Donna Hill - The Way You Love Me

“Nothing. He said he came to apologize.”

“Okay, and...”

“And, I can’t talk to that man, and he said he’s staying until I do.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Obviously, he’s interested. He didn’t have to come to see you.”

“He also is obviously involved.”

“Maybe, maybe not. You’ll never find out talking to me. See you soon.”

Bailey heaved a sigh and stuck the phone back into her pocket. She glanced at Justin, who was nursing his drink. She straightened her shoulders and walked back down the length of the bar and stood in front of him.

“I accept your apology.”

He looked at her from beneath those incredible lashes. He set his drink down. “Good. That’s a start.”

“A start to what?”

“To us getting to know each other.”

“What about...your friend...Jasmine?”

“It’s not what you think.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“You’re thinking that she and I have a real thing going on. That she’s my woman and therefore there is no room for an us.”

Her stomach fluttered at the tone of his word us . “There isn’t an us.”

“There can be. If you give me a chance to show you.”

“You still haven’t answered my question about you and Jasmine.”

“Ask. What do you want to know? I have nothing to hide.”

Her gaze darted around then finally settled on him. “What...how serious is it between you?” She ran her tongue across her bottom lip.

Justin angled his head to the side. “She is the daughter of one of the partners at the firm where I work. Her father and mine think that the two of us would make a perfect partnership.” He paused, looked beyond her defenses and seeped down into her center. “I don’t.” He slowly turned his glass on the bar top, studying the remnants of the amber liquid. He lifted his dark eyes. “I want to get to know you.”

Her heart thudded, and her flesh heated. The sound of his voice, the look of raw hunger in his eyes, had her wanting to believe whatever those luscious lips said.

She rested her weight on her right leg. “You used to getting what you want, Mr. Lawson?”

“Most of the time. But I do go after what I want...all the time.”

Her nipples tightened. She tore her gaze away. “We come from two different worlds. I’m not the kind of woman you’re used to.”

“How can you be so sure that you know what I’m used to...better, what I want?”

“I was at the party, remember? I saw the kind of circles you travel in.”

“And you think that’s all I am?”

“Aren’t you?” she challenged.

“No. And I want to prove that to you.”

“Why? Why me?”

He hesitated. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Day and night. I want to know what it’s like to kiss those lips of yours, to hold you, touch you, to whisper in your ear, to make love to you.” He ran the tip of his finger along her knuckles.

Her skin sizzled, and her clit twitched in response.

“I’ve got to get back to work,” she managed to eek out.

“I’ll be here when you get a break.”

And he was true to his word. Justin ordered dinner at the bar. And each time that she came in his direction, he made a joke, or shared something about himself, like how he painted in his spare time, that one of his favorite vacation spots was Sag Harbor in the summer, and that his older brother, Rafe, was one of his best friends. And Bailey laughed at his corny jokes and told him about her best friend, Addison, and how she helped her out from time to time. She told him that she really enjoyed her job and how much she wanted to get back to law school.

“You mentioned that the last time we talked. Law school. Maybe I could help.”

She stopped short. “What do you mean help ?” she said a bit more harsh than necessary.

He held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa. All I meant was that maybe I could make a few calls.”

“No! If I get in, it will be on my own, not because some big shot pulled some strings.” She spun away, fuming on the inside. How dare he? But what could she expect? Clearly he saw her as some poor waif who needed rescuing by a knight in shining armor.

“Hey, girl!”

Bailey turned around. “It’s about time,” she groused.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

Addison looked around and noticed Justin at the end of the bar. “Something go wrong?”

“Yeah, plenty. Be right back. We need some clean glasses.” She stormed off.

Addison eased down the bar and took a seat that became vacant next to Justin.

“Justin Lawson, right?”

“Yes.” He offered her a heart-stopping smile. His eyes cinched as he stared at her. “You’re the caterer.”

She grinned. “Good memory, especially with all the people there that night.”

He chuckled. “I try to remember faces.”

She extended her hand. “Addison Matthews.”

“Pleasure.” He reached for his drink and took a sip. “So you’re Bailey’s friend.”

“Best friend.”

“Hmm. Best friend.” He glanced in Bailey’s direction, and she was trying hard not to look interested.

“She’s hard to get to know.”

“Not really. She’s cautious, that’s all.”

He nodded. “Any suggestions?”

“About?”

“About how to get past all of her caution signs.”

Addison rested her forearms on the counter. She faced him. “Be honest. Bailey is a wonderful woman who puts everyone and everything ahead of herself. She could use someone in her life that puts her first for a change.” She offered a tight smile and slid off the stool. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Lawson.”

“Justin.”

Addison glanced over her shoulder. “Justin.”

* * *

By the time Bailey returned with the rack of clean glasses, Addison was already in deep conversation with a guy who’d taken a seat next to her.

Bailey unloaded the glasses. Things were always so easy for Addison when it came to men. She was fearless. She didn’t care what anyone thought, and she went after who and what she wanted. There were times when she wished that she could be as cavalier about relationships; just get in them for the good times and move on. But she couldn’t. She wanted more than the momentary excitement. She wanted something that would last and someone that would make her a priority—for once. If there was one thing that Addy was right about, it was that she did need someone to take care of her for a change. Some days she simply wanted to get in her car and drive and keep on going. But she couldn’t. Her family depended on her. She finished stacking the glasses on the shelf and hanging them from the overhead rack, and when she turned around, Justin was standing in front of her.

“Wanted to say good night and pay my tab.”

A knot formed in her stomach. He was leaving. What if he didn’t come back? “Sure. I’ll put your bill together.” She swung toward the register. Her heart thumped, and her hands shook. The register spewed out his bill. She handed it to him.

Justin barely glanced at it. He reached in his jacket pocket and took out his wallet and handed her his black American Express card.

Bailey numbly processed the payment and returned his card. “Have a good evening,” she managed to say.

Justin stared at her for a moment. A slow smile moved his mouth. “Hope to see you again when I come back.”

She smiled in return. “I’d like that.”

Justin took a step back. “Night.”

“Night.”

He was coming back, and he wanted to see her. Bailey held on to that promise.

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