crosses people are carrying. My problems with Bianca seemed trite, in comparison.
By the end, I ended up with a half-decent goat, although it was pathetic compared to Jelani’s. But still, it was mine, and I could proudly take full credit for it.
“I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to do this.” Reaching into my pocket, I took out a wad of cash.
Holding his hand out, he said, “No.”
“Please…”
Jelani pushed my hand away.
“I have to give you something,” I insisted.
“Then, come back once a week.”
Did he just say what I thought he did?
“You want me to come back and do this again?”
“Yes. I appreciate the company. It helps take my mind off things. When you live alone, you think too much. This was like therapy for me.”
His request blew me away, but there was only one answer.
“I can do that.”
Stepping out of my apartment on the way to work, I noticed a black Town Car parked out front. My heart jumped. Dex had broken his promise not to see me, and I couldn’t say I was disappointed.
The driver got out and came around.
He nodded. “Ms. George.”
I waited for the window to roll down or for Dex to emerge but neither happened.
“Where is Dex?”
“Mr. Truitt instructed me to be at your disposal this week.”
“He’s not here?”
“No. He would like me to safely see you to your destination.”
“Oh. Um…okay. Thank you.”
He opened the back door and let me in. After giving him the address to my building, I immediately picked up the phone.
Dex answered, “Bianca.”
The sound of his deep, soothing voice gave me shivers.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s more comfortable than the back of my tandem bike, isn’t it?”
“Jay’s bike, yes.” I shook my head. “I can only imagine how fast you had to work to make the bicycle thing happen that day, by the way.”
“Let’s just say I was highly motivated.”
“What’s with the chauffeur service?”
“I thought you’d like a break from dangerous taxis. And I was looking for a change of pace. I’ve been cabbing it to work. Sam is at your beck and call all week.”
“It’s really not necessary.”
“I know that. But if I can’t be with you, at least I know you’re safe and sound in good hands.”
“I can’t use it tonight,” I said.
How exactly was I supposed to tell him that I’d accepted a date with a co-worker?
One of the editors at work, Eamon Carpenter, had asked me out. The word “no” had been at the tip of my tongue until I realized that it might benefit me to go out with someone other than Dex. I’d be breaking my own self-imposed rule not to get involved with men I worked with, but it would be a test as to just how deep into Dex my heart really was. We weren’t exclusive, so I was able to justify it. I absolutely knew that I wasn’t going to let things get to a physical level with Eamon, in any case. So, I figured there was really no harm.
I felt compelled to be honest with him.
“I’m going on a date tonight. I don’t feel right taking your car.”
There was nothing but dead silence on the other end of the line. I swore he’d hung up.
“Are you there?”
“Yes.” He began to trip over his words. “I’m just a little stunned, to be honest. I haven’t been…I mean, I…”
“You haven’t been what?”
“I haven’t been seeing anyone. I just assumed…”
He was having trouble saying it.
“You assumed that I wouldn’t date anyone during this break?”
“I guess I was just hopeful.” More silence before he asked, “Where is he taking you?”
“Bistro Nine.” I sighed. “It’s nothing serious, Dex. I don’t plan to let him…do anything.”
His breathing became heavier.
“Are you okay?”
“I have to go,” he abruptly said.
“Alright, I—” He’d hung up before I had a chance to say anything further.
Later, when I arrived at the office, there was a package sitting on my desk. Upon opening it, I realized it contained the photos from Joel’s shoot at Dex’s house. Dex was supposed to have chosen his favorites to be used for the article. From the ones that he vetted, I would choose three or four images.
The first couple of shots were of Dex in front of his window overlooking the park. I marveled at his beauty: his lustrous black hair, his tall stature, his impeccable clothes, his big, masculine hands. In one of the pictures, he reminded me of a more handsome version of James Bond as played by Pierce Brosnan, but with more facial hair.
There were two more shots featuring him in front of his fireplace. The next couple of photos were from the ones he’d shot of him and Bandit on the couch.
My heart clenched. The last one was framed and had a note on it. Mr. Truitt wanted you to have this. It’s not for the article.
It was the photo of Dex, me, and Bandit, the one where the dog had a paw on each of us. It was making me emotional. He’d clearly sent this over before our conversation this morning. Guilt set in.
Damn you, Dex.
The reality was that I didn’t want to go on this date with Eamon. I was forcing myself to do it to prove that I still had the capability to connect with someone else in the event that my heart was to be destroyed by Mister Moneybags. It was a self-protective mechanism. Deep down, I knew that…but Dex didn’t.
I was sure Eamon could tell I was preoccupied. I kept checking my phone to see if Dex had texted. He hadn’t said a word since my date revelation this morning, and it made me wonder if I’d royally screwed things up.
I mentally scolded myself for obsessing over Dex while on a date with another man.
Trying to make conversation to move my mind into a different place, I said, “What’s new on your end at the magazine? What’s the next project?”
“I’m setting up an interview with Harry Angelini of Markel Corporation next week. But honestly, your exclusive with Truitt is all anyone seems to be talking about.”
Great. So much for getting my mind off him.
“Yes. It went really well.”
“I haven’t had a chance to read the first draft, but people keep saying how thorough it is, as if you’d spent months with him.”
“It was…an ongoing format.” I cleared my throat. “I found that to be better than rushing it.”
“I think you might have something there.”
The waiter came by with a small plate. “Some dessert for you.”
“We didn’t order dessert.”
“Yes. Well, actually, it was courtesy of someone who called in and wanted you to have it.”
When I looked down at the plate, I nearly gasped. Sitting atop a drizzle of caramel were two gigantic chocolate balls.
“What is this?”
“It’s tartufo. Ice cream balls.”
Balls.
My face felt flush. Dexter. It had to be.
“Okay. Thank you.”
“What was that all about?” Eamon asked.
“I’m not sure,” I lied. “Will you excuse me? I have to use the bathroom. Please start on the dessert without me.”
Once in the stall, I texted him.
Bianca: Are the ice cream balls from you?
Three do
ts immediately appeared on the screen.
Dex: Yes. Enjoy them.
Bianca: You really shouldn’t have.
Dex: Well, I know you like balls. And I wanted to apologize for my strange behavior this morning. You have every right to see whomever you want.
Bianca: Thank you, but no need to apologize. Your reaction was understandable.
Dex: I’ve instructed Sam to wait outside of the restaurant in the event that you need a ride. If he’s not parked, he’ll be circling around the block. I’m not using him tonight anyway. If you decide not to take advantage of the ride, that’s fine. But he’s there if you need him.
Bianca: That’s very nice of you. Thank you. What are you doing tonight that you don’t need a car?
Dex: I’ve decided to stay in.
Bianca: Okay. Well, have a good evening.
Dex: You too.
His sudden change of attitude seemed weird. I almost wondered if he was practicing reverse psychology, although I would never really know for sure.
When I returned to the table, Eamon had devoured his ball and paid the bill.
“Was it good?” I asked.
He licked his lips. “It was great.”
A few minutes later, I looked down at the time and said, “This has been really fun. But I have to be up early in the morning, so I think I’m going to head home if that’s okay.”
“Can we share a cab?”
“Actually, I have to stop somewhere on the way back, so I’m going to just head out alone.”
“Okay, sure.”
He seemed very disappointed, but truly, it was better not to lead him on. I really shouldn’t have gone on the date in the first place if my heart wasn’t in it.
I told Eamon I needed to stop back in the bathroom on the way out, so that he would exit the restaurant first.
Once outside, sure enough, I noticed the Town Car parked across the street.
I waved. “Hello, Sam.”
“Good evening, Ms. George,” he said as he opened the door for me.
I nearly had a heart attack when I saw who was in the backseat.
At first, I thought it was Dex. But no. It was the Liza Minnelli statue. Sinking back into the leather seat, I began to laugh hysterically.
“Sorry about that, Miss. He made me do it,” I heard Sam say. “Where to?”
Where was I going?
There was only one place I wanted to go tonight.
“Mr. Truitt’s place, please.”
Bandit was barking like crazy. I twisted the shower handle to turn off the water so that I could hear what was making him go nuts. He wasn’t generally a barker. In between his ruffs, the faint sound of the doorbell buzzing echoed under the bathroom door.
Shit.
Stepping out, I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my waist, and headed to the front door. When I looked through the peephole, no one was on the other side. But Bandit was still going crazy, so I opened the door and poked my head out into the hallway. My heart started pounding when I found Bianca standing in front of the elevator doors looking down.
“Bianca?”
She looked up. “Dex. You didn’t answer. I thought you were out.”
“I was in the shower.” The doors to the elevator she was standing in front of slid open, and she turned to face them, then glanced back at me, and then back at the waiting car. She was clearly pondering her departure. After a few heartbeats, she made her decision. “I should go. It was a mistake coming over here. I’m sorry.”
“Bianca! Wait!”
She froze with one foot inside the elevator car. I didn’t give a fuck that I was still dripping wet and only wearing a towel, I ran down the hall after her. “Don’t leave. Please.” I caught her elbow and waited as she again deliberated. When she finally nodded, I let out a deep breath. There was no way I was giving her any time to change her mind again, so I quickly steered her away from any available escape and into my apartment.
Although I’d managed to get her into my place and close the door behind her, she stayed just barely inside and looked down at her feet. “Well, this is a nice surprise,” I said.
“I shouldn’t be here.”
“I think you’re wrong. This is exactly where you should be. Where you shouldn’t have been tonight, was on that date.”
Bandit had been standing near my side and chose that moment to walk to Bianca. He sat down directly on her feet and pushed his head into her crotch. She smiled and scratched the top of his head. Good boy. Remind me to buy you a bone. From an elephant.
“Our dog seems to agree with me.”
Her head whipped up. “Our dog?”
“Yes. I feel like he belongs to both of us since he helped bring us together.”
“If I’m not mistaken, he actually helped break us apart. I saw you at the shelter. That’s how I uncovered who you really were, remember?”
I took a step closer. “I don’t see it that way.”
She scoffed. “Then you need glasses, Truitt.”
Another step. “I don’t need glasses to know you look beautiful right now.” Her hair was down and had a wavy, windblown look to it. She looked absolutely breathtaking wearing a simple, black strapless dress. Her lips were painted a blood red and when her tongue darted out to wet them, I was unable to stop staring.
“Dex…” Her voice was low but there was a warning tone to it. She must have known how much looking at her was affecting me.
“Bianca…” I mimicked her and took a hesitant step closer. When she didn’t run, not that she had anywhere to actually run with her back against the front door, I took that as a sign to keep moving in. She looked down, and I got the sense that she was trying to maintain her control. Too bad I wanted nothing more than to make her lose it. “Your date ended early. Did Eamon not do it for you, the way I do?”
She squinted. “How did you know his name was Eamon?”
Shit. “It doesn’t matter. You ended it early. What matters is that you’re here now and not with that ass-wipe.”
“He’s not an ass-wipe, and it does matter. How did you know his name?”
“My driver paid the maître de to get the name on your reservation.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed to know who my competition was on the chance that you’d like him enough to go out with him for reasons other than an attempt to forget me.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re so full of yourself. You think my date had something to do with you? Newsflash, Dexter Truitt, the world does not revolve around you.”
“Really? That’s a shame. Especially since mine seems to revolve around you as of late.”
We stared at each other. There were clearly a million thoughts going through her head as her eyes jumped back and forth. Unfortunately, she settled on the one I had hoped she’d rid herself of already. “I should go,” she whispered.
I felt desperate. I closed the little gap that remained between us. The heat from our bodies was radiating, and the smell of her perfume engulfed my senses. When I glanced down, I realized her chest was rising and falling as rapidly as mine. I couldn’t let her leave. I just couldn’t. “Don’t go.”
“I need to.”
Recognizing I was out of time and she was about to bolt, I used the only thing I knew was her weakness—her attraction to me. Taking her face in my hands, I cupped both cheeks, and planted my lips over hers. “Stay. Don’t leave.” Then I devoured her mouth. She opened without hesitation, and my tongue dove right in finding hers. Feeling her physically surrender to me so easily was a complete turn-on. I pressed my body into hers, pinning her between the door and my naked chest. Her tits pushed up, beckoning to be set free from her strapless little dress, and the feel of her bare skin against mine was fucking incredible. I wanted to lift her up and cradle her in my arms as I carried her back to my bedroom.
I was just about to, too, when Bianca nudged at my chest. Her voice was breathless, and she didn’t sound like she actually meant one word. “Dex. We need t
o slow down.”
I leaned my forehead against hers. “I’ve been trying to slow down since the day I met you. I seem to only have one speed when it comes to you, Georgy Girl.”
Her lip twitched. “Georgy Girl? Isn’t that what Jay used to call me?”
“Yes. But it’s what I’ve called you in my head since the first day I met you.”
She pondered that for a moment. “I do like it. It’s sweet.”
“There’s a first. Not sure a woman’s ever called me sweet before.”
“That’s the thing with you, Dex. On the outside, you appear to be something very different than what I keep catching glimpses of on the inside.”
Her sexy red lipstick was smeared. I rubbed it from her face with my thumb. “Oh yeah? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“It’s a good thing. It means deep down inside you’re not the jerk that you show people on the outside. The one who lies to women in elevators.”
A flash of what I saw when the elevator lights flickered on that day popped into my head. “I thought you were stunning the first time I saw you.”
“I didn’t think you were so bad yourself.”
“I’m so unbelievably attracted to you. For weeks I haven’t been able to think about you without getting a hard on.”
Bianca blushed. “I think I feel that attraction digging into my hip right now.”
I grinned, but didn’t make an attempt to move. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” She shoved at my chest. “Go put some clothes on. We need to sit down and talk. And you can’t be in a towel.”
“I could take it off.”
She waved her hand in the direction of my very visible erection then shook her head and pointed down the hall to my bedroom. “That thing is distracting. Go. And don’t come back until it’s less…bulgy.”
I needed a full ten minutes to get my head screwed on straight. Not to mention get my raging hard on under control. Bianca was here instead of on her date. It was a start. If I could manage to keep my dick out of my head, maybe I stood a chance after all.