Page 18 of Found By Him

I’m glad to move on to a safer topic when she says, “I’d ask if you tracked the G-Wagon to know I was here, but I didn’t drive.”

I laugh. I did, in fact, check the tracker multiple times earlier, which showed her at work and then at home. But I answer honestly, “No, my walking in here was strictly by chance.”

The bartender drops off my food. I start eating, even as another kind of hunger permeates me.

Out of the corner of my eye, Gisella’s watching me again as she sips her wine, a contemplative expression playing on her features.

“Quarter for your thoughts?”

Her nose scrunches up. “Pretty sure it’s penny for your thoughts.”

I set my burger down and wipe my hands on my napkin. “Nah, yours are worth more to me.”

And they are. I would pay a lot of money to know what goes on in the pretty head of hers.

She rolls her lips in and presses them together, the corners turning up slightly. Eventually, she shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

I disagree, but I let the moment pass. Instead, I say, “Those cookies were really good.”

Her face lights up. “I’m so glad you liked them. Did you end up sharing them?”

“Absolutely not.” I probably won’t admit to anyone how much I enjoyed eating every single one, simply because she made them. But I wasn’t lying. They were delicious. “Did you ever think about opening a bakery instead of going into accounting?”

She gives a sad shrug. “Not really. When I was younger and thinking about a career, I wanted something that was very stable. I always had chaos and uncertainty around me, so having a career that was dependable made me feel safe.”

It gave her control. Which makes complete sense to me. That’s probably why I went into the military and later started my own company. It allowed me to be in a career that required extreme amounts of self-discipline that help give me a greater sense of control. As for the part of her feeling safe…that calls to a deeper part of me. One that wants to do everything I can to make sure she keeps feeling that way.

She continues, her voice soft and reflective. “I think there was also a part of me that was concerned that if it was my job, I wouldn’t enjoy it as much. Baking is how I decompress after a stressful day. Or perk myself up when I’m sad.” A small smile plays across her full lips that I want to devour like her cookies. “So, I figured it was better to keep it as a hobby.”

As I finish my meal, she asks me about the event I just came from, and I tell her some of the more amusing stories I have from working security both at events and for individuals. Her laughter hits me straight in the balls. I always thought I had more sophisticated turn-ons, but apparently, they have regressed to being able to make a woman laugh.

Or, more specifically, just this one.

By the time I’m done paying both our bills and arguing with Gisella that I don’t care if she thinks I shouldn’t pay for a dinner I wasn’t even present for, I’m hard as a rock.

“Uh, Jack?” Gisella’s nervous lilt has my full attention. I turn on the barstool to face her more fully. “Will you wait with me until my ride-share gets here? It would be nice to, um, not wait by myself.”

I rear back slightly in surprise. As if I would ever just leave her to get into some stranger’s vehicle, alone. “No, Gisella. I’m not going to wait with you.” Her face falls. “Because I’m driving you home. This is not up for debate.”

Her shy smile does not help the uncomfortable situation in my pants, but I wouldn’t trade that for anything at the moment.

We stand, and I gesture for her to lead the way through the restaurant. I follow close behind, selfishly taking a few moments to enjoy the view.

Once we’re outside on the sidewalk, my hand finds its way to her lower back as I guide her to my vehicle. The brush of her arm against my side lights my skin on fire.

I help her into the passenger seat and buckle her in, once again ignoring her protests that I didn’t need to do that.

We settle into a comfortable silence as I drive through the crowded city streets.

When we’re a few minutes from her building, Gisellashifts in her seat to turn my way. “I’m glad you showed up tonight, Jack.”

I have to clear my throat at the bolt of arousal caused by her soft-spoken words. “I am, too.”

After I park at the sidewalk and help her from the car, I escort her to the exterior door of her building. Gisella pivots to me and turns her face up, a shy smile on her full lips.

I don’t question my next move. My hand slides under her hair, grasping her neck. I pull her head up to meet mine as I bend down. Gisella’s hands clasp my waist as my lips touch hers. Her tongue greedily toys with mine, telling me all I need to know about whether she was hoping this would happen as much as I was. Wrapping my other arm around her waist, I pull her flush against me. Her arms wrap around me and squeeze as my fingers up her neck and into her hair, grasping from the roots to tighten my hold. Her answering moan incites more desire to explode within me than I thought possible from just a kiss. She feels so goddamn good against me.

It isn’t until I hear the click of the door to her building closing that I remember we’re on the sidewalk.

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