Page 11 of Walk Off

“You taste the same,” he murmured against her lips when the kiss eased up. His lips trailed along her chin, her body shivering at each and every touch. “How is it possible that you taste the same?”

She moaned and clung to him tighter. “So do you.”

His lips hovered over hers, ready to devour her once again but when a door slammed somewhere nearby, they jumped apart.

She cleared her throat and looked behind them. A few guests had come outside but were still far enough away from them.

“We shouldn't have done that.” She rubbed her arms with her hands to try and calm herself down.

Kyle went from calm to angry. “That’s bullshit and you know it. You wanted that kiss as much as I did.”

She nodded because there was no denying it. “You’re right, but that still doesn't mean we should have done it.” She looked around again as she steadied her breath. “I should get back inside.”

As she turned to leave, Kyle grabbed her hand. “Celia, wait. You can’t just leave. We need to talk.”

She scoffed. “Talk? It sure seemed like you had something else in mind to do with your mouth than talk just a minute ago.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have kissed you, but I couldn't seem to stop myself. I meant what I said, I’ve never stopped thinking about you.”

“You should have.” She shook her head and tried like hell to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. “I’m not a good person. Kyle. You should forget about me and move on.” She brushed his hand from her arm and, as fast as her legs would take her, walked off.

Her lips still burned from where he had been and her body was on fire from just a few touches from his hands. But it didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter. He was going to hate her once he found out what she did. It was better to keep her distance.

She was going to tell him, but not tonight. After the wedding, before he left town, she’d get in touch with him and tell him the horrible, awful thing she’d done. After that, she knew her life would never be the same, but Ruby was right. Jasmine deserved to know her father.

“Hey,” Zara said as soon as she walked in the door to the ballroom. She and Hannah were both there, both waiting to make sure she was okay.

“Is everything okay?” Hannah asked.

“Not really,” she choked out a laugh. “My life is going to blow up in my face in less than a day.”

“Edwin said that’s Kyle Dulanay,” Hannah said. “Do you know him?”

She nodded. These were her friends and she’d hidden the truth from them long enough. “We dated a long time ago.” She hung her head, biting down on her bottom lip. “He’s Jasmine's father.” She swallowed but kept going. “He doesn’t know about her.”

“Well, hell,” Zara said. “That is a twist I didn’t see coming.”

“What can we do?” Hannah asked.

“Nothing. There’s nothing anyone can do. I think I’m just going to go home and spend some time with Jasmine.”

“Babe,” Zara said, “I love you, but Jasmine is fast asleep by now, and going home to be alone and sulk is the last thing you need. What you need is to get drunk and have some fun.”

“She’s right,” Hannah said. “I don’t have any clue how you’re feeling, but I assume you plan to tell him the truth and that’s weighing on you. For tonight, for just one more night, let it go. It will still be there tomorrow and we will help you deal with it.”

What they were proposing sounded great to her. To forget about it for one more night. She just wasn’t sure it was possible. “I guess if I’m going to do this, I’m going to need a drink.”

“That’s my girl,” Zara said. “And to go with that drink, I think maybe a hot guy to dance with.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” There was only one hot guy she wanted and her lips were still tingling from his kiss.

Her life was a freaking episode of Jerry Springer. She’d never even seen that old show but she’d heard many people talk about it and how ridiculous it was. She was pretty sure she was the perfect candidate.

She grabbed a beer from the bar and then Zara dragged her out onto the dance floor. All her friends were out there and they danced and sang and laughed. That is until a slow song came on.

She was walking off the dance floor when a good-looking guy approached her. His name was Rick. She’d met him briefly during dinner. “I was hoping I could have this dance.” He held out his hand.

“Yeah, that sounds good.” She set her beer on a nearby table and took Rick’s hand. He was a nice guy who Benji knew, and of course, he played soccer. But, when he wrapped one arm around her back, she got none of the zing she’d had just looking at Kyle.

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