Page 33 of Double Booked

She laughed but there was an edge to it. As if she couldn't decide if she was excited or terrified. “I’m saying yes. I want to be yours. I want to try.” Pride swelled in me at her bravery. Determination rose quickly after. I wouldn’t let her or Justin’s bravery be in vain. This was going to work.

I leaned across the booth and cupped the back of her head, pulling her forward for a quick kiss. “Thank you,” I murmured against her lips.

She smiled tentatively and Justin extended his hand across the table. She placed hers in his and he squeezed it but didn’t say anything.

“So what’s next?” She asked. “How long are you here for?”

“We didn’t buy a return ticket,” Justin told her. “We weren’t going to give up until we convinced you.”

Her mouth dropped open briefly before she recovered. “Oh, okay,” she stammered and it only reinforced my thoughts that she hadn’t had very many people put effort into treasuring her like she deserved.

“Do you have to write?” I asked her. “We can keep you company.”

Riley laughed and looked at her computer. “I mean I do but my brain isn’t cooperating. Taking one day off won’t kill me and you all must be tired from the flight.” She hesitated and Justin squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Maybe we could go back to my place and order takeout and talk? Communication is important right?”

She looked at me and I smiled. “It is. And that sounds perfect.”

Justin nodded next to me and released Riley’s hand so she could pack up her laptop. When she was done, I took the bag from her as I slid out of the booth. Justin and Riley stood at the same time and my breath caught when Justin placed a hand on Riley’s hip and drew her close to him. With his other hand, he tipped her chin up to look at him and lowered his head.

“May I kiss you?” He asked, like the gentleman I knew he wasn’t.

Riley nodded, speechless and Justin lowered his lips to hers. A soft moan escaped Riley’s lips but Justin kept the kiss soft and sweet. A lightness filled my chest even as my cock swelled in my jeans. This was everything I had ever wanted. Justin ended the kiss and Riley blinked at him like she was in a daze. He smiled softly at her and placed a kiss on her forehead. He guided her out of the coffee shop with one hand on her lower back and I walked behind him. We all squinted when we stepped out of the coffee shop into the bright sunshine.

“Do you need to go back to your office?” I asked.

Riley nodded. “I need to grab my stuff and check in with Ryan. He’s shipping some orders today and sorting packages.”

When we walked into her office space, Ryan let out an undignified squeak when he saw Justin’s hand in Riley’s. Riley shook her head at him but there was a smile on her lips. She let go of Justin’s hand and crossed to her desk, grabbing a backpack from behind it and scooping up her keys from the bowl on the corner of her desk. “Don’t worry, we’re not staying. We’re going to get dinner at my place.” She told Ryan.

“You better not be,” Ryan shot back. “Go. Enjoy. Do everything I would do.”

Riley shook her head at him but smiled. “Is there anything you need from me before I go? I’ll have my phone on.”

Ryan shook his head. “I’m almost done. I’ll drop the special editions off at the post office tomorrow morning.”

“Anything interesting in the mail?”

“Nope. Just a box or two of newspaper clippings. I’ll sort them like the others.”

“Do you often get boxes like that?” Justin asked, his brow furrowed.

“Sometimes. My fans will sometimes send things in for inspiration and I usually credit in the acknowledgements if I use anything.”

“That’s really neat actually,” Justin squeezed her hand.

Riley shrugged, a blush tinging her cheeks. Ryan watched her carefully but there was a small smile on his face like he approved.

“I’ll take care of all of it.” Ryan said, “Now get out of here and go get a taste of Kentucky,”

“Ryan!” Riley scolded but Ryan just waggled his eyebrows at her and Justin let out a short laugh. Seemed like Ryan was all on board.

Riley rolled her eyes but gave him a short wave as she headed towards us. Justin tugged the backpack off her shoulder when she reached the door and pressed a finger to her lips when she went to protest. A flare of heat flashed in Riley’s eyes even as her eyes narrowed at him.

“I can carry my own bags,” she looked between Justin and I.

“I know. But why should you have to when we’re around?”

Riley didn’t look like she had an answer so I guided her out the door with a hand on her back. We followed Riley’s car through the streets of Minneapolis until she pulled into a parking garage with condo units built above it. I had seen parts of her condo during our video chats but it looked emptier in person. It had a modern loft style with concrete floors and black and white furnishings. It didn’t seem like Riley at all but I could see little hints of her personality in the rugs she chose and the pictures on the walls. Without those small touches, It almost seemed like she bought it for someone else. Or to be someone else.

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