“I do,” I said quickly. “Without it, I’m grouchy.”
“That makes two of us,” Desi said. “Let’s go.”
♫
When Desi and I were in bed, I finally opened up to her. The more I became aware of Gavin’s intentions toward me, the more I felt guilty for being into someone else, not that I should. “Guess who I sat next to?”
“Let me guess…Jennifer Aniston?”
“No, no one famous.”
“Then I don’t have a clue.”
“That guy from backstage.”
Her eyes widened and she sat up. “Oh my god. What are the odds?”
“Not very good, actually. He arranged everything.”
“Are you serious? That’s hot.”
I felt the heat in my cheeks.
“What’s he like?”
“Rich, handsome, sophisticated, educated, polite…”
“A good kisser?”
“I wouldn’t know,” I said sadly.
Desi’s eyes looked far away. “Wow. He’s really into you.”
“We’re having dinner tomorrow.”
She clapped her hands together. “Sleep with him. Please.”
“Whoa…I don’t put out on the first date.”
“So? You’ve had one boyfriend your entire life. You did everything slow and look where it got you.”
I hated thinking about Isaac. That relationship was the biggest waste of my time. All those years in college I could have been dating other guys, finding someone worth my time. Instead, I got a man that shattered my heart into so many pieces it could never be repaired. Thinking about it really brought down my mood. “What am I doing?”
“What does that mean?” Desi asked.
“I shouldn’t get involved with anyone.”
“Why? You’ve been single for months.”
“I—I just don’t want to be with anyone. I just don’t want to do it again. I’m not ready to risk another heartbreak where we end up hating each other. Life wasn’t meant to be that way. People come and go from your life. And that’s natural.”
Desi gave me a sympathetic look. “Don’t let the past ruin your future, Pru.”
“I’m not,” I said firmly. “That’s just my new philosophy.”
“Based on inaccurate data and unfortunate luck.”
I pulled the sheets further up my body, feeling suddenly cold. The warm and fuzzy feeling I had deep inside was gone. The butterflies in my stomach turned into mush. The excitement I felt for Cash disappeared. “I should cancel.”
“No,” Desi said firmly. “You’re going. I’ll force you if I have to.”
“If I’m out of the way, you can sleep with him.” I tried to entice her.
“He picked you. And you deserve to be happy. No one does more than you.”
Her words touched my heart. Desi was always a good friend, through thick and thin.
“You aren’t canceling,” she said again.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. “I don’t have his number—damn.”
“And you better not stand him up.”
“He’s picking me up. There isn’t much I can do at this point.”
“Yes,” she said excitedly. “The sex is going to be hot. I know it.”
“We aren’t having sex.”
“With a dreamy guy like that, there’s no way you’d keep your legs closed.”
I laughed. “Cash is going to wish he picked you instead of me.”
Chapter Eight
Cash Matthews
Why was I nervous to go on a date? I never was. But this girl made me nervous as hell. I guess it’s because I wanted her so badly.
And I mean, bad.
When my limo pulled up to the house, I adjusted my tie then stepped out. The apartment complex was right next to my office. She could see the food trucks where I had lunch every day right outside her window. That would be convenient when I wanted to come over for a quickie.
I’m getting ahead of myself here.
I still had to get the girl before I started planning all the places I’d fuck her.
I reached her apartment then knocked on the door. I sent her flowers earlier that afternoon, and I hoped that made her more interested in me, the sweet and gentle side of me. I’d give her anything she wanted if she decided to be mine.
And I mean anything.
The door opened, but it wasn’t Prudence on the other side. It was Gavin. And he looked pissed.
“Hello,” I said politely. “It’s nice to see you again.” I extended my hand.
He glared at it before he returned his gaze to my face. “Are you stalking her?”
If I wasn’t so intent on landing my muse, this guy would already be on the ground. And he should be grateful for that. “Is she ready?” I decided to ignore his comment entirely.
“Who’s at the door?” someone shouted from inside.
I recognized Prudence’s voice. I stared Gavin down, waiting for him to announce my presence.
The door was pulled ajar and Prudence appeared. When I saw her from head to toe, my heart accelerated. Her hair was pulled back, revealing the beautiful contours of her face. Her lips were bright red, and her eyes were dark with makeup. The black dress she wore was tight, forming to her every curve. Her breasts were large and round, and her legs were long. She turned around and grabbed her purse. The sky-high heels made her ass look even nicer.
God, she looked beautiful. Damn beautiful.
Gavin eyed her appearance but didn’t seem happy about it. “Is he bothering you?”
“What?” she asked. “No.”
He eyed me again before he left the entryway. I heard a door slam a moment later. The puppy probably returned to his hole to cry.
Prudence grabbed her clutch then stepped out of the apartment. “Sorry about that…”
“It’s okay.”
No, it wasn’t. I was pissed.
The lead guitarist in her band was just as obsessed with her as I was. Which was a big problem for me since they were living together. The jealousy burned inside me but I kept it back. It was far too early to reveal my true colors. “You look exceptional.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
I extended my arm. “Shall we?”
She hooked hers through mine.