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“What are you talking about? I don’t buy them flowers.”
“No?”
“Girls think you’re serious when you get them flowers and they start doodling your surname on notepads and shit. I don’t get them flowers. Or teddy bears. Or anything cute or sweet or thoughtful.”
“Did I ever tell you what a saint you are?” I laugh. “You have such a way with words.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jackson says. “If you’re going to be fucked up about this and actually go for it with her, every woman likes red roses. You know?”
“Right,” I say. “Thanks.”
“Sure. Anytime. I mean, my dating advice is pretty shit but call me anyway. I’m your friend.”
We end the call and I chuckle and shake my head. Jackson is right—he’s my friend. Even if he doesn’t know shit about being a decent guy when it comes to women. But he has redeeming qualities. I should make a plan to hang out with him.
Right now, though, I want to surprise Natalie at the office.
I pick out a bouquet of red roses and pay for them at the counter before I head downtown to the offices where she works.
The offices of Ruby Blue are behind a fancy boutique with clothes that look like they’ve been plucked right off the runway and the shop gets a lot of traction. I’ve only heard of the business before thanks to the auction, but it looks like something big.
I park in front of the shop where I find a space and walk around the side of the building toward the office doors. Just as I do, I notice Natalie come out. She’s dressed in slacks with high heels and a red blouse—power colors that make her blonde hair stand out, and she walks with confidence.
She’s so fucking hot, I just stare.
She doesn’t see me and climbs into her car. When she drives away, I hurry back to my car and follow her. I try to call her, but her phone goes to voicemail. I just want to give her the flowers. I played it all out in my mind—arriving at her office building, asking to see her, and giving her the flowers so she knows how special she is.
It’s all fucked up now.
But I can still catch her wherever she stops, so I can give her flowers and a quick kiss before she’s on her way.
Except if she’s picking up Kylie, I realize. I glance at the time.
I don’t even know when school lets out.
I follow Natalie across town. She stops at a coffee shop, and I stay in the road, still searching for a parking spot, when a man joins her.
I frown when he hugs her. She smiles when he talks, and she laughs when he says something, her voice carrying on the breeze. When she steps away from him, their hands still linger on each other’s arms.
Something inside me cracks.
Who the fuck is this guy? And why is she so touchy with him?
I’m yanked back into the past when I caught Nicole in our bed with another guy.
But this can’t be the same, can it?
They walk into the coffee shop. When a car honks behind me, I jerk out of my shock and find a spot to park that opens up just as I move forward. I park and get out of the car, moving on autopilot. Anger bubbles right beneath my skin and my head spins. What the hell is going on here?
I want to storm into the coffee shop and confront her. I want to beat the living shit out of the guy who put his hands all over the woman I’m seeing.
She’s mine.
But I control myself. I can’t just assault someone. She’s the one behaving badly. Years in a career where my every move is scrutinized by the media has taught me to behave myself, and instead of running in there and causing a scene the way I so badly want to, I wait for her to come out again.
I don’t know how long I wait there. The more time passes, the more upset I become. But I’m not going anywhere.
Finally, they come out again. They’re talking and laughing like old friends.
