Page 26 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

“Okay.” Dre eyed me again. “How much did you drink tonight?”

“Not much. Why?”

“Just wondering. Let me know if I start driving too jerky for you.”

Unbelievable. I knew him way too damn well. “Don’t worry, Dre. I’m not going to puke inside your precious truck.”

He shrugged. “I just assumed that’s why you wanted me to pick you up early.”

“No, I said I wanted to leave for work-related reasons that I was trying to explain to you and…. Never mind. I don’t need to talk about it.”

“Okay.”

“And you seriously can’t tell by now when I’m drunk enough to get sick?”

“Well, yeah. Usually. Can’t hurt to be too careful, though.”

I sighed, tucking my legs underneath me and resting my head back. I could see him through the corner of my eye getting all twitchy because my shoes were on the seat. I knew he was picturing all kinds of dirt and crud getting on the leather. But it was fucking leather. It’d wipe off.

We were quiet for the rest of the short drive. When he pulled into the FiTech lot where I’d left my car, I opened the door and hopped out. “Thanks for the ride, Dre.”

“You coming back to my place?”

“I’d rather go home.”

“All right. I’ll follow you over, then.”

By home I’d meant alone, but I guess we had planned to do something that night. I nodded before walking to my car. It wouldn’t kill me to at least try and be some decent company to him for a change. I’d be the first to admit that I wasn’t much fun lately. But honestly, I’d much rather curl up on the couch and talk to Christa than entertain my boyfriend.

As I drove, my mind wandered back to Nic’s. I wondered what had happened after I’d left. I never got a chance to speak with Adam because I’d gone outside to wait for Dre before he’d finished with Stephen. Kate planned to explain my absence by saying I wasn’t feeling well.

Stupid. So, so stupid. I should’ve just stayed. It was my responsibility to stay. I knew that now. I hated that some random guy could throw me off like that. I didn’t care who he was or how he was affiliated with the company. So he was a boss. He wasn’tmyboss. It wasn’t as if we had to work in the same room or I had to report directly to him. This didn’t have to affect me at all if I didn’t let it.

I was feeling much better by the time I arrived home. I pulled into my spot and Dre parked in a visitor’s. Christa’s car wasn’t there. I had no idea where she was or when she’d be back.

We went inside, and I’d barely closed the door before Dre was pinning me against the wall. “I’ve missed you so much, baby.”

His body was mashed against me, his mouth sucking on my neck. I slapped his chest. “You’d better not be marking me up.”

“Would that be so bad?”

“It is when it’s no longer cold enough to wear turtlenecks.” He chuckled, then suctioned back on my skin. I pushed him away. “Dre! I’m not sixteen anymore. I am not going to walk around with a damn hickey on my neck.”

He pressed his lips to mine instead. They were familiar, and I tried to take comfort in that. “I’m glad you called me to pick you up,” he whispered into my mouth.

“Even knowing there was a chance I could throw up all over your upholstery?”

“Even then.” He stroked my hair. “It seemed like a couple thing to do. You know, go to the other half when they need help. Was I your first choice?”

“Well, um, I actually called Christa first, but I couldn’t get a hold of her.” That shouldn’t matter, really.

The look on his face told me it did matter. “I want to be your first choice, Perry.”

“Okay. It’s just that I’m used to going to Christa for everything. This thing with you and me is still new, you know that.”

His hands wandered down to my ass, and he kissed me again. When he pulled away, I could see that look in his eye. He was ready to go. Sadly, I was not.

He gripped between my legs and squeezed. “Have you given more thought to getting inked?”

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