Page 100 of Deep Tide

He kissed her mouth, her chin, the little spot below her ear.

Whatever she’d wanted to say, he’d distracted her, because her fingernails dug into his scalp.

“Sean.”

He pulled away.

“I have to get back. My whole staff’s going to know what we’re doing.”

He gazed down at her flushed cheeks and worried expression. He didn’t give a damn what her staff thought, but she obviously did.

He eased back and combed a hand through his hair. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She smiled and dropped her hand to his belt buckle. “Did you find out about tonight?”

He stepped back and sat on the edge of her desk, not responding.

Disappointment flickered in her eyes, and he felt a sharp pang of guilt.

“I can’t do it tonight,” he said.

She gave a shrug. “No problem.”

“I wish I could.”

She had no idea how much. He’d invited her out on a real date, to a real restaurant, with every intention of giving her his undivided attention. But he’d been kidding himself to think he could pull that off right now.

A little line appeared between her brows. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s no biggie. We can try later in the week. I’ve got events Tuesday and Wednesday, but Thursday night could work.”

The hope in her voice was like a dart in his chest, and he just looked at her.

“Oh.” She took a deep breath and blew it out. “I think I’m getting the picture now.”

He didn’t say anything. The look in her eyes cooled, and she glanced away.

“I’m going to be tied up tonight,” he said. “And after that... I don’t know. Everything depends.”

“On?”

“How my work goes.”

She tucked her hands into her apron and watched him. “In other words... you’re going to be really busy and then you’ll probably leave town after that?”

He couldn’t confirm or deny that, so he just looked at her.

“You don’t need to feel bad, Sean. I get it. You’re here for work.”

“I feel bad because...” He rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn’t explain it to her. He wasn’t even sure he understood it himself.

“Don’t.” She stepped closer and gave him a forced smile. “It’s fine. We’ll take a rain check. Maybe next time your work brings you down this way we can grab a drink or something.”

Grab a drink. For some reason the words infuriated him. It was exactly what he’d wanted that first night.

But he’d wanted more than that then, and he still did. The time they’d spent together had only made him more desperate to get close to her. And now here he was, just days—or maybe even hours—from wrapping up his job here, and he hadn’t spent nearly enough time with her.

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