Page 24 of Simply Irresistible
“Oh, um…”
Preston laughed lightly. “Don’t worry. She doesn’t know you’re dating my brother-in-law.” Melanie looked relieved, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. “Tyler here keeps his professional life and his personal life completely separate; I assume you’d want to do the same.”
She looked at me, then back at Preston. “Yes, please.”
“Not a problem. What’s for dinner, Han?”
While my sister went into a lengthy description of the menu, I placed my hand on Melanie’s leg, just above her knee. She then crossed her legs, letting my hand fall to the sofa cushion. She glanced at me briefly, and I knew what she was saying.
“…”
***
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Preston Parks is your brother-in-law!”
I ignored the scalding tone of Melanie’s voice, instead opting to appreciate the fact that she was finally talking to me again. We had a nice dinner with Hannah and Preston. She spoke to the two of them at length about this, that, and the other thing, but she only spoke directly to me when absolutely necessary. It did not go unnoticed by Hannah, who whispered in my ear when I was hugging her goodbye that I should have told her about Preston.
I took Melanie’s coat from her and hung it on the hook on the back of my apartment door. I was surprised she even came back to my apartment with me, though I’m not entirely sure she realized she had since she silently fumed the entire way here.
“I don’t typically share that information because of work.”
“But we’re dating, Tyler. I understand why you might not want to share that information with a coworker, but I’m your girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You should be. You completely blindsided me. I was feeling bad enough being late, and then having that bomb dropped on me? How embarrassing. Everyone knew but me. I just saw Preston last week and he said nothing, but he knew, didn’t he? He knew I was your girlfriend?”
I nodded, feeling a little ashamed, but not much. I still didn’t think it was a big deal, but I understood why she did.
She flopped down on my bed and kicked off her shoes. “I’m so mad at you.”
“I know,” I said, kicking off my shoes.
“Like really mad.”
“I know you are,” I said as I unbuttoned my shirt. She eyed my fingers as they released each button. “I’m sorry.” I tossed my shirt in the laundry basket on the floor of my closet.
“Hmm?” She was staring at my naked chest.
“I said I was sorry.”
She looked up at me, snapping out of her lust induced haze. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It just didn’t come up. Honestly. I didn’t think about it until Hannah invited us to dinner and I realized you’d recognize him. I wasn’t intentionally keeping it from you. I don’t volunteer the information because he owns the company. He took it over when his father retired a few years ago. I got my job on my own merit, and I don’t want people to assume I got it handed to me because Preston is family.”
“I never would have thought that about you.”
“I know, babe. But other people would.” I unbuttoned my slacks and they dropped to the floor. Melanie was once again distracted. I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a t-shirt, tossing it at her.
“What’s this for?”
“You’re sleeping over.”
“I am?”
“Yep.”
She stood up from her place on the bed and I thought she’d make a move to leave, but she didn’t. Instead she pulled her blouse over her head, tossing it on the loveseat. Standing in front of me in her black skirt and a black lace bra, beautiful wasn’t enough of a word to describe the sight. Neither was breathtaking. Melanie was all those things and more. She reached behind her and unzipped her skirt. It fell to the floor revealing a black lace thong that matched her bra. She kicked her skirt off her feet, and it landed next to my pants. I liked seeing our discarded clothing next to each other on the floor like that.
