The Wrong Right Man(57)

“All right,” I give in when I see how determined he is. “Besides, I don’t think anyone needs a drawer for ties that all look the same.”

“You don’t like my ties?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m just saying they all look the same, black, gray, or navy. I think you should add some color. How do you feel about pink?”

“No.”

“No, you don’t like pink, or no, you won’t wear a pink tie?”

“Both,” he says, and I grin. “What’s that grin about?”

“Nothing.” I kiss him then attempt to wiggle out of his hold. I let my head fall back in exasperation when he doesn’t let me go. “I have stuff to do,” I remind him.

He studies me for a moment then drops me to my feet but doesn’t release me completely. “I’ll be in the living room if there is anything you want me to help you try on.”

I laugh and pat his chest. “I’ll make sure to let you know if I need your help.”

I catch him adjusting himself as I leave, and then I head into his room and make room for myself in his closet, trying to figure out how I’m going to tell him that I won’t be staying with him.

Dressed and ready for dinner in the body-hugging, long-sleeved black dress Hanna and Samantha picked up for me, I place my purse on the bed so I can pack it with the stuff I’ll need tonight and tomorrow morning. I haven’t had the courage to tell Braxton I will be going home with Jamie, and I didn’t tell Jamie, since he left after letting me know he’d meet us at the restaurant. I’m hoping that if I spring the news on him at the last minute with my brother present, he will be more accepting of the change of plans.

I put my panties, a bra, and clothes for tomorrow in my bag then go to the bathroom to grab most of the toiletries Alisha put away earlier. With my hands full, I walk to the bed and drop the items. It’s going to take some work to make everything fit. As I’m attempting to play Tetris with the items, the bedroom door opens and I toss the end of the blanket over my purse.

“Hey,” I squeak, taking a seat and trying to look as casual as possible as Braxton closes the door. The black dress shirt and gray slacks look as good on him as his jeans and T-shirt from earlier did. “I’m just about ready.”

“What are you doing?” He eyes me then the bed, and I lean back to hide the lump behind me and lift my leg to touch my ankle.

“Just stretching.” I drop my foot and raise my arms over my head. “I always stretch when I know I’m going to be wearing heels.” Wow, I sound like an idiot.

“And what is it you are trying to hide behind your back?” He takes a step toward me, and I lean back farther.

“I’m not hiding anything. Why would I be hiding something?” I ask, and just then my brand new bottle of conditioner rolls onto the floor, stopping at his feet. He bends and picks it up then flips it over in his hand to read the label. “Oh… I wonder how that got in here.” I reach up to take it from him, but when I do, he tosses the blanket back, exposing my bag.

“Are you planning on going somewhere?”

“Yes, we’re going to dinner, remember?” I cringe as he pulls the things from my bag. “You never know when you might need a change of clothes.” I bite my nail, and he rolls his eyes at me while grabbing hold of my wrist.

“You’re a horrible liar.”

“You would know, since you’re the best,” I snip, but he doesn’t react to my comment.

“My mother just mentioned to me that you might have misinterpreted what she said to you earlier.”

“What she said earlier?” I attempt to play stupid, and he glares at me.

“About her and dad being worried, Dakota.”

“Oh that,” I say as I start repacking my bag. “They have a reason to be worried, and there are no hard feelings on my part.” I frown as he takes the things out of my purse, but I otherwise don’t react. I just put them back in without looking at him while saying, “After thinking about it, I know me being here might put you in danger, and I don’t want that, so I’m going to go home with Jamie after dinner.”

“So you’re going to go stay with Jamie and put him in danger?” He picks up my purse and tosses it toward the headboard.

I look up at him as my nose scrunches in annoyance, because I didn’t think about that. “I’m going to stay in a hotel.”

“You’re going to stay in a hotel.”

“That’s what I just said.”

“So you’re going to tell Jamie and my parents, who are all worried about your safety, that you’re going to get a hotel, alone.”

“Your parents will be happy you’re not in danger, and Jamie will be okay once I explain to him why I’m going to stay in a hotel.”

“My parents will be happy when they know I’m not in danger?”

Even though his tone and the look he gives me are filled with warning, I still say, “Yeah.”

He eyes me for a moment then shakes his head. “I don’t have time to deal with this right now. We have a reservation to get to.”

“What?” I stand up and follow him through the bathroom and into the closet. When he doesn’t respond, I ask, “What does that mean?”