Page 14 of Wrong Place, Wright Time
“Then how about I promise not to kiss you even once? Unless of course you ask me to.”
A smile pulls at my lips and I roll my eyes slightly, loving the smooth calm that emanates out of his voice. “I guess I can handle that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“OK. Then it’ll be a dinner between friends. And to sweeten the deal, I’ll also bring something I enjoy that most people I know find hideously boring.”
“It’s a deal,” I say, grinning wide now as I hold my hand out to shake his, instead, having him take my hand and lift it to his lips, pressing a kiss against my upturned knuckles.
“It’s adate,” he drawls, releasing my still-warm hand, tingling from his lips and his touch.Lawd my nipples are hard right now too!
Thank god for padded bras.
“I thought you stipulated no kissing.”
A grin lifts one side of his mouth. “That was during our date. I never once said I wouldn’t randomly kiss you while we walk.”
Laughing, I shake my head in amusement as he steps back then wishes me a good day like he does every morning, leaving me feeling that against my better judgement, I’m still falling him.
Banks
When Friday arrives, I spend it keeping myself busy so I don’t sit around watching the clock tick all day long. I throw myself into paperwork and preparations for the bar since I won’t be there. And by the time I’ve run out of things to do—I even applied leather conditioner to my couch—I decide it’s time to go and annoy my cousin. He has an innate ability to make time fly, and I really need that right now.
“Banksy, Banksy, Banksy,” Darren says, stepping out the glittery door that marks the entry of the drag club he emcees and performs at, Queen’s Delight.
“Darren, Darren, Darren,” I reply, falling into step beside him as he waves his long red manicured fingers, indicating I need to follow him. “We going somewhere?”
“I need thread. My dress for tonight has a tear in it and I need the right color or it will be too obvious. So, off to the haberdashery store we go.”
“OK. I'm up for an adventure.”
Darren laughs. “There is no adventure here, sir. Just dire need. A queen must always look her best.”
I nod down toward his feet as they clip clop against the sidewalk. “Those spiked heel boots definitely accomplish that mission statement.”
He manages a little skip of sorts as he lifts one foot to admire himself. “Yes, well, you kind of have to live what you sell.”
“True words.”
“So, my incredibly handsome, disappointedly straight cousin, what brings you my way on this fine afternoon?”
“I can’t spend time with my favorite relative without having an ulterior motive?”
Darren stops walking and pushes his way inside a tiny hole in the wall store, practically overflowing with rolls of fabric. I have to turn sideways to make it past the aisle as I follow Darren to the wall displaying every possible color of thread you can imagine.
“You don't really need an ulterior motive,” he says as he picks up two different shades of red and compares them to a tiny bit of thread he pulls from his pocket. “But this is certainly unusual. Is something going on?” He lifts his gaze from what he is doing an meets mine. “How's your pursuit of the unattainable woman going?”
“Well, I took yours and Theo’s advice to be the guy she needs.”
“A loyal one,” Darren puts in as he returns one of the spools of red thread then gestures for me to turn so we can fight our way to the checkout counter.
“Not that I could be anything but. I’m not the kind of guy to tell you one thing then turn around and do another.”
“And that’s something I’ve always liked about you.” He hands the cotton to the cashier then reaches in his pocket, freezing suddenly. “Dang. I forgot my wallet.”
“I’ve got it,” I say, pulling mine out and handing over the cash. He thanks me then we push back out onto the street, heading back toward the club. “So, I’ve been meeting her each morning and walking her to work.”
