Filthy Rich, Wild with Lust

Chapter 37

I sip my coffee and read the morning paper, and my phone beeps a text. It’s Henley.

Where are you?

Excitement runs through my body. Just a text from him sends me into overdrive. I reply.

In the restaurant having breakfast.

Come down.

Another text bounces straight back.

On my way.

I go back to reading my paper, pretending not to be the biggest fangirl in the history of life.

I have to be smart about this. If I want him forever, and I do, I can’t mess this up.

“Good morning, Miss Drinkwater,” his deep voice purrs as he slides into the booth opposite me.

I look up, and there he is: dark hair, square jaw, and the most beautiful face I have ever seen. “Good morning, Mr. James.” I smile. “How was the gym?”

“Good.” He smirks as his eyes hold mine.

He has that naughty look in his eyes, and I know he’s still playful this morning.

Progress.

I pass him the menu. “I’m going to have the pancakes.”

“Hmm.” He frowns as he peruses the choices. “I’m going for the omelet.”

The waitress walks over. “Hello, can I get you a beverage, sir?” she asks.

“Yes, please,” he says as he holds the menu in his hands. “I would like a double macchiato, please.”

She scribbles it down. “Are you ready to order your food?”

His eyes flick to me. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I’ll have the pancakes, please.”

“And I’ll have the omelet with a glass of orange juice.” He passes the menus back to her. “Thank you.”

She wanders off, and his eyes come to me.

“How does it feel to be a year older?” I ask him.

A trace of a smile crosses his face. “Satisfying.”

That makes two of us.

It takes all my might not to climb onto his lap and kiss him stupid. “What’s on today, boss?” I ask instead.

“Boss?”

I smile goofily. “Well, you are bossy.”

“Only when naked.”

“I beg to differ.”

He smirks as the air swirls between us.

Everything is working out perfectly.

An hour later Henley walks me out to my car.

I don’t want to leave him.

This hard-to-get business is killing me. I want to see him sooner than next weekend.

Quick, think of a plan.

We walk down the street toward my car. He doesn’t hold my hand or show any affection, but it is there between us. I can feel it.

“I’m going to start watching Game of Thrones tonight,” I announce.

“Are you?”

“Uh-huh.”

He stays silent as we walk.

Shit... he was supposed to tell me that he wanted to watch it with me.

“Are you coming to watch it with me?” I act casual.

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether you’re cooking me dinner.”

I want to jump and punch the air. “I suppose I can do that.”

“Okay, then.”

I bite my lip to hide my goofy grin. A television date on a Sunday night? This is definitely love.

“Can you cook?” He frowns.

I wince. Jeez, don’t ask me that. “Kind of.”

“Define ‘kind of’...”

“Well.” I shrug. “I have a few dishes I’m good at.”

He smirks. “I’ll cook us dinner at my house.”

“You cook?”

“Very well.” He gives me a sexy wink.

Ugh... of course he does. He looks like that, he f***s like a demon, and now he cooks very well. Is there anything this man can’t do with ease?

Fall in love with me.

My face falls as I remember something.

“What is it?” he asks.

“Can we eat at my house?”

“Why?”

“I haven’t been home all weekend, and I feel bad for Barry.”

He rolls his eyes.

“You cook at my house. Yes, that’s a great idea.” I smile hopefully. “Text me the ingredients, and I’ll get them today,” I offer.

He exhales heavily. “Your dog is annoying.”

“I know.” I bounce on the spot. “Please?”

“Fine.” He sighs as we get to my car.

I open the door, and awkwardness falls between us for the first time. “Do I get a kiss goodbye?” I ask.

His eyes hold mine. “We’re friends, Juliet.”

Ouch.

“With benefits,” I add. “Kisses goodbye is one of those benefits.”

“Is it?”

I nod.

He smirks and takes my face into his hands. “Well, in that case...” He kisses me softly, and my feet lift off the floor. We kiss again and again, and damn it, I want all the benefits, but I know that I have to continue this hard-to-get crap, not that I’m executing it very well today.

“See you tonight?” I pull out of his grip.

“Tonight.” He steps back and puts his hands in his pockets.

I look down and see his erection in his pants. “Better take care of that before you go back into the hotel.”

He glances down at himself. “I’ll call into the brothel around the corner on the way back.”

My mouth falls open in horror.

“Kidding.” He widens his eyes.

“Not funny.” I get into my car and close the door. He taps on the window, and I wind it down. “Yes?” I say, half-annoyed at his hooker joke.

“I’ll text you the shopping list.”

“Okay.”

“I had a great night.” He smiles.

What if he really does go to the brothel on the way back to the hotel?

“We’re just friends, Henley,” I remind him to try and act tough.

“With benefits.” He smirks. “Don’t forget those.”

I roll my eyes and start my car. How could I ever forget those? My v****a is broken.

With a casual wave, I pull out onto the road, and as I drive away, I watch him disappear in the rearview mirror. The farther I drive away from him, the more I want to turn around and go back.

Damn it... he’s perfect.

“What about these jeans?” I take them off the rack and show Rebecca.

She twists her lips. “Too blue.”

I exhale heavily. Chloe, Rebecca, and I are shopping. John is taking Rebecca away next weekend, and she wants some new clothes. She’s trying to get the spark back in their marriage.

“I really think he likes me.” Chloe smiles.

“Who?” I frown.

“Blake.” She rolls her eyes. “Have you been listening to me at all?”

Not really.

“Tell me what happened again?”

“He was going out, and then he saw Rebecca and I on your porch, and he came over to talk to us.”

“Yes.” I listen as I flick through the rack of jeans.

“He ended up staying with us all night drinking cocktails on your porch, and Antony came over, too, and we played cards.”

“So he didn’t go out at all?” I frown.

“Nope.” Chloe smiles hopefully.

“I wouldn’t be getting excited over him,” Rebecca says. “He’s a serious player. Why would you want to set yourself up for heartbreak with someone like him?”

“All bad men come good eventually.” Chloe smiles hopefully.

I roll my eyes and keep hunting for jeans. “What about these ones?” I hold a black pair up.

“I’ve got black already.”

“Why are we buying jeans? Why aren’t we buying crotchless panties and lingerie?” Chloe says.

“True.”

“You think?” Rebecca frowns. “Is that going too far?”

“He’s your husband, and you said you wanted the spark back.”

“I do.”

“Well, jeans are not going to do that.” Chloe rolls her eyes. “Dear lord, there is no such thing as too f*****g far.” She stomps off toward the escalator to go up to the lingerie floor.

Rebecca links her arm through mine. “So how was last night, anyway?” she asks.

“My god, Rebecca.” I smile dreamily. “He is... so...” I pause as I search for the right word. “Amazing.”

“Be careful with him,” she warns. “This whole thing makes me nervous for you.”

“I am,” I lie. “He’s cooking me dinner tonight.”

She gives me a crooked smile. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I won’t.”

Her phone beeps a text, and she pulls it out and reads it, lets out a deep exhale, and then stuffs her phone into her pocket. “f**k’s sake.”

“What’s up?” I ask.

“John is working tonight after golf.”

“On a Sunday? Since when do orthopedic surgeons operate on a Sunday night?” I frown.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“You really think he’s cheating on you?”

She shrugs. “My gut tells me he is. There’s just too many anomalies in his stories.”

God, I can’t imagine being in her shoes.

“What are you going to do?”

“Try and save my marriage.”

I put my arm around her and kiss her temple as we walk toward the escalator in search of Chloe. “It’s going to work out, Bec. I’m sure there’s a reasonable excuse for all of this.”

She nods sadly. “I really hope so.”

Showered, primped, and primed, with the dinner ingredients lined up on the kitchen counter, I am ready for my dinner date with the chef.

I peer through the kitchen window. “Where is he?” I wanted to get my washing off the line, but I’ve been waiting for him to arrive before I do it, and it’s going to be dark soon. Guaranteed, the moment I go out into the backyard, he will knock on my front door.

I’ll just have to wait.

I make another cup of tea and sit on the couch and wait.

My mind goes over our date last night and how perfect he is. He better show up tonight.

Damn it. I begin to worry about his whereabouts. He should have been here by now. He has stood me up before.