The Wrong Right Man(58)
He turns to face me as he slips on a suit jacket that matches his slacks. “It means I’m not going to waste my breath arguing with you, since one way or another, you will be coming home with me tonight.”
“So you don’t care that your parents are worried about you?” I cross my arms over my chest and block the doorway when he takes a step toward me.
“They aren’t worried about me. They’re worried about you.”
My brows drag together. “They don’t know me enough to care about what happens to me.”
“They know I’m falling in love with you, Dakota. They know that if something happens to you, it would kill me. So yes, they’re worried about me, but it’s because they are worried about something happening to you,” he growls, and then he stomps to me, grabbing my hand and glaring down at me. “Now we need to get to dinner.”
I stumble, the words “I’m falling in love with you” dancing through my head and making me dizzy as he practically drags me from the room.
“Is everything okay?” his mom asks, standing from the couch and glancing worriedly between us when we reach the living room.
I don’t know about the man still holding my hand, but I’m so not okay right now. I feel lightheaded, nauseous, and if I don’t take a breath soon, I might pass out from lack of oxygen.
“We’re fine,” Braxton states, and I catch his parents’ look at each other before he pulls me with him to the elevator. Once we are all inside and the doors are closed, the silence becomes uncomfortable, and I shift in my heels then look up at Braxton, watching the muscles in his jaw twitch.
“You look nice, Dakota,” Alisha says, breaking into the silence, and I pull my attention off her son’s ticking jaw to look at her, noticing she changed into a simple cream dress with a colorful shawl around her shoulders. Bret is now wearing a dress shirt and slacks. The two of them look like the proud parents of a well-established businessman.
“Thanks, you both look nice too.” I force a smile, and Braxton squeezes my fingers still laced between his.
When we reach the parking garage, we all go to his Benz and Braxton opens my door for me to get in. I hesitate and look up at him. There are hundreds of things I want to tell him, but when he drops his eyes to me, everything gets stuck on the tip of my tongue. With a quiet sigh, I climb into my seat and he slams my door closed.
I watch him walk around the hood, then a moment later, he slides in behind the wheel, giving me a look that has me quickly putting on my seat belt. He starts the engine, and I reach over the console between us to rest my hand on his thigh, and when he covers my hand with his, I let out the breath I’ve been holding, wishing I was brave enough to tell him that I love him too.
Chapter 15
Dakota
WITH BRAXTON AND his parents distracted, I look under the edge of the table and tap Braxton’s watch to see the time then shake my head. Jamie is now almost an hour late.
“He’s probably caught in traffic.” Braxton’s words startle me, and I glance at him as he gives my thigh a gentle squeeze.
“You’re probably right.” Worry and frustration fill the pit of my stomach. I wish I could say it’s not like Jamie to run late, but I don’t think he’s ever shown up for anything on time. I just thought he knew I needed him tonight.
“He’ll be here.”
“He better be,” I mutter back as I pick up my glass of wine. I swallow a huge gulp then look at Braxton’s parents, who are watching me, and set down my glass. All I need is for them to think I have an issue with alcohol on top of being a danger to their son’s life.
“Dakota,” Bret calls, and I focus on him, my muscles getting tight when I see the look of concern in his eyes. “I think I need to apologize.” He clears his throat, and Alisha covers his hand with hers on the table. “I was upset earlier after seeing what was done to your apartment, but I wasn’t upset with you.”
“Neither of us are upset with you,” Alisha chimes in with a soft smile, and Braxton’s hand smooths up and down my thigh.
“We know what’s happening isn’t your fault, and both of us agree that the safest place for you to be is with our son.” He smiles a smile that looks like one of his son’s. “That’s unless you say you want to come home with us when we leave.”
I laugh, relieved they don’t hate me. “I do need a vacation. I might just take you up on that.”
“You’re welcome anytime.” Alisha says, and Bret nods his agreement as Braxton’s cell phone begins to ring. I glare at his phone when he pulls it from his pocket and then seethe at him.
“Seriously, I really hate that stupid thing,” I tell him as he looks at his phone, seeming confused.
“Sorry.” He kisses my cheek. “I’ll be right back.” He stands, placing his napkin on the table before walking away. I turn to look over my shoulder and watch him disappear through the crowded restaurant, putting his phone to his ear when he reaches the door.
“Well.” I pick my glass of wine back up as I look between Bret and Alisha. “If you don’t hear from your son, it’s because I’ve either killed him or tossed his cell into the trash.” They both laugh as I take another gulp of wine, thinking they really shouldn’t be so stingy with their servings, especially since I know this wine didn’t cost thousands of dollars.