Page 27 of The Fire Walker
Dee
Noexpectations.
I could sense Jessie pulling away, and the words came out of my big mouth before I could stop them. I thought about the way my body had reacted to her presence, and a sliver of desperation had setin.
I wantedher.
I wanted herbad.
I had no idea how to show it without it ending the same way as every other relationship I’d had. With the ‘it’s me, not you’ speech. It seemed like I was the only guy left in the world who wanted an equal partnership with the woman of his dreams. Every fucker out there wanted to own a woman like property, and the notion didn’t sit right with me at all. If that was how an alpha male was meant to act, then what came after that? Beta, I suppose. That wasme.
Talking with Jessie on the phone last night had taken away the physical attraction, and I could just talk to her without all of that getting in the way. I was glad I’d grown some balls and dialed her number because I was taking her out again this afternoon. It was fucking cheeky, but it had paidoff.
My phone buzzed with a text, and I laughed when I saw the message fromZoe.
We’re going to Disneyland. Wannacome?
Zoe and Disneyland were two things that didn’t seem to meshwell.
I texted back,I think I’ll be right. Got stuff todo.
Whatstuff?
Juststuff.
Oooookkkkkkaaaayyyy. *Winkwink*
When three p.m. rolled around, I stood outside Jessie’s door staring at the numberagain.
Get a grip, Cosgrove, I scoldedmyself.
I knocked, and the door opened a momentlater.
“Hey,” Jessie saidbrightly.
She was wearing little denim shorts, and my gaze glued to her legs as I imagined them around mywaist.
“Up here,” Jessiedeclared.
“Sorry.” The moment she turned her back, I adjusted the front of myjeans.
“You’re punctual. I’ll give you that.” She shoved her phone into her pocket and closed the door behindher.
I shrugged. “If I say I’m gonna do something, I doit.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Wow.”
“Wow,what?”
“A guy who does the stuff he says he’s going to. That’s a rarebeast.”
I grinned, pressing the button to theelevator.
“Where are wegoing?”
“Venice beach.” Ishrugged.
“Venicebeach?”
