Page 37 of Only If You Dare

“Also, Mr. Drake is waiting for you at the entrance. Neither one of us were aware you would be driving.”

We pulled up to the Bentley, and I tossed Josiah the keys to a Jaguar I’d rented for him to drive around the city.

“Now you know,” I winked and dropped Kelsey’s luggage on the back seat while Josiah held open her passenger door.

Darrell Drake was my chauffeur. When I pulled behind the limo, Darrell quickly made his way to my window. I powered it down.

“Mr. Rose,” Darrell said, “Are you driving, Sir?”

“Good morning, Darrell. Why do you insist on calling me, Mr. Rose?”

“It’s the professional thing to do, sir.”

I tilted my head. “Have it your way. I’m taking the Bentley and I need to make a stop, so Kelsey here will keep you company until we get to the hangar.”

“Yes sir.” Darrell rounded the front of the Bentley and opened Kelsey’s door.

“If you need anything, call me.”

“I will,” she said.

I waited for Kelsey to get safely inside the limo. Darrell closed her door and got behind the wheel pulling slowly away from the curb. I followed, then made a left turn at the traffic light with Josiah trailing me. Reaching for the dial, I turned the stereo on, and Trey Songz pumped through my speakers.

When I pulled to the entrance of the mall, I parked and jumped out dialing Desiree. The days were cool although the sun sat high. I leaned my back against the passenger door just as Desiree answered.

“Hey,” she said exiting the building. I watched her as she searched for me and I admired the delicateness of her curves as they took charge and rode the jeans she wore.

“Straight ahead, Bella,” I said. Santana cruised out and stood at her side. Josiah got out of the Jag and stood next to me.

“So that’s her?” he asked.

“The one on the right,” I said.

When Desiree kept her eyes my way, I wondered if she felt the heated tinge strike her as it struck me. The connection we had was profound, making me want to be with her always. I shook my head thinking I must be losing my mind or having a midlife crisis. The more I told myself it was just physical attraction, the less I believed it. As Desiree neared, I pulled my weight off the Bentley and met her halfway taking the bags out of her hands.

“Are you sure you’ve got enough?” I asked.

She smirked. “If that’s your way of telling me I bought the whole mall then you would be over exaggerating.”

I smiled. “I don’t know. These bags are heavy.”

She pushed off me. “Whatever.”

“I’m just messing with you girl.” My eyes roamed over her light brown skin and bare belly. I hadn’t had the chance to see her flat stomach on display before, and the piercing in her navel was a sexy touch to her already seductive look. I moved my eyes from her belly and landed on her lips then her light brown eyes.

“You’re beautiful,” I said.

She blushed. “Thank you. If you keep that up, you’re going to spoil me.”

“I’m counting on it.”

Josiah cleared his throat.

“Oh,” I put prayer hands together. “Forgive me. Santana, this is my brother, Josiah. He’ll keep you company while we’re away.”

Santana stepped closer to Josiah and offered her hand. My brother accepted it, bending down to place a kiss on the back.

“How are you, Santana,” Josiah asked.

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