I Want You Around
Dallas
The power of the human mind was really astounding. Words had power, yes. But thoughts could manifest weakness or greatness, happiness or sadness, sanity or insanity, revulsion or attraction. I’d experienced all of the above, often in the same day. But today? In a matter of hours, I’d run the gamut of those emotions as we’d golfed with Maya and her colleagues during their annual golf outing.
Due to our hectic work schedules, my four-day trip up north for the Young in Love retreat, and Preston’s weeklong business trip, I hadn’t seen him in person since his unfortunate softball incident. Although we’d talked often, the physical distance had provided the perfect opportunity for me to reset, to recalibrate my expectations. Yet, when he’d arrived earlier, I’d been struck by two things—the way he looked in those navy golf pants and white polo, and the realization that I’d missed him. That awareness had set several things in motion—in my head, of course.
It all started when I nearly collapsed on the green after he’d given me a huganda kiss in front of everyone. And I almost begged him to take me behind a tree—or something. I refrained from making a fool out of myself, but Preston was relentless. Being all sexy and shit, distracting me at every turn. Basically, he did everything we agreed he’d do in front of the ladies—acted like my doting lover. He carried my clubs, stood too close to me when he helped me from the golf cart, and offered me pointers on my game. Preston cheered me on when I made a good shot and encouraged me when I flubbed the ball. I found myself watching him, memorizing his movements, daydreaming about his mouth.
All morning, I warred with myself, ticking off the manystupidreasons I wanted to keep him at arm’s length while simultaneously reasoning with myself about why it would be appropriate to havethree nights,three fucks. Then, I teetered between irritation at him for making me like this and arousal because he was too damn close. I was getting on my own damn nerves.
Things had been going well for me with the org. Susan had invited me to her home for tea and conversation a couple of days ago. It definitely helped that the older women were taken with Preston. At this point, I was a shoo-in for membership. Which should’ve been cause for celebration, or at least a stiff drink. What was I doing instead? Glaring at Susan’s daughter, Arlene, who’d shown up unannounced and had promptly homed in onmyfake boyfriend.
Right now, all I wanted to do was push Arlene’s lyin’ ass in the pond. Not that I could talk, considering Preston wasn’t really my man, but at least I didn’t make a habit out of pretending. Arlene hadn’t even bothered to hide her interest in Preston, so she’dpretendedto be golf illiterate. Never mind she knew all the golf terms and had her own set of clubs. Never mind her mother had already bragged about Arlene’s golf awards during our tea. Next, Arlene hadpretendedto sprain her ankle so Preston could help her to her golf cart. Then, her Treasure-troll-looking asspretendedto be interested in hiring him as a consultant for a construction project.
If Bliss were here, she’d be quick to point out my jealousy, but since she wasn’t, I happily blamed my mood swings on Arlene. Because…what the hell? When did two fucks and a couple of conversations make me a jealous bitch?
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Maya whispered as we packed up our stuff.
“I’m fine,” I grumbled.
Maya giggled. “You’re definitelynotfine.”
I lifted up my bag. “Actually, I am.”
“Dallas.” She hugged me, “It’s okay to like him for real, ya know?”
“I don’t,” I said. “I mean, I do. We’re friends.”
“I got this.” Preston took my bag from me and slung it over his shoulder.
Where the hell did he come from? I wondered if he’d heard me. I glanced at Maya, catching her knowing smile. “I’m fine,” I repeated, stomping off.
When we returned to the clubhouse, the ladies suggested we have lunch.
“Aw, I wish I could,” I said.
“Sounds good,” Preston agreed.
Our simultaneous responses annoyed the hell out of me. I shot Preston a glare and mumbled, “But we have that thing.”
Preston went along with me. “Right. Thatthing.”
We exchanged small talk with the ladies while they waited for their table. Once they were ready to be seated, I hugged Maya and said my goodbyes to the other ladies. Well, everyone except for Arlene. I was too busy fighting not to kick her in the butt when she gave Preston a hug that lasted one second too long.
“Thanks for today,” I mumbled when they disappeared into the building. Shame rolled through me like waves. I’d never come close to reacting that way about any man. Not even Zeke.
Preston smirked. “Are you good?”
“What do you think?” I snapped.
He glanced at his phone and his smile faded. “Can you give me a second?”
Now, I just felt like an asshole. “Sure. I hope everything is okay.”
He excused himself and walked toward a bench on the other side of the walkway. I tried to eavesdrop on his conversation, but he was too far away for me to hear anything. So, I just stared at him. Preston was all hard lines and rippling muscles, haunted eyes and a genuine smile, quiet strength and dry humor. My brain screamed,Girl, don’t do it.Don’t fall. But my heart…that damn traitorous heffa. No matter how many times I told myself this wasn’t an actual thing, my heart seemed to rebel against me.
The weird part washehadn’t changed. He’d been the same Preston I’d always known. Calm, steady, smart, thoughtful, fine. He was always a gentleman, shielding me from strangers and making sure I wasn’t cold. Those things…one might think they were small in the grand scheme of life. Yet, somehow, the simple gestures, the fleeting moments of understanding between us, had become promises. The promise to protect me, to care for me, to listen to me. The more time I spent with him like this, the more I wanted to be near him. Which could become a problem when this charade was over.
