Page 37 of For Love & Torture
With a sigh, Bell slumps in the seat and takes out her cell to look at it. “I’ve missed a few calls this evening from my mom. I’ll have to call her tomorrow. It’s too late to call her back tonight.” Another heavy sigh interrupts her words. “Sleeping all day then getting up in just the right amount of time to bathe and get ready for work makes it hard to do most of the normal things I used to do. Like call Mom.”
She does need a vacation. I have to make sure she gets one.
“I wish I could call my mom,” the words come out of nowhere. Well, not exactly out of nowhere. I’ve been hearing her more and more often and she’s in my dreams so much now, along with the home I grew up in. It’s like she and the house are attached somehow. Not that I think I’m psychic. If anything, I’m psychotic.
Her eyes lift to meet mine. “I bet you do, baby.”
Looking down at the table, I try to figure out why I said that. I wasn’t even thinking about Mom. I wasn’t thinking about anything but Bell really.
My fingers drum the table then my mouth opens again. “I should visit my family.”
What the fuck is happening to me?
“You should. I’d come with you if you wanted me to.” Her hand inches across the table and she places her fingers on top of mine, putting a stop to the drumming. “I’ll do anything and everything to help you, Grant.”
“As if I need help.” I pull my hand away, pissed at her for reminding me that I have fucking issues.
Without a sigh or even a dirty look, Bell puts her hand back in her lap and smiles at me. “Yes, as if.”
How does she do it? How does she manage to flip my moods around so easily?
“I’m an ass. I know.” My fingers creep across the table, and she meets them halfway, and we hold hands. “Sorry.”
With lifted brows and her lips quirked to one side, she says, “Wow. Okay. Well, that’s nice to hear. And a step in the right direction.”
Against my better judgment, I have to ask, “Why do you do it, Bell?”
Without a hitch, she cocks her head to one side. “Because I love you, Grant Jamison. That’s why I do most of the things I do.”
“You’re a fool, you know.” I give her hand a slight squeeze.
“Yes, I’ve been contemplating getting some therapy. Wanna join me?” She smiles once more.
The girl would put herself in therapy just to get me to go. Selfless. Dependable. Angelic. And utterly foolish.
Love does make you do dumb things. She’s just proving that to me even more.
Our food arrives and we dig in, both of us much hungrier than either would admit. The fact is, the club has changed a lot about the lives of everyone who works there.
We all seem to be changing. Growing in ways and devolving in others. Scary, really.
When I look up at Bell, I find her grabbing her napkin and reaching over to me. “You have a bit of steak sauce, let me get it for you.” And with that one tiny act of kindness, she makes my heart thump—my cock, too.
“When we get home, I want you, Bell. I want you naked in my bed. I want to taste every last inch of you. And I want to bury myself deep inside of you.” I stare into her dark eyes and see a fire ignite in them.
“We’ll see.” She places the napkin next to her plate and goes on eating.
We’ll see?
When did I lose my touch with her?
I feel like what I just said was pretty hot, and yet she’s still munching on her chicken.
Am I losing my touch? Or am I just losing her?
And why is it suddenly so damn hot in here?
Leaning back in my seat, I take my phone out and look at it. I am utterly perplexed by how she’s acting. This isn’t like her. I’ve gotten one no out of her and now a we’ll see.
