Unconditional Love (Journey of Love #1)(26)
Author: Kelly Elliott

He quickly looked at me and then back at her. “What are you doing here, Sherry?”

She laughed and said, “I just bought a condo here. One of my best friends lives here and I fell in love with her place and had to have one of my own.”

She looked back at me and began to eye me up and down. For some reason I instantly didn’t like her. I didn’t like the way Lark was so nervous and I certainly didn’t like the way she was looking at him.

Lark began pulling me away from her as he started walking away. “Welcome to the neighborhood. I’ll see ya around.”

“Well wait, Lark, darling. Who’s your friend?” she asked as she gave me a smirk.

Darling?

Lark ran his hand through his hair and said, “Azurdee, this is Sherry, a friend of mine. I’ve known Sherry for a few years, right before I joined the Marine Corps.”

She let out the fakest laugh I’d ever heard. She held out her hand, almost like she wanted me to kiss the damn thing. I took her hand and shook it and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. How do you and Lark know each other?”

She looked at Lark and gave him the same wicked smile as before. The way they looked at each other I could tell they shared a secret together. “Would you like to tell her the story or shall I?”

Lark gave her a dirty look and then looked at me and smiled slightly. “We met at a club one night. Sherry is a lawyer and I’ve used her a few times.”

“More than a few,” she said as she brought her finger up to her mouth.

“We were just heading to dinner, Sherry, so if you’ll excuse us.”

Lark pulled my hand and practically dragged me down the hallway.

“It was nice meeting you. Maybe I’ll see you around, Azurdee. We can get to know each other better,” Sherry called out. I turned and looked back at her and she was glaring at me.

When I turned back, I had the feeling that Lark and Sherry were more than just friends. I peeked up at Lark and he seemed pissed off. I decided not to even ask him about her. I needed to believe that what he said to me was true.

I was his and he was mine.

We walked to the restaurant in silence. The longer he remained quiet the harder it was for me to not worry about this Sherry girl.

Before we walked into the restaurant, I stopped, causing him to stop as well. He turned and looked at me and smiled. I tried to smile, but I just needed to get this over with.

“I’m not the jealous type and I realize you have a past, but the way that girl was looking at me and how nervous you were acting is not sitting right with me. If there is something between the two of you, tell me now, Lark.”

He went to open his mouth to talk, but then shut it again. He ran his hand through his hair again and I was quickly learning he did this when he was mad or nervous. “Sherry is just a friend. Nothing more.”

I slowly nodded my head. “Have you slept with her?”

“Does it matter? Are you going to ask me that question with every single girl we run in to?”

My heart instantly sank. I knew he was right. I had no right asking and it wasn’t any of my business, but by him not answering, he actually answered my question. He had slept with her and by their reaction to each other, I was going to guess they had slept together on more than one occasion.

I smiled slightly and shook my head. “I’m sorry. Let’s get something to eat. I’m starving.” I turned and began walking into the restaurant. I tried like hell to push this Sherry girl from my mind. I was hoping she wouldn’t become an issue, but I had a feeling she was going to become more than an issue.

After dinner, we walked back to the condos and Lark called for a car to take us to the club. I quickly forgot about Sherry after our dinner was served. I was pretty sure I had just been hungry and cranky. Lark also seemed to snap out of it.

When we got into the car, Lark said, “Red 7, please.”

I settled into Lark’s side as he gently moved his fingers up and down my arm. I felt myself relaxing and had to fight to stay awake. I hadn’t slept so great the night before when I was so upset about what had happened at the fundraiser the night before with Lark on the phone.

The car pulled up outside the club and we got out. I looked at the line to get in and let out a deep sigh. Lark took my hand and walked up to the bouncer.

“Lark! Dude, how are you?” the bouncer asked as he looked me up and down. I was starting to regret my decision to wear this low-cut shirt.

Lark looked back at me and then at the bouncer again. “I’m good.”

The bouncer moved out of the way and we walked straight into the club. “I take it you come here often!” I shouted. Lark winked at me as we made our way over to the bar. I kept my head down after the first five guys eye-fucked the shit out of me.

I wasn’t much of a club scene person but I was learning that Lark was. He was getting stopped by both men and women. One bitch threw her arms around him and kissed him with me standing right there. Lark pulled her off of him and whispered something in her ear. She looked at me and frowned before turning around and walking away.

When we finally made it to the bar, Lark ordered us both a Blue Moon. He handed one to me and smiled. I smiled back but I felt so out of place. I looked around and was shocked at all the girls openly staring at Lark. I rolled my eyes as one girl licked her lips and tried to wave at him. I practically downed my beer I was so pissed off. I guessed I had better get used to this.

I peeked up at Lark. He was talking to some guy, and it sounded like they knew each other. The guy looked like he was military, so maybe they both served in the Marines together.

I was totally captivated by Lark. My eyes traveled up and down his body as he stood there and talked to this guy. Lark was tall, probably six foot one, with a short military-style haircut and breathtakingly beautiful green eyes. His body was built like nothing I’d ever seen before. He was in incredible shape and my favorite part of his body was his broad chest.

I watched his lips move while he talked and I was glad it was loud in the club because I had let a small moan escape my lips. I was turned on just watching him talk. Good God. Why does he affect me the way he does?

I glanced at Lark’s friend and he kept looking at me. I instantly felt uncomfortable. Lark was talking to another guy who had walked up. The way his friend was looking at me was like I was a bug that needed to be stepped on. My skin began crawling and I tried to give him a slight smile. He barely smiled and looked my body up and down quickly before turning his attention back to Lark.