“What?” He sounded pissed. “Abby, do you really need Isabella tonight?” He grabbed the phone. “Do you really, really need her?”
“Do you really need her tonight, Jack, or can I have my best friend for one night?” I snapped at him.
“Oh, wow. You sound like you really do need her,” he said.
“Why, because I sound like a bitch?”
“I wasn’t going to say it, but …”
“Thanks very much, Jack.”
“Hey, you’re welcome. Fine, she can sleep over at your place tonight. But tomorrow night, she’s all mine.”
“She’s always all yours.”
“True. Is everything okay though? Seriously, Abby, is there anyone’s ass I need to beat?”
“You’d fight someone for me?” I said, all of a sudden feeling warm, happy feelings toward my best friend’s boyfriend.
“Of course. Anyone that my woman loves, I love too.”
“You’re a sweet guy, you know that, Jack? I think Isabella got a good one.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that you think so, seeing as you’re the one I spoke to initially.”
“Yeah, but it was her photo you saw.”
“True. She is my belladonna.”
“Your what?”
“I don’t know.” He laughed. “I’m sleepy, and I’m not making sense.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad she found someone like you.” I sighed. “Hopefully, one day I will as well.”
“I’m sure you will,” he said. “Okay, let me hand you back to Isabella. She’s glaring at me.”
“Okay.”
“And you’ll let me know if there’s anything I can do?”
“I will. Bye, Jack.”
“Good night, Abby.”
Isabella hopped back on the phone. “Hey, you want me to bring anything with me?”
“Some wine,” I sighed, “and some chocolate. And some pizza, if you have any.”
“Why would I have pizza right now?”
“Well, could you get some?”
“Of course. I’ll order one,” she said.
“Thank you, Isabella. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now, deep breaths, and I’ll be at your place soon, okay?”
“Okay. Bye.”
I hung up the phone and sat back in the back of the car. I could see the driver’s eyes peering at me through the rear-view mirror. I wondered just how much he’d heard and how much he was going to tell Dylan, not that I cared.
Well, I cared but there wasn’t much I could do about it.
He pulled up outside my apartment building and let me out. “Have a good evening, Miss Waldron.”
“Thank you.”
Chapter 24
Abby
I was about to head into my building when my phone rang. I hoped that it wasn’t Isabella canceling on me.
But no. It was Dylan.
“Hello?” I said, warily.
“You made it home okay?”
“I’m guessing you already know that.” I looked back at the car. “I guess your driver called and told you?”
“He told me that he dropped you off. He says you’re still standing outside the building.”
“Oh my God, are you spying on me? This is stalker shit, dude.”
“It’s not stalker shit. I’m just trying to make sure that you get home okay.”
“Well, I’m home, thanks. He can leave.”
“We want to make sure that you get into your apartment safely. I’ll stay on the phone until you get up.”
“What? This is ridiculous. This is something my dad would do, and my dad doesn’t even do this anymore.”
“I want to make sure that you’re okay because you don’t have your glasses and you can’t see—”
“I’m not blind, you know.”
“Well, you sure didn’t act like you were seeing all that well at the party when you came up to me and started doing your little dance.
“Whatever, dude.”
“Although it seemed like you enjoyed it.”
“No, I think you enjoyed it, actually, Mr. McAllister,” I said, fumbling for my keys.
“Oh, why do you say that?” he said innocently.
“We both know why I say that.”
“Tell me. I’m curious.”
“Really? You’re curious? You’re curious as a rock, huh?”
“Huh?” he said. “What does that mean?”
“Well, what are rocks?” I made my way into the building.
“I don’t know. They’re made of sediment and they’re—”
“What’s that saying, something as a rock?”
“Hard as a rock?”
“Bingo,” I said.
“Oh,” he chuckled. “Smart. That’s why I like you, Miss Waldron.”
“That’s why you like me? Really?”
“Yeah. I like you for your brain as well as your body.”
“Har har har.”
“Shouldn’t that be hard, hard, hard?” he said with another laugh and then he hung up.
I let myself into my apartment. I couldn’t believe that he’d called me, that he was checking up on me! But I also felt a warm glow at the thought that he’d wanted to make sure that I was okay. I still couldn’t stand him, I hated him and I was mortified and embarrassed, but I did appreciate the fact that he cared enough to make sure I got home okay. A lot of men wouldn’t have done that, especially in New York City. I was still determined to quit as soon as possible, but maybe just a little part of me didn’t hate him quite as much I was making out. Maybe just a little part of me had enjoyed feeling his hardness between my legs.
And maybe just a little part of me had wanted to give him a proper lap dance.
Chapter 25
Dylan
* * *
“Hey, Dylan. Who was that?” Kent walked over to me, a slight frown on his face. “And why did you tell your driver to take her home?”
“Dude, don’t tell anyone this, but that was my secretary.”
“Damn, I thought she looked familiar.” My brother frowned, looking confused. “So, your secretary is a stripper?”
“She’s not a stripper. I guess she’s a cake popper.”
“A what?” My brother looked as confused as I’d felt when she’d mentioned the term.
“I don’t know. I guess she just pops out of cakes?”
“Well, she was certainly sexy popping out of that cake,” he grinned. “How long has she been your secretary? I guess you’re about to fire her?”
“No, I’m not going to fire her. She’s a good secretary.”
“So you knew she was also a dancer when you hired her?”
“Supposedly, this is her first night.” I shrugged. “I don’t really know what’s going on. I’m going to have to speak to her more tomorrow.”
“She certainly knew what she was doing when she was shaking those hips,” Kent said, admiringly.