Page 55 of Taking the Pitch
Fuck me.
Keep me.
That last one jolts me out of my trance. Never in my twenty-nine years have I wanted someone to claim me as much as I want Judd to. But friends aren’t supposed to feel that way about each other.
“Like what you see, Shortcake?”
Yes.
I roll my eyes. “You wish, Davis.” I look down at my smartwatch to check the time and look back up at him. “Aren’t you early? You said thirty minutes. I still have ten minutes to spare.”
He walks into my apartment and kneels down to give Bruno some attention, who is whining and shaking his butt uncontrollably, like he’s his long-lost love.
Traitor.
“I figured if I came down early, it would give you less time to over analyze everything,” he says, looking up at me with his devilish smile. “You look really nice.”
I duck my face at the compliment, closing the door and turn to him, crossing my arms in front of me. “Thanks. But how? How did you know that’s exactly what I would be doing?” I narrow my eyes. “Have you been talking to Charlie?” That’s the only explanation to him knowing how my brain works.
He stands and takes his phone out of his pocket, tapping on the screen a few times and turning it towards me so I can read the screen. It’s a website on how to support someone who deals with anxiety and depression.
The back of my eyes start to sting and I flick them back up to Judd’s as he pockets his phone. I told him about the anxiety, but never about my depression. “Why?” I ask, my voice cracking just slightly.
“If we’re going to be around each other more, I want to be prepared on how to help you if you ever have an anxiety attack while you’re with me,” he says, shrugging like it’s no big deal.
It’s a huge deal.
Not one of the boyfriends I’ve had since developing my anxiety disorder has ever taken the time to do something as simple as googling how to support me. And here Judd is in all his sexy glory, doing just that, and he’s not even my boyfriend.
He could be.My inner voice chimes in.
No, he can’t. And he’s showing me another reason as to why. He’s too good for me to bring him down with all my darkness.
“I really appreciate you doing that, Judd, truly,” I tell him, clearing the emotion from my throat. “Should we go? I’ll just grab my coat.” I move to the closet, needing a minute to gather myself. When I turn back around, Judd has Bruno’s leash clipped on him and his ball in his hand.
“My parents have a huge backyard. I figured we can tire him out there. That way, when we get home, he’ll just need his nightly potty walk.”
I nod and try to ignore the warm feeling I get in my chest when he sayshomewhile I lock my door. Once we’re in the elevator, he hits the button for the garage and leans against the wall, watching me.
“So, is there anything I should know about your family before we get there?” I ask. We really haven’t had a chance to talk much after Judd invited me, other than texting me yesterday to let me know what time he would pick me up today.
He lifts a shoulder. “Not really. My family is pretty cool. Mom is excited I’m bringing someone. I should probably warn you, even though I told her we’re just friends, she’s still going to think otherwise. Now that Kessler is settled down with babies on the way, she has been chomping at the bit for me to be next.”
“She just wants her baby boy to be happy,” I tease, reaching up to pinch his cheek.
He gently grabs my arm and turns it, kissing the inside of my wrist. My laugh dies in my throat as chills race down my arm.
“I am happy,” he says, staring down at me, still gripping my arm.
The elevator stops and the ‘ding’ announces its arrival to the parking garage. I pull my arm out of his grip and step out into the garage. The cold air brings relief to my heated cheeks.
Judd hits the key fob to his Jeep, unlocking it. I climb into the passenger seat as he loads Bruno and when I look back; I see the seats are folded down and there’s a cushy dog bed with a toy laying on it, which Bruno immediately picks up.
I look at Judd when he climbs in the driver’s seat. “When did you do that?”
He looks back at Bruno and smiles at his soft growls as he plays with his new toy. “I went to the pet store while I was out running errands yesterday. I didn’t want Bruno to be uncomfortable.”
How am I supposed to resist this man when he keeps doing sweet shit like this?
