Undenied (Unspoken #3)(18)

She reclined in the bed, pulling the covers up under her arms.

“When are you going back to Houston?” he asked as he thrust one leg into his jeans.

“I’m leaving around noon,” she said softly.

He paused, staring at her for a long second. She couldn’t decipher the odd expression on his face, sort of a mixture between confusion and disappointment.

“Is this where you promise to call and we say goodbye?” she cracked.

“Or you could call me,” he suggested.

“Hmm, how about we trade numbers and then it’s on both of us.”

“Deal.”

He strode over to the desk where the phone and a tablet of paper sat. He came back over and shoved the pad and a pen at her.

She took the pen and scribbled her number down and handed both back to him. “That’s my cell number. It’s the easiest way to reach me.”

He tore off the top piece of paper then scrawled his number on the second sheet before offering the paper back to her. He bent and gave her a hard kiss. Then he turned and finished dressing.

When he was done, he gave her one more long reluctant look. Then he walked to the door and opened it. On his way out, he paused and turned back to her. “Payton, I…” He shook his head and walked out, letting the door close behind him.

Chapter Seven

He was sure she’d call on Monday. When that didn’t happen, he convinced himself she was playing it coy and she’d definitely call on Tuesday. Wednesday morning, he irritably decided she was playing it cool but she’d call that night. Of that he was sure.

Thursday night he was genuinely baffled. Wes paced his living room like a caged lion. If she had any intention of them getting together this weekend, she would have called by now. Thursday was the D-day for making weekend plans. How the hell was she supposed to know what his work schedule was?

Or maybe she had no intention of seeing him again. Maybe he’d scratched an itch for her and that was it.

He picked up his phone and called Gracie before he could think better of it. She’d offer some insight into the situation, and then maybe he could figure out where the hell he stood with Payton.

After he explained his annoyance, she had the audacity to laugh in his ear. He held the phone away, counted to ten and waited for her to stop howling.

“Are you finished yet?” he demanded.

She wheezed and coughed. “Sorry, but damn I always knew this was going to be funny when it happened. I just had no idea how hilarious it was going to be.”

“What the f**k are you babbling about? When what happened?”

“When the mighty Wes fell hard for a woman,” she said before dissolving into laughter again.

“Damn it, Gracie, you’re so not funny, and I swear if Luke is sitting there next to you and you just blabbed that shit where he could hear, I’m going to wring your pretty neck.”

She died laughing again, and he seriously contemplated hanging up. And he would have but she seemed to sense he was not very happy and quickly sobered.

“Okay, so what did you want from me?” she asked.

He sighed and counted to ten again. “I merely want a woman’s perspective on why the f**k she hasn’t called me.”

“Maybe she wants you to make the next move, Wes. A woman will only do so much chasing before she decides it’s time to see how much interest is reciprocated.”

“So, you’re saying she wants me to call her.”

“Could be. Or maybe she’s just busy. Or, perish the thought, maybe you were just great sex and she doesn’t want a relationship.”

“Well, f**k, Gracie, I don’t want to get married. Who said anything about a relationship?”

She laughed again. “I can hear the panic in your voice. Chill out and call her. You obviously want to see her again, right? Is it going to kill you to make the first move this time?”

“So I should go to her and not make her come to me.”

“Well, if I was her, I wouldn’t keep chasing after you. I’d bait the trap and wait for you to come to me.”

“You women are evil. Evellle.”

Gracie snorted. “And you men are just stupid. Get off the phone and call her.”

Wes grinned. “I love you, Gracie girl.”

She chuckled. “Love you too, knucklehead.”

He hung up and stared at his phone gripped tight in his hand. Then he fished his wallet out of his pocket with the other hand. He pulled out the piece of paper she’d written her cell phone number on and punched it in.

After three rings, her husky voice filtered over the line.

“Hello?”

“Hey Payton, it’s Wes.”

“Oh, hi, how are you?”

He hated these awkward, stilted conversations. He didn’t want to f**k around with pleasantries all goddamn night.

“I want to see you this weekend.”

There was a long pause. “I’d love to but I don’t think I can make it over. I have an open house on Sunday.”

“Actually I was thinking about coming to Houston.” Where the hell had that come from? He was impressed with how smoothly that improvisation had come off. “I’m off Saturday,” he continued. “We could have dinner Friday night and spend Saturday together if you’re interested.”