I think about all the dance lessons he’s made me take over the years to improve my footwork. That’s not a bad idea.
“Just don’t take Tweedledum with you.” He throws a thumb at Rico, who pretends to be offended.
“Let’s get back to the drive-in stories, Coach. I have a feeling you’ve seen some shit,” Rico says, but Coach goes back to reading his paper.
The rest of my training session goes by with deep discussion on the best restaurants to go to and then which club. Coach names off some old-school places, half of which closed down in the fifties. Rico suggests clubs where all they do is bump and grind, and I want to be able to talk to Pepper.
By the time it’s over and I’m leaving the gym I get a bro-swear from Rico that he won’t come over at any point. I also send a text to the security company I hired to see if they’ve finished installing the alarms I asked them about. Rico wasn’t lying when he said that people sometimes try to sneak in and get to me. It’s happened on several occasions at the hotels we’ve stayed at. It even happened on a boat one time. People are crazy. But a large part of it is because I do want to protect Pepper, and in order to do that I need to know she’s safe. She’s tiny and anyone half my size could overpower her. I don’t like those thoughts in the back of my mind, so I had to do something about it.
When I get to the building I greet the new doorman and introduce myself. Then I speak with the new security team and get my codes and keys. They said someone already spoke with Pepper today and gave her all the keys and codes she needs. Hopefully she wasn’t too pissed about the changes, but maybe if she is I can offer dinner as a way to explain why. Either way, I’ve got to ask her before I lose my nerve or I just blurt out that I’m falling in love with her like an idiot.
I get on the elevator and insert the new key, then punch in the code. It takes me straight to the top floor, and when I get off I walk down the hall with purpose. I stand in front of Pepper’s door and knock a little too hard, but I’m nervous.
I see the shadow over the peephole before she pulls the door wide open and gives me a big smile. Instantly my nerves are gone, and everything in the world is perfect. How can it be that just seeing her makes my day brighter and better?
“Have dinner with me,” I say. I don’t even ask her. It’s a demand. Luckily for me she giggles and bites her lip before she nods.
“Sure, yeah, that sounds nice.”
A weight lifts from my shoulders that I didn’t even know was there, and for the first time in my life I think I could go back and do cardio all over again.
“Want to go…” I glance down at my watching and see it’s only noon. Damn, I don’t want to wait all night. “In an hour?”
She laughs again and then looks down at her clothes. “I’m a bit of a mess. Can you give me a little longer?”
It’s then I notice she’s covered in paint, but she still looks like the most beautiful woman in the world. I nod, thinking that I need to shower, too.
“Take all the time you need. If you want, you can knock when you’re ready,” I say, pointing to my door like she doesn’t know where it is. God, it’s like I’m in high school and going to the prom.
“Perfect,” she says as she turns to close her door. She stops quickly and spins around, nearly falling over while doing so. I catch her by the arms and help her steady herself. “Gravy biscuits I’m such a klutz. Sorry, I was going to ask where we’re going. What should I wear?”
“A dress,” I blurt out, not really sure what to tell her. I just want her with me. I don’t care if she wears a paper bag. “Or whatever you want.”
“Okay,” she says, and her cheeks pinken. She’s reluctant to pull her hands from mine, and I don’t want to let her go either.
We stand there for another second before I force myself to release her and then take a step back. The sooner she can get ready, the sooner I can have her all to myself.
Chapter Five
Pepper
I swing my front door open and grab Tasha by the arm. I pull her into my apartment and slam the door closed behind her. I had to buzz her up here on the top floor, and I’m relieved I didn’t screw it up. I sent her a text to get up here ASAP because I’m in desperate need of her help. I’m at a loss for what to wear tonight, and I’m kind of freaking out.