“Obviously we were right seeing as she’s gone. Look, I have court in a few and like you said, she’s not going to want to speak to me.” Pulling a small black disk out his desk, he hands it to me. “This will tell you where she’s at. Just get her back, no matter the cost.” With that, he leaves as I stare down at the address lighting up on the little black screen while I ponder if he’s asking to bring her back for the baby, or himself.
Putting the thought aside for now, I tell my father I have something important to do before getting into my Porsche. If I leave now, I can avoid the lunch hour traffic and find Jade.
16
Jade
I wake to an annoying tapping noise. When my vision clears, I scream when I see it’s someone tapping at my window. It’s pouring cats and dogs outside and I can barely make out Tyson’s wet form. Rolling down the window, I yell, “What the hell? How did you find me?”
“Unlock your doors and I’ll tell you.” Instead of doing what he asked, I just stare at him, dumbfounded. He’s here, out of nowhere, huddled up and freezing his ass off in the rain for me. Finally taking pity on him, I press the unlock button and he quickly walks around the car and jumps in. Not an inch of him is dry. The expensive suit he has on was plastered to his body like a second skin and he was trembling. Starting the car, I turn the heat up all the way so he won’t catch his death. I didn’t want to lose my job and be responsible for the death of the boss’ son all in one day.
“Are you going to tell me how you found me now?” I ask in a soft voice once the chattering of his teeth subsides.
“The Hastings have a tracker on your car,” he answers and a string of colorful expletives leave my mouth.
“That son of a bitch. Free and clear my ass. I should drive this car into the side of their house and be done with them once and for all. Leave town and send them their kid once he or she is born.” I was on a roll with my rant. I mean, I don’t even know why I was so surprised. Putting a tracker in my car is just something both Grayson and Nichole would do.
“Or,” Tyson says slowly and I move my gaze to him. “You can gather your shit and come stay at my condo. You know, until you can figure out another plan,” he suggests and I look at him like he’s gone coo-coo. Does he have a fever? The rain must have made him delirious for him to suggest such a thing. “Who knows, you might want to stay forever.” Yep, the man has definitely lost his damn mind.
“And what happens when you finally get sick of me? Me staying at your place will be very difficult for you. What will all your booty calls think?” Someone needs to be the voice of reason.
“Jade,” he sighs, “you’re no hardship. There are no more booty calls or anyone else, and even though I can’t put a label on this, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of you.”
“Pretty words from a pretty boy. You say all this shit now, but you’re just like the Hastings. You like to use people, use women. As soon as you get what you want, you’ll be kicking me out your place while talking shit about me in the same breath.”
My anger was heating the car more than what was coming from the vents and the windows were all fogged up, making it look like we were doing something more than having a heated discussion. “God, what makes you privileged pricks think…” I don’t get to finish my rant before he slams his lips against mine. This is no small kiss like the ones he leaves me at the end of the work day meant to tease me. No, this kiss is all-consuming, no holds barred, just like the one in the office, but a hundred times more heated. If I could burst into fire like a phoenix being reborn, I probably would have. His lips take over, and soon, I’m putty in his hands as my lips try to keep up with him while my brain takes a backseat. His hands roam my body and instead of feeling their iciness from the rain, I feel nothing but a heated trail I’m all too happy to follow to Naughtyland. When he pulls back, I’m disappointed and I poke my lip out like a spoiled child. How can one kiss reduce me to this?
“Don’t give me that look. If I keep kissing you, I’m going to fuck you in this car and I don’t want our first time to be in a parked car at a rest stop. Our first time will be with you laid out on my bed where I have enough time to do all the naughty things I have dreamed of. I’ll ravage your body and Grayson will be nothing but a distant memory.”
Oh my, what can a girl say to that? Absolutely fucking nothing.
“You still haven’t answered me,” he says in a husky voice and I shake my head, breaking the spell. I can’t let this man get to me. His mouth may be saying one thing, the right thing, but I know it’ll lead to another. Like McHottie and why I’m here in the first place.
“Regardless of what you say, I know I’m right. Let's get real here, Tyson. You’ve never been in a serious relationship. Fuck, I don’t even think you know what one is or the semantics behind one. As soon as you get tired of me, you’ll throw me away like yesterday’s trash and I’ll be utterly broken,” I admit, hating that I’m being so vulnerable with him. I’m stronger than this, and if I’m being honest, I’m still completely messed up in the head about the feelings I have for Grayson. Feelings I have no right to have, but they made a home inside me anyways.
“Jade, I can’t say it’ll be all roses. You’re right. I’ve never been in a relationship before, but I like you. I really like you, more than I have anyone. I’m intrigued by you, and I want to be with you exclusively. That’s more than I have given any woman. I’m no prophet. I can’t predict the future, but I know I want you in mine.”
“Tyson," I reply. Why is he making this so fucking hard?
“Please, jewel, come home with me. If you still feel uncomfortable, I’ll take you back to your place anytime you want. Just know if I do, I’m not giving up on you.”
He’s really fucking serious. He really wants me, wants us to be exclusive. Maybe the idea isn’t as crazy as I’m making it and he’s just what I need to forget about Grayson. He’s taken, but Tyson isn’t, and not a bad runner up if I say so myself. “Fine,” I relent and he gives me one of his charming, shit eating smiles. I hope I’m not leaving one trap just to be snared by another.
“Don’t look so surprised. You should know by now, jewel, I always get what I want.”
“Jewel,” I raise my brow. “Are you sticking to one nickname from now on?”
“I think I finally found the one. The others were just a test,” he replies, making me think he’s talking about more than a nickname. “Come, let's take my car since yours is being tracked. I’ll have someone come for it later and have the tracker removed.”
“Okay,” I agree, happy to have someone else handle McHottie’s shit. Him and Nichole went too far tracking me like one would do a pet.
We both dash to his car and once inside, I sink into the rich Italian leather seats. Now this is luxury. Tyson’s car smells just like him, purely man with a hint of evergreen from his aftershave. Listening to the purr of his engine, it’s like a lullaby, and it doesn’t take long before I close my eyes, drifting off back to sleep.