Page 74 of By His Vow

From the moment Kingston stepped into my office, nothing I said would have mattered.

He’s Kingston Callahan. He always gets his way.

What I wasn’t expecting was for him to be the perfect gentleman and for the night to turn out to be the best date I’ve ever had.

He was thoughtful and attentive, and when he asked me a question, he actually listened to the answer like he genuinely wanted to hear it. It was mind-blowing, and nothing like I’ve ever experienced from him before.

He’s always been my older brother’s best friend, who never had time for Miles’s annoying little sister. But last night, I wasn’t a little sister. I wasn’t an employee. I was just Tatum, the woman on a date with one of the city’s most eligible bachelors.

Even now, with the bright light of a new day streaming through the curtains I failed to close properly last night, I’m as confused as ever.

Something unexpected and totally unwanted flutters in my stomach as I think about the end of the night when he delivered me home. He didn’t come up. He didn’t even attempt it. Instead, he walked me to the main doors of my building before twisting his fingers with mine and pulling me close.

The heat of his body practically burned mine through our clothes, and I’d be lying if I said that desire wasn’t thrumming through my veins.

It has been all night.

The eye contact, the way he watched me from across the table, the innocent little touches he gifted me. All of it was beginning to drive me crazy.

More than crazy.

I shouldn’t have wanted to drag him up to my apartment as much as I did, but I couldn’t help myself.

Thankfully, one of us wasn’t fueled by desire and had managed to keep his head. Either that or the chemistry I was feeling was totally one-sided and he hadn’t even considered the possibility.

I shake my head. Surely not.

It can’t be possible. The air was practically crackling between us.

He had to have felt it…

My heart sinks a little and embarrassment threatens that he didn’t.

His actions outside sure led me to believe he didn’t want me like I did him.

He didn’t even follow through on his promise of making it worthwhile…assuming a happy ending was where he was going with that comment.

Rolling over, I press my face into my pillow and scream quietly, needing somehow to get rid of the frustration and lingering desire I’ve been unable to shift.

All he did was brush some of my hair behind my ear and then kiss my cheek as he wished me goodnight.

Kissed my freaking cheek.

This is Kingston Callahan we’re talking about. I don’t think he’s ever only kissed a woman’s cheek before.

Along with my brother, he’s the ultimate manwhore.

They always have been.

So why am I different?

Because he’s been told to spend time with you…

I slam down those stupid thoughts.

I refuse to allow myself to even consider that I’m not worthy of a man like him.

I am. Hell, if we’re being honest, I’m worthy of a lot better.

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