Emmit stole a glance over to Paislie and then back to me. “Why don’t you two get . . . caught up on things first. Addie and I are staying at a bed and breakfast in Waco. How about we meet for breakfast tomorrow.”
Warmth radiated through my body at the idea of being with Paislie. “Let’s make it lunch.”
Both Emmit and Paislie laughed as he shook my hand and said, “Deal. I’ll wait for your call tomorrow.”
Paislie dropped my hand and walked up to Emmit. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for everything.”
Emmit’s eyes softened as he nodded and s
aid, “You’re welcome. I’ll talk to y’all tomorrow.”
Paislie and I stood and watched Emmit drive off before I turned her to me. “If I take you home, Sophie is going to freak and want you to play pretty pretty princess or some shit like that.”
She frowned. “Emmit just drove off with my bag that had all my stuff in it.”
Reaching into my pocket for my phone, I hit Janet’s number.
“Hey, boss.”
“Janet, I need you to see if the Russell place is available. The cottage.”
“Oh my goodness! Please tell me she’s with you.”
I couldn’t help but smile like a fool. “Yes ma’am, she is standing right here.”
Paislie blushed and looked down. “Okay, I’m on the other line, give me two seconds.”
My hand slipped behind her hair as I pulled her to me. Our lips crashed together and quickly grew hungry as Paislie’s hands moved to my chest. Her low moan vibrated through my entire body.
“You’re a go! They’re all in California.”
Pulling my lips from Paislie’s, I panted, “Thanks.”
Not giving her time to answer, I hit End, shoved my phone back in my pocket and picked Paislie up as she squealed in delight.
“I missed you, baby,” I said as I let her slowly slide down my body and pushed her against my truck, pinning her with my body.
Tears were threatening to build in her eyes as her chin trembled. “I missed you too. So very much.”
“God give me strength to get you to the Russell’s place. I want nothing more than to rip your panties off and take you right here.” Paislie looked around as I said, “Well, maybe not a cemetery, but you know what I mean.”
She smiled but then it faded and was replaced by a look of worry. The images of her on that fucker flooded my memory.
“Malcolm, I need to tell you something.”
Closing my eyes, I fought to keep the jealousy away. “It doesn’t matter what happened when we were apart, Paislie.”
When I opened my eyes, she looked so conflicted. “It does to me. I’m not sure if you were with anyone, but I . . . I um . . . well I ran into an old friend who I grew up with in the orphanage. I was feeling really lonely and confused and we went back to my apartment.”
I wanted so desperately to tell her to stop talking. The last thing I wanted to hear about was her and this old friend rolling around in bed together. The only reason I held back was it was clear she wanted to get this off her chest.
“Things got a little intense in the car and for a moment I thought I was going to just let him take me there in broad daylight. Before I had a chance to even have an orgasm, I came to my senses and stopped it.”
I slowly let out the breath I wasn’t even aware I was holding. “Paislie, baby you don’t owe me any—”
She put her finger up to my lips. “Please let me finish.” I nodded and waited for her to keep talking.
“I felt terrible for getting the poor guy so turned on, so I gave him a hand job. He wanted to take things further but I told him about you and that I wasn’t ready.”