Page 12 of Jaime's Story

Chapter 4

Bryan

I let out a groan seeing the number pop up on my phone. I was hoping to get through the weekend without getting called in. I need to see Jaime. It’s been over a week since I saw her sweet face in person thanks to our work schedules and I’m going through withdrawal it feels like.

It’s been a month since we had our first date. If you can call the unexpected dinner at Gilbert’s a date that is.

We’ve talked almost daily through text and the occasional phone call, and I’m dying to claim her, hell even if it’s just her lips in a kiss. I’m desperate for a taste of her but something keeps holding me back from it.

When I took her home from seeing Arsenic and Old Lace, I was ready to, until her brother opened the door, looking between us in a mix of shock and distrust. I don’t know why he wouldn’t trust me. After helping two of his siblings and now Maia, I thought I’d earned at least some respect from the family, but it seemed that wasn’t the case, and I pulled back.

Instead of tasting her lips, I brushed a kiss to her cheek, and since then, it’s as far as I’ve dared take things. I’m sure once I’ve claimed a real taste of her, I won’t be able to stop, and she deserves more than some quick fuck in my car.

I’ve been debating about having her over to my place and just seeing what happens. I’ve hesitated on that because taking her from her parents’ place to mine…it’d be damn clear that we’re from vastly different worlds.

I drag in a deep breath, calming my frustrations as I answer, “Hey Chief, what’s up?”

“Bryan, I know it’s a bit last-minute,” he begins, and my jaw tightens. I have plans to go pick up Jaime in thirty minutes. Cancelling now just might kill me. “The department was given a handful of invitations to the Heart Ball next weekend. Apparently the hostess, Grace Elliott, has had some threats lobbed her way and they’d like to have in addition to their normal security, some undercover officers there as well. I hate asking the married men to give up the day since it’s Valentines, so what do you say?”

Fuck. This is what I get for not telling anyone I’ve been seeing Jaime I guess. Hell, I don’t know if her parents even know that we’re dating. Every time I stop by the house to pick her up they’re either out or she’s already coming out the door to meet me.

It’s another reason why I’ve hesitated to push ahead with us. I’ve never felt like she thinks my job is beneath her, but I know she deserves more. More than what I can offer her. Yeah, I have savings in the bank, little by way of every day expenses, but that’s a long way off from being able to sweep her away on some spur of the moment trip or give her everything she wants whenever she wants it.

Part of me thinks she knows she deserves to find someone like Jasmine did with Adam who can give her the life she’s used to. The rest of me hates the motherfucker that could do it though, so I keep ignoring it.

“Sure,” I finally agree, a little less enthusiastically than I normally would because an assignment like this does bring in a little extra money usually.

“You don’t sound sure, Bryan,” Aaron states and I let out a silent sigh trying to ignore the fact that I won’t get to spend the evening with Jaime now, and I’m not sure how she’ll take it.

“No, I’m good,” I lie, and he must believe it because he gives me the details, including the dress code, before I hang up. On one hand I’m glad I don’t have to cancel on Jaime tonight, but on the other, not spending Valentines with my new girlfriend—at least I’m pretty sure she’s my girlfriend, after this, she might not be—sucks.

I push it all aside and head out to get Jaime. We don’t have any set plans about what we’re doing tonight, it was more that I simply see her in person.

When I get there, for once, Jaime doesn’t come out the door immediately, although I am about five minutes early. I didn’t want to risk getting caught at the house and being asked to come in, not if I won’t get to spend next weekend with Jaime.

There are three other cars parked along the driveway and they make me curious as I head to the front door. As I’m about to ring the bell, it opens, but it’s not Jaime behind it. Instead, it’s a group including Maia, who gives me a smile.

“Hey, Jaime should be right down,” she says and the group behind her look like they want to come out, so I step aside letting them head down the front steps. A guy that shares a lot of similarities with Jeffery, who is glaring our way, comes out last with Maia and I take a step inside the house when they’re out the door.

“Jeffery,” I state, giving him a nod.

“So, you think you’re good enough for Jaime?” he returns and I’m second guessing who his glare was meant for now.

“I…”

“Leave him alone. Just because you’re a grump doesn’t mean everyone else is,” Jillian states, rolling her eyes as she shakes her head his way. “Ignore him, he’s overprotective of his little sisters on a good day, but since Maia’s going out with a group to celebrate our nephew Ashton’s eighteenth birthday, he’s in a worse mood than normal.”

My brow lifts a bit at that, and her grin says I’m not wrong. I can’t fault him for not wanting the girl he’s into going out with anyone else, even if it’s completely platonic, I’m just surprised that he’s interested in her. Not because there’s anything wrong with Maia, but because I heard plenty from the chief about the girl that tried to accuse him of assault and his resulting hatred of women.

“Hi,” Jaime says, hurrying over to us, and I smile seeing the look she shoots at Jillian. Her sister pushes Jeffery towards a room while she moves closer to me.

“Hi, princess,” I return, brushing a kiss onto her cheek and her little indrawn breath makes me feel better than I have since hearing Jeffery’s question. “Before we go, two things. First, is there anything you wanted to do tonight?” I ask wanting to avoid the thing with next week as long as possible.

“Mmm, not really. Just spend time with you,” she answers and shit, that makes my body wake instantly and I force myself to take a deep breath before asking her to come home with me.

“Anything for dinner sound good then?” I ask, studying her face. “Or how about we do Bamboo’s? You like them right?”

“Love them,” she says and it’s so damn hard to stop from stealing that smile off her lips until that word comes out towards me instead of about food. “What else was there you wanted to know before we go?”

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