My fucking cock is uncomfortably confined by the jeans I’m wearing, and I shift, trying my best to act as if everything’s normal. “Where is it we’re going again?” I really don’t give a fuck. Just seeing her behind the wheel is worth the trip.
“TJ Maxx,” she chirps, gracing me with a happy smile. “I need to get Bianca a baby shower gift before this weekend.”
“Oh,” I reply, the reminder of her upcoming trip to Boston a sour note. Not that I’m upset she’s going. It’s just, yeah, I don’t want her to go. “Is this store a baby specialty place or something?”
“Or something,” she answers, reaching over to squeeze my thigh reassuringly, but it has the complete opposite effect.
My partly hard cock twitches to life, and I take her hand, bringing it to my lips. “You know I’m going to worry,” I murmur, blowing my heated breath against her pulse point. “If anything were to happen to you …”
“It’s a baby shower. Bianca Doyle’s baby shower, at that,” she says, glancing my way as she takes a right turn. “It’ll be the safest event in America.”
I chuckle because as much as I hate to admit it, she’s fucking right. “Maybe I’ll just go with you.”
She shrugs as she turns into a … row of stores? “Up to you.”
“Why are we at a strip mall?” I ask, sitting up straighter as she maneuvers between two rows of cars.
“This is not a strip mall,” she replies, laughing. “It’s a shopping center, and as you can see”—she shuts off the ignition and motions out her window—“TJ Maxx is right there.”
I shake my head back and forth as I drop it into my hands. “You’re kidding me, right?” I peek over when she remains silent, and that goddamn hiked brow tells me everything I need to know. “Come on, Piper. You can’t possibly tell me this place has something you can’t get somewhere else.”
“Probably not,” she says, crossing her arms. “But this is one of my favorite places for a good deal, and I bet their baby selection is awesome!”
I lean across the console and cup her jaw with my fingertips. “You do realize a good deal isn’t necessary, right? I’ll buy you anything your heart desires, even if it’s for someone else.”
“I know you will.” Her whole expression softens. “And my heart desperately wants to shop in this store.”
Distaste fills my mouth, but I clamp my lips tight to keep from expressing it. She’s so beautiful, sitting there all hopeful and happy, and I don’t have the heart to disappoint her. I can pretend, right? Focus on the woman, and everything else will fade into the background.
I lean close and ghost my lips across the corner of her mouth. “Stay there.”
Moving quickly, I unbuckle and remove myself from the car. It feels strange to be surrounded by endless concrete, filled with row after row of standard suburban cars and unknown people going this way and that, all brought together by their urge to spend money.
Opening her door, I lift it up out of the way, and my knees almost buckle at the sight of her sitting against the white leather, anticipating my assistance. She’s a teenage boy’s wet dream come to life from a poster on his wall. Taking her hand, I pull her to a standing position and shift her to the side so I can pull the door closed and press her tightly against it with my own body.
“The image of you behind the wheel of this car, wearing these clothes is driving me fucking mad,” I whisper against her throat. “I don’t know if I can act properly around people right now.”
Her fingers trail up my back and into my hair, scratching lightly at first before tightening into firm fists. “You’re the most powerful man in Chicago,” she replies, her voice low and hard. “Act like it.”
“Fuck!” I grunt, knowing she’s right and I’m just making excuses. There’s nothing I can’t do, unless I don’t want to. “Let’s do this.” I kiss her neck once and step back, taking her hand and placing it at my elbow.
It feels like every single person within a mile radius has stopped and is staring at us as we pass. I mean, I can’t fucking blame them when it comes to Piper. Her long wavy hair is pulled away from her face, but it cascades down her back in a stream of pretty auburn curls that smell good enough to eat. The strappy white high-heeled sandals and fishnet patterned clutch transform her suit from sexy business to sexy casual, and she’s just a goddamn vision.
Too fucking beautiful for this grungy place.
I have to glare one motherfucker down, as he’s just stopped in the middle of the row, blocking cars, and staring at Piper like he wants to snatch her and run. At first, I think I’ll get by with just a sneer and the dumbass will continue on his way, but he’s too engrossed in looking at Piper to even notice me, so I have to take it a step further.
Pausing, I step over into his line of sight, and it takes the drooling fucker a few seconds to realize he can no longer see my Piper. My face starts off in a mid-level glare, but by the time this motherfucker realizes his predicament, it’s turned full-on, top-fucking-range murderous glower.
This is the one nobody alive has ever seen.
The stupid fuck almost face-plants into the asphalt in his hurry to get away, and I chuckle as I watch his wimpy ass run. A tug on my elbow brings me back to my beloved, and I’d know that brow lift anywhere. She saw it all and is not amused, but she’s also willing to
