“I’m sure he does.” Phineas held up his phone, “did you see photos the driver sent earlier? Juniper with a bunch of cats?”
“No.” Adil took his friend’s phone and looked down at it and his mouth pulled wide in a smile. “How cute is this?”
“She’s adorable.” Phineas smiled. “Makes me want to carry her around like a baby in my arms and keep her safe.”
Adil smirked at Phineas’ comment, but he was already formulating a plan. “Which café is this?” When Phineas named it he nodded. “I’ve never been there.”
“Me either but she told her mother the therapist wanted her to do something on her own and she picked the cat café because Kyst is quite allergic to them.”
He threw his head back and laughed, “that’s my baby girl.”
“Not yours,” Phineas grunted but he was smiling,
“She will be. I can’t wait to kiss her tonight.” Adil was heading for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To get a new pair of dress pants. I can’t show up to the club dressed in my denim now can I? I’m going to clean up vice for our girl,” Adil winked at him.
“You should cut your hair.” Phineas commented teasingly, the lady who did your hair in sixth grade.”
“Ah, the infamous bowl cut. My grandma is still alive, but I don’t know if I’d let her or her cataracts anywhere near my hair at this age.” He leaned against the door before opening, did you see Juniper’s new hair?”
“I did. She’s gorgeous to begin with but the hair suits her. I want to spread it over my pillow.”
“And I’m off,” Adil laughed as he pulled the door open. “Am I picking you up at eight or not?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Get your ChapStick ready,” Adil blew him a kiss before waving to Phineas’ PA who was sitting at her desk and heading to the elevator.
Once inside the elevator he made a call to one of his own assistants, “hey, it’s me. I need you to do me a favor. A friend of mine went to cat café today. I want to know which cat she bonded with, and I want the paperwork to adopt the cat on my desk in an hour.”
“You want to adopt a cat sir?”
“Not any cat. I specifically want the cat the lady in the phot spent the most time with. Find the one she bonded most with and get me that cat.”
“Yes Mr. Benton.”
“Also, call my favorite suit store and tell them (‘m on my way and I want something sharp and eye catching for when I hit a bar tonight.”
“It’s a Tuesday sir.”
“The friend in the photo is easing herself into the bar scene and going out on a quieter night. If it works, she’ll go out on Friday or Saturday night. This is her trial run. I’m going to be supportive.” He spoke with a smile, “and to steal kisses.” He didn’t say the latter part aloud, but he couldn’t stop smiling as he thought it.
“I will let them know to expect you in an hour.”
“Thirty minutes,” he commented bluntly and closed his phone. He was an easy-going guy, but this was about catching up the playing field with Beni. “Beni, Beni, Beni, you were there for the first kiss. It’s game on brother. I’m getting the next one.”
He sent a text message to the girl on his mind.
A: Hello, baby girl. I hear we’re going dancing tonight. “Make sure you wear comfortable shoes because you won’t be down all evening.
He watched as immediately the ellipses on his phone told hir she saw his message and was responding.
A smiley face emoji came through first and then the text message.
J: What if I step on your toes?
A: Baby girl, I’d let you wear golf cleats on my bare feet if it meant I got to dance with you.
He was walking through the lobby of the building when her next text came through.
J: Are you flirting with me?
A: Not yet, baby girl but the minute you give me a millimeter of a hint you want to be flirted with I’m coming for you.
J: What if you think I’m using you as a rebound?
The question startled him, and he paused on the sidewalk and then a wide grin pulled his lips. Juniper was worried about his feelings. Silly, sweet, wonderful girl.
A: Are you thinking of using me?
J: No. I don’t want to use anyone. I simply don’t want feelings.
A: All I want, baby girl, is for you to be smiling as wide as the first day I saw you. If it takes letting you dance on my feet and use me a bit, then I’m the luckiest man alive to be considered for the job.
J: Then I’ll be wearing my comfiest shoes ever.
Adil grinned the most shit-cating grin he’d ever wore and nearly jogged to his sports car. Juniper was going to dance with him.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.