Text Me, Maybe

by Jolyse Barnett

  “Huh?” She followed his gaze. “Oh, yeah,” she said, running her hand over Wicked’s cover. “But it was a lot different from the play. Darker and without a happily-ever-after.” She looked out the window. They’d arrived at the New York Public Library.

  He tilted his head. “Admit it, you do have a romantic side.”

  “Did you read this?” she asked, anxious to avoid any more talk that would lead back to sex.

  “A few years ago.”

  “Did you read the sequel?” She found herself staring at his hands on the steering wheel as he parallel-parked. Such incredible, knowing hands. She swallowed hard. They might not be talking about sex anymore, but she was definitely still thinking about it.

  “What’d you say?” he asked.

  Hmm. Was Matthew still thinking about it, too?

  Duh. He’s a guy. Of course he is.

  Somehow, that knowledge gave her solace. “I was wondering if you read the sequel. I considered borrowing it, but changed my mind.”

  “Didn’t read it.” He gave her a long look. “I’ve changed mine, too. I do want to rush.”

  Lexie’s system went into overdrive when he leaned over in ultra-slow-motion then planted the sweetest, most toe-curling kiss on her.

  Just like her Naughty Girl side wanted.

  A long moment later, he pulled away.

  “What’re you doing?” All she could think about was getting back into his bed.

  Who are you kidding? You want him so bad you’d let him take you right here.

  “It’s your move.”

  She quivered, desperate for him. He’d only touched her mouth with his. A simple kiss. “I don’t understand. How can one kiss make me feel so…” Was this what being ravished felt like?

  He locked eyes with her, his body poised for action. “Hot?”

  She nodded. “Let’s go.”

  Matthew revved up the engine. “Back to your place?”

  She shook her head. “Yours. Now.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Matthew couldn’t get her into the house fast enough. He started up the stairs, eager to get her back into his bed where she belonged.

  Where she wanted to be.

  “Wait.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Need something?”

  She hooked her pinkie at him as she sauntered to the bottom of the stairs. “You.”

  He was eager to be with her—whatever way she wanted it. He sank onto the third step and reached up to rid her of that cute mini-skirt.

  “Slow down, lover,” she admonished. “We have all night.”

  There was only one thing sexier than Lexie all soft and willing, and that was Lexie in control. He started over, sliding his hands up her satin curves. Her bare legs were warm and smooth, and he groaned under his breath when he reached that triangle of silk beneath her skirt. He knew the secrets that lay beneath. Molding his palm against her heat, he looked up and locked eyes with her. “I’ve been aching to touch you here.”

  She responded with a sigh, her hands curling around his shoulders as he pulled her close for a kiss.

  A long, deep, soul-searching kiss.

  She moaned against his mouth.

  Her desire had him sliding his lips to her neck. Blood roared in his ears, and his body pulsed with need. She was all vanilla, flowers, and woman. “I want you so much.” He’d beg if she wanted. He was coming undone.

  “Let’s go in the dining room,” she whispered, tugging on his shirt and pulling him up to walk with her.

  They stumbled together in their haste, and he clicked on the light switch as they entered the dining room. The chandelier cast a muted glow across the long, oak table. What did she want?

  “I feel…restless.” She ran her hand along the furniture’s polished surface then faced him, an unspoken request in her eyes.

  “Me, too, baby. Me, too.” He enveloped her with his arms and crushed her to him. She might be too shy to detail her wishes, but he was more than capable of filling in the blanks. “I aim to please,” he whispered.

  “Please. Me.” She bit her bottom lip. “I need you.”

  Matthew flipped her so she faced the table. He hugged her from behind, whispering in her ear. “I don’t know if I can take it slow.”

  She glanced over her shoulder with a soft smile. “Then don’t.” She wiggled against him.

  So sexy. He ran his hands along her arched back, gently folding her over the table, then lifted her skirt to slide off her panties.

  All the way down her long, curvy legs, and onto the floor.

  With a rasp of a zipper and the tear of foil, with one hand on her wiggling hip while the other guided him home, he plunged into her. At her gasp, he held still, waiting.

  She made a small, eager sound and backed up against him. Ah. She was ready. He pushed into her, slow at first, then hard and fast, reaching around her waist and searching until he found that sensitive, slick hardness at her center, just how she liked it. He rubbed, and her sighs and moans quickly escalated into screams of abandoned pleasure, her wet, pulsing tightness giving him the green light to finally let go. He heard himself grunting her name and, as the world fell away, he emptied his heart and soul deep inside her.

  His legs shook, and he collapsed against her, half laughing, half groaning as he propped up on his elbows to avoid hurting her. He planted a trail of kisses along her spine, nuzzling her and inhaling her scent until her breathing slowed to normal.

  When he turned around after cleaning up, Lexie was perched on the table, hands on her lap and skirt in place, her flushed cheeks and luminous gaze the only telltale signs she’d just had wild, quickie sex. “Oh my. Wow!” She grinned.

  “Sorry it was so fast.”

  “Fast is good.” She shook her head. “Turns out it was just what I needed.” Reaching out, she ran her hands down his arms. “I’ve never been so brazen.”

  “Brazen Lexie is amazing.” He linked his fingers with hers and sighed, content.

  “This might seem strange, but I’ve been thinking about how I feel like there’s still a lot for me to learn about you.” She peered up at him thoughtfully through her tousled bangs.

  He dropped her hands and stepped back. There went his short-lived peace. “Ask away.”

  “Okay, I will.” She slid off the table.

  His throat squeezed with emotion as she curled against him. When he’d talked to Chris earlier that week, he’d learned that the chance he’d ever be forgiven were slim to none.

  Fuck that. What we have together is special.

  But he wasn’t the expert, and he couldn’t take the risk of losing her forever. Matthew kissed her forehead and slid his arms around her, holding her close against his heart. Damn. How had she become so important to him in such a short time? He’d barely made it through a few days without her in his arms.

  And he was good at making her happy. How could that be a bad thing?

  He cleared his throat. “Come upstairs first?”

  At her eager nod, he scooped her into his arms, and she smiled up at him, her hands linked around his neck. To distract himself from thoughts of an unhappy end, he kissed the top of her head and headed straight for the bedroom. If he made love to her and gave her everything he had, he’d become as important in her world as she’d become in his. Then, maybe they’d beat the odds.

  In the meantime, he couldn’t be caught in his lies if they were too busy having sex.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Lexie put the finishing touches on her current scene and set her pen and notebook on the nightstand. What a night…sex in Matthew’s dining room followed by slower lovemaking in the shower, then in his bed until they fell asleep.

  She leaned back on the pillows and stretched before turning to gaze at the man next to her. Sunlight streamed through the bedroom window, highlighting his features as he pored over the Sunday paper.

  He was a beautiful human. She touched his forearm.

  Warm.

  Solid.
/>
  Secure.

  When he’d promised her late last night that things would work out, that last niggling piece of knotted worry had begun to untangle.

  And this morning she’d woken up to a sunny room and the man who freed her from all her fears, and gave her reason to believe fairy tale endings could happen in real life. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

  He looked up from the sports section and met her gaze, his eyes questioning.

  “I was thinking—” She’d held her heart so close for so long, could she take a chance on love?

  “You okay?”

  “I was thinking about how happy I am.” She blinked back the swell of emotion bubbling to the surface.

  He tossed the paper onto the floor and pulled her against him, his eyes shining.

  Lexie leaned close, her heart racing at the thought of another round of lovemaking before they attended brunch at Cedar Crest with Etta.

  The phone vibrated on his nightstand.

  An odd sense of foreboding filled her. “Should you get that?”

  He leaned in, and his stubble scraped her chin.

  “What if it’s about Etta?”

  He froze, then jerked up to answer the phone. “Hello?”

  She didn’t need to hear the person on the other end of the line. The sad acceptance was written all over Matthew’s face, and her tears of joy transformed into drops of sorrow.

  “She’s gone.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Lexie hugged him, her heart breaking for the little boy inside the strong man.

  His face was stoic when he leaned back and brushed the tears off her cheeks with his thumbs. “She’s no longer in pain.” He sighed and washed a hand over his face. “I’ve a lot of arrangements to make.”

  “Want me to help?”

  Matthew looked at her. “You sure?”

  No, scares the hell out of me, but I’ll do it for you. She nodded and leaned into him so he wouldn’t glimpse her fear.

  He squeezed her close then moved away slowly to get out of bed. “Thank you.”

  Lexie watched the man she was falling in love with trudge into the master bath. Three short weeks since she’d met him, but she couldn’t seem to remember what it felt like to be single.

  Defying Gravity sounded from her purse.

  “Hello?” She listened, pulling at the neck of her tee. “Today? Now? Wow, thanks for your interest.” An agent was interested in her? She glanced at the bathroom door. Oh God, she couldn’t leave him. “Uh, I’m really sorry, but I’m unavailable today.” She took a breath. “There’s been a death in the family.” She rolled out of bed, reassuring herself there would be other opportunities. No way was she leaving him on one of the worst days in his life. “Okay, sure.”

  “You didn’t just pass up an offer on your play?” He stood by the dresser.

  She busied herself by throwing on her clothes from yesterday, fresh from the dryer.

  “You shouldn’t have done that. Opportunities like that are—”

  She flicked a hand in dismissal, and forced herself to maintain eye contact so he wouldn’t suspect the truth. “They said to schedule an appointment later this week.”

  The creases on his forehead eased. “Okay, good.”

  “Not that I’m doing you any big favor by tagging along. I don’t have a clue how to help,” she admitted. She’d already lied to him about having a second chance with that particular agent. Grabbing her purse so she wouldn’t forget it later, she moved to the doorway. She and her man needed a solid meal before they tackled the day ahead.

  “Let me call you a cab, at least.”

  She stared at him, the resignation in his voice gripping her heart as she processed his words.

  Oh my god, he thinks I’m going to ditch him anyway. Even though I said I’d stay.

  Yep, they had far more in common than she’d ever imagined. He didn’t think anyone would stick around for him, either. “I figured I’d make us a little breakfast while you dress and make whatever phone calls you need. You have bacon and eggs, right?”

  He shook his head. “Nah, but there’s pancake mix and blueberries.”

  How did he say Etta made them again? “Works for me. Pancakes coming right up.” Oh, yeah, now she remembered. “Smiley-face ones.”

  Matthew’s eyes lit. “Thanks,” he whispered.

  She inhaled, a fluttery sensation zipping through her chest, as she turned to race downstairs. She could do this. She’d help him get through his grief, the only way she knew how—by simply being there.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Lexie huffed out two breaths and took in one, her eyes on Number 215 ahead of her on the course.

  “How’s the stitch?” Isabella jogged alongside her.

  “Gone,” she panted, referring to the cramp in her side, which had kicked in shortly after they passed the 3K mark.

  “Hang in there, chica.”

  She took her eyes off the runner Matthew had recommended they use as their pacer and admired the Central Park view. “Perfect weather.” The azure sky was dotted with puffy clouds above the lush green of the trees.

  Isabella smiled. “You’re making good time.”

  Lexie tilted her head. “Thanks for hanging back with me. You could’ve been across the finish line ten minutes ago.”

  “Stop, already. One more turn and we’ll be in the homestretch. Think about all the money we raised for charity and the cupcakes waiting for us at the finish line.”

  “You didn’t?” She grinned and sped up. “Any chocolate?”

  She laughed. “I did, and yes.”

  Lexie thumped her hand over her heart. “I love you.”

  “Be careful. That’s how rumors start.” Her coworker laughed. “I think there’s someone else you love, too.”

  She scanned the spectators lined up along the race’s path and honed in on the guys wearing powder blue polo shirts.

  One of those men was Steel.

  But that wasn’t the man she was dying to see.

  She turned the last corner and headed to the finish line, her calves tight. She was tired, but she might match or break her personal record if she picked up the pace. “Feel like sprinting the last hundred meters or so?” she asked her buddy.

  “Can’t let you show me up.” Isabella lengthened her strides.

  Lexie pumped her arms hard, eyes on the finish line. The crowd lined both sides of the track, cheering and clapping, or waving blue banners with the J&C logo. Her lungs were on fire, her legs heavier with each step.

  It would be so easy to quit.

  “Go, go, go!” Matthew’s voice boomed above the roar of the crowd.

  With her trainer’s voice spurring her on, and with her excitement about the good news she wanted to share with him at the front of her mind, she pushed forward—one stride after another—until she ran beneath the banner.

  “Nice race!” Isabella pulled her into a quick hug. “Be right back, chica. Cupcakes are in a cooler near the first aid station.”

  “Sure.” Lexie nodded and watched her blend into the crowd before searching for the man in her life. Where was he? If she had to wait much longer to tell him about her follow-up interview with that off-Broadway connection of Dr. Prescotti’s about her play, she might just burst like an over-inflated balloon.

  “Hey, way to go!”

  She spun around at the sound of Matthew’s voice and grinned when she spied him walking toward her. She reached for the stopwatch in his hand. “What was my chip time?”

  “Twenty-five minutes, thirty-six seconds.”

  They walked together, away from the crowd and the race, and he handed her a fresh cup of water off a nearby station table.

  She drank, her thoughts turning ahead to their planned weekend at her place while Sam visited family in Pennsylvania. “Think we can match that record tonight?”

  Matthew grinned.

  It was nice to see his eyes crinkle. He hadn’t smiled much since Etta’s death, but she wouldn’t gi
ve up on him.

  Chris jogged up to them. “Hate to interrupt,” he huffed, nodding toward the first aid station. “But, there’s a client asking for you. She won’t let anyone else help. Leg cramps.” Then he nodded and jogged away.

  “It’s all hands on deck for the event.” Matthew’s smile held sadness.

  She shrugged off her disappointment. “No biggie. Don’t work too hard.” She watched him jog to the first aid station, then she turned around and made her way to the crowd near the finish line.

  Soon Isabella sprinted up to her, the box of sweets in hand.

  “How do you always manage to look like you just left the salon?” She laughed then bit into chocolate glazed heaven as she glanced back at the first aid station swarming with men in powder blue polos.

  “You looking for Ms. Swann?” Isabella asked.

  She scrunched her nose. “Nope. Happily off the clock.”

  “Oh, because I saw her a minute ago.” An odd expression crossed her friend’s face. “I didn’t know Matthew was her trainer.”

  Lexie blinked. “He’s not. She exercises in the morning, and he works evenings.”

  Isabella forehead puckered. “Then why would he be rubbing her down?”

  “Because it’s part of his job?” She laughed, twisting her ponytail around her fingers. “Well, I’m going to catch the shuttle back to J&C so I can shower ahead of the crowd. You want to go?” She’d planned to cheer on the remaining runners after sharing her promising career news with him, but the thought of Matthew massaging another woman’s legs—okay, Ms. Swann’s gorgeous legs—while she stood there on the sidelines all sweaty and red didn’t hold much appeal.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Matthew knocked back his second Chivas, plunked the glass down, and took a fortifying breath. In spite of the endless flow of liquor, top-notch food, and poolside DJ there to entertain J&C’s fundraiser participants until the evening wore down, he’d much rather be with Lexie at her cozy, Bowery apartment.

  “Bacon-wrapped filet mignon, sir?”