Page 22 of Too Good to be True

Chapter 9

“Bailey?” Tim pullsback and tries to look at my face buried in the crook of his neck.

I want to sink down the drain. I’m so embarrassed at what I did, at what we did. I’ve never behaved like this. Never had sex with a man I just met. We didn’t even use protection. What the hell is wrong with me? I can’t imagine what he thinks of me.

“Bailey,” he coos. “Look at me.”

I don't want to. I'm afraid this is where we part ways. I want to pretend this is going to last just a little longer. I want to stay in his arms.

His hand tangles in my hair. “What’s wrong?”

How do I explain that he made my body feel things I never felt before? That he opened my eyes to a whole new world? Not one-night stands, but to being with someone that doesn’t make me feel ashamed of my body. The simmering looks he gave me while we had sex made the whole experience that much better.

Why does the thought of walking away hurt so much? I understood what this was before it happened. But now, I don’t want this to be over. I don’t want to move on and pretend it never happened.

“Bailey,” he adjusts himself so he is able to cup my face between his warm, strong hands and engage me in a deep, tender kiss. “Spend the night with me.”

Now I’m the one to pull away. I need to look at him, see if he’s serious. He is, but why?

“Really?”

“Really.” He kisses me again. “I can't get enough of you."

My eyes drop, and my lips curl into a smile. A strange sensation I've never felt before spreads through me.

"Don't get shy on me now." He crooks my chin up with his pointer finger, looking smug. "There was nothing shy about you a few minutes ago."

*

We go back to my roombecause Francesca freaked out when I told her I was heading back to the hotel with Tim. Knowing my best friend, she'll come looking for me when she gets back—if she’s not already waiting outside my door.

"You can't leave with him!"

"Why not? I thought you'd be doing a dance at the prospect of me hooking up."

"You don't know this guy. What if he’s a serial killer?"

“He’s not."

"How do you know?"

"I just do. I feel . . . connected to him."

"You lost your shit. You know that, don't you? You're a single woman alone in a strange city. You just picked up this—"

"You wanted me to loosen up and have a good time. I mean, look how you dressed me. I thought you'd be happy."

"And I thought you were into Walker. Or Ian. You just left him for this other guy?"

I shrug. "Ian never came to find me."

“Maybe he did, and you were too busy for him.”

---