Page 157 of Hidden Ties

Nervously, her fingertips went to the hem of the shirt, pulling it farther down over her thighs. “I hope I didn’t wake you?”

Kent shook his head. “No. You’re aware it’s sprinkling, aren’t you?”

“Barely.” Lifting her face to the night sky, she felt the droplets hit her face with gentle pats. “With the humidity we’ve had all week, the sprinkles feel good. Besides, I won’t melt if I get a little wet.”

At the way Kent was looking at her, a sense of unease made her turn back to the view. Most of the time, she felt completely comfortable with him, as if they had been together for years. Then there were instances when she felt as if she didn’t know the cold stranger whom she had shared her body with and had fallen deeply in love with.

His hard arms slid around her waist to pull her back to his chest. Enclosed within his arms, she felt her fear sliding away. Silently, they stood there in the sprinkling rain.

Sage leaned her head back on his shoulder, any fear of falling from this height minuscule at the joy of being held by him.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she said quietly. “I should go get dressed. The bus for my weekend job comes early.”

“I wish you would let me help you with a car.”

She stiffened in his arms. “I told you I don’t need your help. I’ll get one in a few weeks. I’m only waiting until the right one comes along. I don’t want to break my budget.”

“You know you can be extremely irritating sometimes?” he asked rhetorically.

Turning around in his arms, she raised herself up on her toes to kiss his lips. “I know, but you love me anyway, don’t you?” she joked.

She realized her mistake when she saw a flash in his eyes before he could lower his lashes.

Masking her hurt, she pulled out of his arms. “As nice as this is, I have to get dressed.” Flippantly putting her hand on his hip, she slid two fingers under the waistband of his loose shorts. “You should go back to bed and get some sleep. I can take an Uber.”

“I’ll take you home,” he snapped.

Sage straightened herself to her full height to give him a mock salute. “Yes, sir. Anything you say, sir.”

“Don’t tempt me to spank you.” Pulling her back into his arms, he gave her a hard kiss before raising his head. “I have to go out of town Monday.”

Why was he acting so serious since he had come to the balcony? There was only one reason she could come up with. Her laughing demeaner disappeared.

“How long will you be gone?”

“Overnight.”

“Oh … I thought, from the way you’re acting, that you would be gone much longer.”

“I’m being serious because I want you to come with me.” Tracing her jaw with his lips, he nuzzled her ear seductively.

She shivered, and her arms went around his shoulders.

“I can’t take off work …” she began to refuse.

“I really want you to come with me.” His sensuous voice made her toes curl.

Glenda had never called into work the years she had worked at Hollingsworth. She had aspired to have Glenda’s level of dedication when she took the job. She’d only had the position at the file room for a couple of weeks; would it look bad on her if she asked for a day off? Another matter of concern was that Glory and the girls couldn’t be left alone overnight. For the last two Fridays, she had paid Tayla to stay at the apartment until she came home. Asking Tayla to stay Monday night might be asking too much.

All the negatives she had listed melted away under his seductive intent. She was having trouble fighting it.

“I’ll see what I can work out.”

Lifting her up, Kent twirled her around the small balcony. Giggling, she playfully slapped at his shoulder for him to put her down.

“I’m not making any promises,” she cautioned him. “But I’ll call Bree and let you know tomorrow afternoon.”

Kent acted like it was a done deal.

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