Page 123 of Surprisingly Us

Am I that transparent?I guess so.

I ignore the twitch of my cock that hearing Lettie’s voice brings to life. That’s not going to be helpful in getting my friend back.

“Oh, right.” I should have called her. What a novel concept. “Well, I was here talking to Mo and he wants to come over and see Maxine.” Fuck. I didn’t realize how stupid that would sound until the words are out of my mouth.

“Oh, yeah? How can you tell?” I can hear the amusement in her voice.

“I think he’s lonely. Not because I’m not a good time, because I am. But you know, it’s a cat thing. He wants to be with another cat.” What the fuck am I rambling about? “It’s because he misses her whenever they’re not together.”

“I see. Well, I’m going to be heading out soon. I’ve got a thing this afternoon.”

“A thing?” I ask, nearly groaning because what the fuck do I have to do to get on this woman’s priority list?Not blindside her with a fake marriage proposal, idiot.

“The Leg-Up community open house and painting party.”

Earlier this week, Ramsey had mentioned it was on Saturday, but without Lettie to structure my days, this whole week has been one continuous string of hours that bleed into the next. My spirits lift because as a major donor, I was invited.

“They’re going to announce the results of the fundraiser and we’re going to paint the main studio. It’ll be a perfect Saturday afternoon.”

My idea of a perfect Saturday afternoon would be my face between Lettie’s thighs but since that can’t happen again, the Leg-Up open house sounds like the next best thing.

“I was planning to go, too. Can I pick you up?” I ask.

She’s quiet a moment, then finally responds. “Okay, but on one condition.”

An hour later, per Lettie’s request, I pull up to her apartment on my motorcycle. It was the one condition she insisted on. Obviously, Mo wasn’t a fan because it meant I couldn’t bring him to hang out with Maxine, but I told him I’d do everything in my power to get him more time with her. Then, I realized I was talking to my cat again, so I rushed out the door, with Ramsey laughing in the background before he called out to tell me he’d meet me at the Leg-Up open house later.

By the time I get my helmet off, Lettie’s already coming down the stairs to the sidewalk. She’s dressed in cut-off denim shorts and a tight black body suit that cuts low on her chest. Lettie doesn’t have large breasts, but what she does have is being hugged tightly and put perfectly on display.

“Hi.” She beams up at me and I’m sure I look like a fool standing here on the sidewalk gaping at her.

“Hey.” That’s all I get out. Clearly, it’s been a long week and I’ve forgotten how to talk to a woman I find attractive. I swallow thickly. I have to remember what we’re doing here. That she’s my friend, and the woman I am relying on to help me win favorwith the foundation board. I need to consider that and stop ogling her.

I hand her a helmet and help her climb on.

On our ride, Lettie wraps her arms around me and it feels so fucking good to have her near me like this again. To even be in her presence. I didn’t know that it could feel like this.

At Leg-Up, Lettie walks me through the building, pointing out each studio room and explaining how they will be transformed. I already know about the plans for the new Leg-Up Dance Academy. I took a tour when I reached out to them about the gaps they had in their funding. They sent me the school’s detailed plan, then I pledged ten million dollars over ten years. But Lettie’s tour is far more animated than the one I got before. Her enthusiasm is infectious and I’m enjoying listening to her. The expressions she makes talking about her passion for the program are adorable. The urge to pull her into my arms and kiss the hell out of her is making it hard to focus.

“Are you bored?” she asks, turning to glance at me with a sheepish smile on her face.

“No, not at all.” I follow her across the room. “Why would you say that?”

She leans against the barre, her hands wrapping around the splintered wood.

She shrugs. “You’re being awfully quiet.”

“I’m taking it all in. Practicing being a good listener.”Thinking about kissing you.

I close the space between us, my fingers pressing beneath her chin to lift her gaze to mine. I can’t help myself, I need to touch her in some way, to breathe her in. It’s been a week, but that’s too fucking long since I’ve felt the calm from her presence. That satisfying dream-like haze I get from her proximity.

“I’m never bored when I’m with you, Lettie. I could watch you paint a wall and it would be the most entertaining thing I’ve ever seen.”

The inhale between our lips is sharp. I can feel the warm puff of air from her mouth as she exhales. I want to capture her perfect lips with mine.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” she says slipping out from where I nearly had her pinned against the barre, turning at the last minute to grab my hand and pull me along with her. “That’s exactly what we’re doing today.”

I follow her into the main studio where everyone else is gathered. Paint and supplies are positioned against one of the walls. There’s a table set up for volunteers to sign in, with snacks and drinks laid out on another.

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