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“Just that I shouldn’t be out here all alone and that I needed someone to protect me.” I can’t get it out of my head. His tone was friendly enough, but the gleam in his eyes was something altogether different. It wasn’t interest and, undoubtedly, not protective.
It was almost like he knew who I was before he even approached me, and now, I’m unable to shake the feeling that I haven’t seen the last of him.
* * *
The Friday night meet and greet began an hour ago, and while I was never committed to attending, I feel bad that I didn’t go down with Joss. She encouraged me to stay in after I’d had a bad bout of nausea a couple of hours ago, and now, I’m lying in bed, watchingThat 90’s Show, enjoying the sitcom as much as I did the original.
Cuddled up in a baggy shirt, short sleep shorts, and fuzzy socks, I keep the ginger ale close by as a breeze floats in through the curtain of the open patio doors on our sixth-floor room.
My phone buzzes on the side table. I pick it up to find another text from Tyler. He arrived a few hours ago and has been messaging me ever since. Now, he’s asking to come up to my room. I send a quick reply of denial, having had enough of being hit on by men today.
Until a week ago, Joss and I had agreed to keep my pregnancy quiet, not wanting to spread the rumor that Tyler and I did, in fact, hook up because that would spread like wildfire throughout the book community. But now, after eating and trying on my dress for tomorrow, there’s no way I will be able to hide it. And without Cage here to squash the spread of any rumors of Tyler and me hooking up, I’m at a standstill because I know Ty. He’ll eat up the attention and do nothing to dissuade the notion.
As my cell goes off again, I recognize that it’s a phone call, and instead, pick it up with my eyes still closed. “I already told you no, Tyler.” There’s a pause, and I worry it’s my mother. Looking at the screen now, it says private, and my stomach drops.
“Who the fuck is Tyler?” Cage’s feral voice soothes every ounce of anxiousness I’ve been feeling all day.
“Cage,” I breathe his name like a prayer.
“Pet, who is Tyler?” I know he’s not about to let it go.
Explaining quickly, I realize he’ll be no less angry. “He’s the model on Joss’ book with me.”
“What the fuck is he not taking no for an answer about?” If rage had a sound, it would be Cage’s voice.
“I only had to say no, once,” I assure him.
“About. What.” He grits the words out, and I imagine his jaw locked up tight.
Pinching my nose, I anticipate that this won’t go over well. “Coming up to my room.” I brace for an outburst.
“Why’d you say no?” he asks instead, still that menacing growl in his voice.
“Because…” How do I say because I’m committed to a man that I spent one morning with after he saved my life and not sound like a stage five clinger? The answer is you can’t.
“Pet.” There’s a warning there that shoots tingles all through me.
“Cage,” I counter, wishing he were here.
“Don’t fuck around with me, Magnolia. I’m not in the goddamned mood.” Biting my lip, I realize I shouldn’t be so turned on by the way he speaks to me, but I can’t help it. Maybe it’s the hormones?
“I said no because, despite my best efforts, I can’t get you out of my head. I told you you’d have to come see me to find things out, but here we are a week later, and there’s been no sign of you. Yet, I wait for you anyway.” I hope he understood that jumbled mess of an explanation.
“Right for the fucking jugular, huh?” His laughter is riddled with darkness. “I’m coming now, pet. Coming to get my taste of paradise.”
“You are?” My voice is barely a whisper, but even I can hear the hope in it.
“Sure am.” He doesn’t seem to be bothered by how needy I am.
“I’m not at home, though.” I never mentioned the signing this weekend when we spoke last because I hadn’t thought he meant what he said despite wanting to.
“I know exactly where you are, pet. I’ve always known.” I don’t know why my eyes shoot to the open balcony door, but I half expect him to come flying in like some super spy from a movie.
“When will you be here?” I groan as my stomach flips, excitement getting the best of me.
“You okay?” he asks. I nod, but he can’t see me. “Magnolia?”
Closing my eyes, I slither down in bed and breathe deeply. “Yes. Just tired. When are you coming?” I’m both excited and nervous.
