Run to Love (Triple R Book 1) (24 page)

Kiera chuckled and leaned back in her chair.

I tapped my fingers on the counter. “So what about ‘Beautiful, I want you?”

“Take it out. It’s begging. No woman wants a man to beg. We want you to find your fucking balls and testicle up! Be a man. Tell us what you want, what you need, admit when you’re wrong, and tell us how you’re going to make up for it—but don’t beg for it.”

I looked over the words again. I knew Presley and the words felt right but I deleted them. “All right.”

Jude:
Here’s the truth. That was my ex-girlfriend from ISU, Kiera Maxwell. She’s in town for the night. I invited her to dinner at my place. No, I didn’t tell her about you and no, I didn’t tell you about her. I’m sorry, that was wrong. She told me she was going to be moving to Omaha and she tried to kiss me. That’s what you saw. I did NOT kiss her. Then I ran after you, because Presley, I only want you. Not her.

I showed the text to Kiera. She nodded and I hit send.

Kiera blew out a long breath. “Well, I wanted to get screwed tonight. I guess I kind of did.”

“I think we both did, Kiera. Let’s have some dinner.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Mondays were not my favorite. Plus, knowing I had to work late tonight was going to make the day drag. To top off my dread for the day, Drexel was being weird. Like really creepy weird. When I walked in the door, he asked me how I was doing and seemed sincere … and my skin tried to eject like a parachute off my body. I demanded it remain where it was.

I avoided him for the rest of the day, but around four p.m., he poked his blue eyes in my office door.

“Hey, Presley, was talking to Sam and we both like your headshot for April’s Salesman … shit! I mean Salesperson of the Month. Great picture.”

I rolled my eyes, but I had to admit, Mark did a great job. The picture wasn’t like Drexel’s. His was all business—suit, tie, serious. Mine was much more me. Soft and approachable, not stuffy. I was thinking of getting a copy for Jude to have. After all, I had a picture of him … all of him. I wouldn’t admit to him that I kept a copy of the drawing, but I did.

Drexel sighed. “Anyway, I have some follow-ups coming in tonight, you want me to cover your late night?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, go on. Sam’s staying and so is Marcus. We’ve got it covered.”

“You’re just trying to keep me from being the May Salesperson of the Month.” He shook his head. “Aren’t you?”

I noticed how friendly his smile could actually be. I sent back a genuine one.

“No, I’m done being a jackass to you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Um, you have a beautiful smile, Presley.”

“Thanks, Dix…” I coughed. “Drexel.” That was a scary almost slip-up. “If you’re sure, I’d love to surprise my boyfriend with dinner tonight.”

His face paled. “He’s your boyfriend?”             

“Yeah.” I glanced to make sure my computer was shutting down. When I looked back, his eyebrows almost touched to one another. “Are you okay, Drexel?”

“Well, I … I was wondering…” His face flushed deeper with each word of the broken sentence and he leaned back into the hallway. “Yeah, I heard you, Sam. I’ll be right there.” He leaned back in. “Can we talk tomorrow?”

“Sure.” I stood and grabbed my purse from my top drawer. “Thanks again for covering my shift, Drexel. I owe you one.”

“I’ll be looking forward to payback, Miss Perfect.”

I tipped my head at him. He looked me up and down, sighed and left.

That was weird.

I texted Willow on the way to my car.

Prez:
Can you find out Jude’s address from Kanyon? Want to surprise him with dinner…and something else? ;-)

Stopped at a light, I checked my phone.

Willow:
It’s 11008 White Street the north side of the duplex. Have fun. Text if you’ll be staying ALL night. I’ll take care of the panting fluff ball.

Prez:
Thanks! Will do and her name is Foo-Foo.

Willow:
I will never call her that ridiculous name.

I laughed.

After stopping off to let Foo-Foo do her thing, I picked up Chinese food. God only knew what Jude ate on a daily basis. A never-ending supply of protein bars and shakes? Gross.

I pulled in behind a blue sedan with a rental sticker on the back bumper at the address Willow texted.

Maybe the girls next door have someone over?

I balanced the food while I reached for the doorbell when movement inside the house caught my eye. I turned to my right and my body froze as I glanced inside. A beautiful tall redhead had her hands on Jude’s face. When his eyes connected with mine, the moment was like a plug to a socket. Electricity flowed through us and I was electrocuted from the inside out.

I spun while hearing Jude yell my name. My body moved independently of my thoughts. I tripped on the last step and the food crashed to the ground. I left the brown bag and contents littering the driveway. The frantic beating of my heart and the bile rising in my throat had me on one mission. Get the hell out of there.

I squealed the tires from the driveway, driving way too fast and shaking uncontrollably. Stopping the car blocks away and over a hill, I let go of every emotion, and after opening my door, the contents of my stomach. I had to force myself to stop vomiting, knowing it wasn’t healthy. I had to keep better control of my physical response to my emotions.

My phone rang in my purse and without seeing who it was, because I knew who it was, I turned the phone off. I collected myself for the drive home. How could I be so stupid?

Inside the house, Foo-Foo ignored her food and took care of me instead. Her body nuzzled into mine, trying so hard to make me feel better. And I did, marginally. I crashed in a crying heap onto the bed while she stared up at me from her bed on the floor.

He seemed so genuine. So real. And so right. At least you found out before—

I woke up exhausted. My sleep was sporadic. Remnants of mascara and eyeliner ran down my face in charcoal lines of pain. It wasn’t a great look.

“Fucking men!” I gazed into the mirror at what was scary enough to chase any testosterone-based life-form away. Foo-Foo tipped her head and lay down prone while yapping her own disgust.

A shower and coffee did their part in getting me to a more presentable state of being. The dealership was almost comforting. Safe and friendly. I tried to put pep in my step to fake happiness until the emotion was real. I failed miserably.

Late in the afternoon I was having a mini-meltdown alone in my office, my chair turned away from the door.

“Hey…” Drexel rounded the corner into my office.

I wondered if I was actually in hell as I spun my chair to face him.

His All-American boy features softened when he saw me. “What’s wrong, Miss Perfect?”

“Nothing,” I mumbled. “What do you want?” I wiped my face with a tissue.

“Stand up!” he declared, almost as a demand.

“Drexel, I don’t need any of your bullshit today. I’m not in the mood. Please leave.” The words came out through broken sobs.

He closed my door, walked around my desk, pulled me from my chair, and wrapped his arms around me in a warm hug. Without warning, I detonated into a mass of blubbering XX chromosome in his arms. It was heartbroken female Chernobyl in my office and people walking by the glass-fronted door scampered by like the emotional radiation would seep out and contaminate them. I didn’t know how long I continued to make a scene but when I slowed the leaking fluids, Drexel glanced down and smiled at me. Like … genuinely smiled.

What the hell?

“Okay, got that out of your system?” He wiped the tears from my cheeks.

“Yeah, thanks.” I tried to step away and his arms continued to hold me firmly.

“I take it New Guy was an ass?”

“How’d you figure that out?” The sarcasm was veiled by a small whimper of sadness when the memory of Jude and the redhead filled my thoughts.

“Not that I’m proud of it, but I’ve made one too many girls look like you look, Presley … lost, hurt, destroyed.” He softly rubbed my back as he spoke.

“Yep, basically how I feel, just add foolish and betrayed.”

“So tell me the story.”

“You don’t want to listen to my verbal blubbering, Drexel. Thanks for the offer. You can leave and pretend you didn’t see anything.” I pushed him away and sat back down.

“Nope, not going anywhere until you spill. I’m here for you, Presley.” He plopped in a chair.

I gave him the abridged version, more to get him to leave than for support.

“Sorry. That sucks.” He cleared his throat. “Presley, I don’t want to be the unsupportive jerk you probably already think I am, but do you think that maybe it was all a mistake? Maybe just bad timing and circumstances? Have you talked to Jude today?”

“No, and I’m not going to.” I wiped my nose. “I’m going to move on and be okay.”

“Well, in that case … um … want to get a drink tonight?”

My head snapped up at his question.

Does Drexel actually like me?

His baby blue eyes roamed my face before dropping to my desk and examining my nameplate like he’d never seen it before.

“You weren’t lying last Friday in the copy room, were you?” I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my desk.

“About what?” He messed with the paperweight on the edge of my desk, spinning it like a top.

I placed my hand on top of his to stop the juvenile fidgeting. “About actually being interested in me.”

His eyes slid up to mine. “I wasn’t.”

I went to open my mouth but he held up his other hand to stop me.

“And I know what a prick I’ve been to you. If the dealership was an elementary school playground, I’ve figuratively pulled your pigtails for two years. Hell, I kind of ripped your hair out at the roots. I’m sorry for that.”

“So, even before I lost the weight?”

“You’ve always been perfect to me, Presley, that’s why I call you Miss Perfect. I mean it.” His eyes softened and he swallowed hard. “The way you sell cars is fucking hot, your sassy and strong personality is fucking hot, and now your amazing body is fucking hot, but that one didn’t matter to me. It only adds to your hotness factor.”

“Holy shit, Drexel.” I drew my hand from his slowly. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll have a drink with me. You owe me one for last night.”

“I don’t know, Drex. I’m messed up. I’m confused, and I really just need a friend.”

He was silent for a moment, then he asked, “Do you hate me?” He leaned back in his chair and grabbed the arms as if to brace for bad news.

“No, of course not.”

“Would you ever want to be my friend?”

I paused to consider my answer carefully. “I think we could build a friendship, if
this
Drexel is for real. Honestly, I don’t think I’d ever feel more.”

He rose from the chair and turned toward the door. “Friends it is. I’ll see you at six. Does Firebirds sound okay?”

“Sounds good. See you later.”

“Later, Miss Perfect.”

****

I closed a sale and was feeling better by the end of the afternoon. I grabbed my phone from my purse and after turning it on I avoided the messages from Jude. All five text messages and two voicemails.
And
two e-mails? How did he even get my e-mail address? Triple R! Talk about stalker.

I called Willow.

“Hey, Prez,” she answered with a reserved tone. “How are you?”

“You heard me last night, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, when I got home from Kanyon’s. Wanna talk about it?”

“I went to his home and saw him with a redhead through the window.”

“What the fuck? Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Did he say anything?”

“He yelled for me to wait but I didn’t. He’s texted a few times. I’m not going to read them. He left voice mails. I’m not going to listen to them. He even found my e-mail in my Triple R file and sent me two e-mails—not interested in what they have to say. But actually, that’s not why I’m calling.”

Willow cleared her throat. “Maybe you should listen to the messages, Presley.”

“I can’t. I thought he was different. I thought he… ” I started to choke up but I gritted my teeth. “Anyway, I’m going to Firebirds to have a drink with Drexel after work.”

“Presley, come on … Dixless? He’s never been nice to you.”

“He admitted he likes me, always has.” Realizing I was tired of not saying the three-letter word that held some imaginary grasp on me, I added, “Even when I was fat. That’s why he always calls me Miss Perfect ‘cause he actually means it, even though I’m far from it. I’m not going to jump from one guy to another. I don’t like Drexel that way. I’ll be fine.”

“Prez, please…”

Just the tone she started the sentence with told me it wasn’t something I wanted to hear right now, even if it was the best advice in the world. She couldn’t always be by my side to coddle me and make things better. I needed to stand strong by myself.

“I only called to let you know what was going on so you wouldn’t worry. Have a good night. Good-bye, Willow.”