Read Online When You're Ready by Britni Danielle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Britni Danielle
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we stood in front of the elevators that would take Scout down to the parking garage, I felt like Cinderella getting ready to leave Prince Charming at the ball.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, looking up into his big brown eyes.
“How are you getting home?”
I tapped my chin like I was seriously considering his question, and then I snapped my fingers in mock surprise. “I know, on the bus!”
I saw his jaw tighten and face flash into a small grimace. “Nah, I’ll take you.”
“Scout, you’re already giving me a ride to work tomorrow. You don’t have to take me home today, that’s too much.”
I desperately wanted to spend more time with him, but I wasn’t about to become one of those women who depended on a guy the moment one showed up in her life. I’d been taking the bus around L.A. for three years before I met Scout, and I had no intentions of stopping now.
“But it’s almost dark,” he said, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
A shiver ran down my spine from Scout’s gentle touch, and I had to stop myself stepping into him and kissing his neck.
“And? I take the bus at night all the time, Scout. Especially in the fall.”
“I know, and I don’t think that’s a good idea either. It’s not safe.”
The elevator dinged and Scout stepped inside. “C’mon Nola, let me take you home.” His eyes were soft and concern was woven into his face. I almost stepped inside, but I shook my head and waved.
“It’s cool, Scout, see you tomorrow.”
The doors started to close, but before they shut completely they flew open. Scout stepped forward and grabbed my hand. He quickly tugged me into the elevator and I was so caught off guard that I tumbled into his chest. A group of people filed into the elevator filling it up, so I was forced to stay pressed into Scout’s body.
He felt like a rock. I knew Scout was strong, but I didn’t realize his body was as hard as a brick wall. He held onto my hand the entire ride down to the parking garage, and I could feel his warm, minty breath traveling over my forehead. I didn’t dare meet his eyes, or even breathe; instead I looked straight ahead at the tanned flesh that peaked out of his t-shirt.
When the elevator reached P3, Scout put his hand on my lower back and whispered in my ear.
“This is us, baby.”
Us . Who knew such a small word could send my whole world plummeting toward a fall. I knew I should run as far away as I could get from Scout, because guys like him—beautifully bad, yet achingly tender guys—probably had half the women in L.A. at their beck and call. The last thing I wanted to be was another notch on his bedpost, but all I could hope for in that moment was for there really to be an “us.”
Scout led me to his car and unlocked the door, and then waited until I was inside before closing it. He jogged around the back of his Mustang and slid inside. His mouth started moving, but I was so intoxicated by being in such a small space with him that I couldn’t focus on a word he said.
“Nola?” Scout touched my thigh and I jumped, feeling an unfamiliar tingle building between my legs. “Nola?”
“Umm…yes?” I said, my head swimming like I’d had one too many glasses of champagne.
“I was asking where you live, baby.”
“Oh, umm…” Being pressed up against Scout in the elevator had messed me up so bad I had forgotten how to talk, and apparently, where I lived as well. “I live in an apartment.”
Scout chuckled. “I know, baby, but where?”
“Oh, umm, mid-city.” I swallowed hard and tried to remember what street I lived on. “Off La Brea and Edgewood.”
“Cool.” Scout turned on the car and revved the engine, causing the sound to echo through the garage. He threw the car in drive and navigated his way out of the parking lot.
As we rode down the highway heading toward Wilshire, Scout placed his hand on my thigh and let it linger. Unlike before, I didn’t remove it or even feel uncomfortable
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, looking up into his big brown eyes.
“How are you getting home?”
I tapped my chin like I was seriously considering his question, and then I snapped my fingers in mock surprise. “I know, on the bus!”
I saw his jaw tighten and face flash into a small grimace. “Nah, I’ll take you.”
“Scout, you’re already giving me a ride to work tomorrow. You don’t have to take me home today, that’s too much.”
I desperately wanted to spend more time with him, but I wasn’t about to become one of those women who depended on a guy the moment one showed up in her life. I’d been taking the bus around L.A. for three years before I met Scout, and I had no intentions of stopping now.
“But it’s almost dark,” he said, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
A shiver ran down my spine from Scout’s gentle touch, and I had to stop myself stepping into him and kissing his neck.
“And? I take the bus at night all the time, Scout. Especially in the fall.”
“I know, and I don’t think that’s a good idea either. It’s not safe.”
The elevator dinged and Scout stepped inside. “C’mon Nola, let me take you home.” His eyes were soft and concern was woven into his face. I almost stepped inside, but I shook my head and waved.
“It’s cool, Scout, see you tomorrow.”
The doors started to close, but before they shut completely they flew open. Scout stepped forward and grabbed my hand. He quickly tugged me into the elevator and I was so caught off guard that I tumbled into his chest. A group of people filed into the elevator filling it up, so I was forced to stay pressed into Scout’s body.
He felt like a rock. I knew Scout was strong, but I didn’t realize his body was as hard as a brick wall. He held onto my hand the entire ride down to the parking garage, and I could feel his warm, minty breath traveling over my forehead. I didn’t dare meet his eyes, or even breathe; instead I looked straight ahead at the tanned flesh that peaked out of his t-shirt.
When the elevator reached P3, Scout put his hand on my lower back and whispered in my ear.
“This is us, baby.”
Us . Who knew such a small word could send my whole world plummeting toward a fall. I knew I should run as far away as I could get from Scout, because guys like him—beautifully bad, yet achingly tender guys—probably had half the women in L.A. at their beck and call. The last thing I wanted to be was another notch on his bedpost, but all I could hope for in that moment was for there really to be an “us.”
Scout led me to his car and unlocked the door, and then waited until I was inside before closing it. He jogged around the back of his Mustang and slid inside. His mouth started moving, but I was so intoxicated by being in such a small space with him that I couldn’t focus on a word he said.
“Nola?” Scout touched my thigh and I jumped, feeling an unfamiliar tingle building between my legs. “Nola?”
“Umm…yes?” I said, my head swimming like I’d had one too many glasses of champagne.
“I was asking where you live, baby.”
“Oh, umm…” Being pressed up against Scout in the elevator had messed me up so bad I had forgotten how to talk, and apparently, where I lived as well. “I live in an apartment.”
Scout chuckled. “I know, baby, but where?”
“Oh, umm, mid-city.” I swallowed hard and tried to remember what street I lived on. “Off La Brea and Edgewood.”
“Cool.” Scout turned on the car and revved the engine, causing the sound to echo through the garage. He threw the car in drive and navigated his way out of the parking lot.
As we rode down the highway heading toward Wilshire, Scout placed his hand on my thigh and let it linger. Unlike before, I didn’t remove it or even feel uncomfortable
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