Page 13 of Blueberry Cake
“Absolutely not, this was your treat.”
He leaned back in his chair and when she was within arm’s reach again, he pulled her between his widened legs. With one hand running up her outer thigh, he held hers with the other. “If you get home and change your mind about tomorrow, I won’t be upset.”
“You can change your mind too.”
“It’s a little too late for that on my end.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Just know there is always an out and Iwillunderstand. Things are more complicated for you, and that’s okay.”
She leaned down and captured his lips in a soft kiss. “Thank you.”
“Would you like me to walk you to your car?”
“That would be very sweet.”
He waited by the door until Queenie was sure she’d collected her things, then led her to the elevators. He offered her an arm, and Queenie hesitated before hooking hers into his elbow. It wasn’t until someone blatantly stared at her arm that the reason for her apprehension dawned on him: he was holding onto herleftarm. She’d made a comment about it during sex, but he’d truly forgotten.
The thought that Luka may have been responsible for her insecurity boiled his blood. His own flesh and blood had made this beautiful woman’s life hell, even ten years later.
“My car is on the other side of the park,” she said, indicating the right direction as soon as they stepped out of the lobby.
“Where do you live?”
“Off Westheimer and Voss.”
“Would you like me to pick you up tomorrow?”
“You don’t have to. You’d be driving past the zoo to get to me.”
“You can’t use that as an argument, Queenie.”
“Whatwouldbe an acceptable argument?”
“So, you can use it against me?”
“Basically.”
“Cheeky, but I’ll grant it. I would only accept something along the lines of not wanting a stranger to know where you live—or that you simply don’t want me to.”
“Such a gentleman. Because I think you are, I don’t mind sharing my address with you.”
“How about I’ll pick you up around eight and we can grab breakfast on the way?”
Queenie leaned closer to him, and he seized theopportunity to kiss her hair. “I like your ideas.”
Once her car was unlocked, he opened the door with one hand and cupped her cheek with the other, brushing his thumb over her kiss-swollen bottom lip. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
“Me too.” She stretched onto her tiptoes, stealing one last kiss before getting into her car.
He stepped back, waiting until she vanished in the distance before returning to his apartment.
Damn.Never in a million years had the thought that one day would change his whole perspective.
He’d had one-night stands before, but he’d never felt compelled to learn more than their name, much less cook them lunch—or ask them on a date.
When he’d first laid eyes on Queenie just the night before, he hadn’t thought she would leave him longing for more. He didn’t know what it was about her either. Maybe it was the fact that they somehow shared a past, even if it was a loose connection. Maybe it was the universe’s way of making up for his son’s mistakes, but could that really make him feel butterflies tingle in his stomach? The simple thought of her had his heart fluttering in his chest.
“Fuck,” he muttered to himself, stepping into the elevator.
Sure, the sex had been amazing and could have been the reason that Boyd was so flustered, but he knew better. There was so much more to Queenie than just being a good lay.
