Page 40 of Take Hold of Me

When a quick search of my bar cabinet does not turn up a bottle of my preferred spirit, I place bottles of rum and tequila on the counter. Neither one calls to me. Wine does not either. I stamp my foot in frustration and return all the bottles to their rightful places.

“That sucks. We’re going to miss you so much! I want to thank you for all your help in planning, though. You really deserve to be here to see how everything fits together.”

“Believemoi, I wish I could be there. But Wills and I sent Rose’s gift and the five containers of beach sand to you via UPS. You will receive them tomorrow.”

She giggles. McKenna has an irrepressible giggle and, despite feeling sorry for myself, I join her. She asks, “Wills, huh?”

“Well, yes. He was with me when I got the call fromMonsieurPrice. He drove me to the UPS Store, actually.”

“Did he now? What else has he been driving? Do tell!”

I giggle again. “Well, we have kissed.”

“No way! Really? Do you think your timing is right this time around?”

My giggles come to a screeching halt. “What do you mean? We never were really together before.”

“I saw how you two looked at each other. You can’t tell me there were no stolen kisses when he was guarding Cole.”

Maybe tea will hit the spot after all. “Well, maybe just a few. Not like today.”

“Today?! You go, girl. He’s always been a quiet one. I bet he’s all into the take charge stuff. Gotta watch out for the silent types there, Em.”

I relive our interlude on the elevator as I put water into a kettle and place it on the stove. “He is not as silent as you might think.” I take a teacup down from the cabinet. “And he is quite the kisser.”

“Well, alrighty then. I’m happy for you. Maybe the next shower we throw will be for you!”

My hand falters as I reach for a teabag. “Do not get ahead of yourself, McKenna. I get the feeling he does not want me, really.”

“Perhaps he doesn’twantto want you.”

“Well, the only shower Iwantto be attending is for Rose on Sunday. And I will be in the Caymans.”

“I’ll let Rose know what happened. She’ll understand, sweetie.”

After a few more minutes, I disconnect the call. Speaking with her has made me feel better. While I wait for my tea to steep, I make my way into my bedroom, placing my suitcase on the bed. I hang up the cute floral dress I had purchased in honor of Rose when the doorbell rings.Wills.

Smoothing my hands down my trousers, I rush to answer the door. He stands tall and gorgeous, holding an overly large bag in front of him.

“Come on in,” I say, opening the door wider so he can enter without a problem.

“Thanks.” He walks directly into my kitchen, placing the bag on top of the island. As he unpacks whatever food he bought, he asks, “So, did you talk with McKenna?”

“Oui. She said she will let Rose know. The shower is a surprise for her, you know.”

He nods and opens a container. “I picked up Japanese, I hope that’s okay with you. I even got sushi with cauliflower rice.”

I lean over to take the opened container from him. “Wow. I love this.Merci!” Without even getting a plate, I pop a piece into my mouth and start chewing. “Mmmm.C’est magnifique.” I offer the container to him. “Want a piece?”

Something hot and undecipherable crosses his face. His pupils dilate and his hand rubs the patch of stubble on his chin. “Nah. I bought some manly sushi for me.” He holds up a shrimp negamaki roll amongst the other containers that are scattered over my island. “Plates?”

Something inside of me surges, then retreats. Maybe McKenna was right that he does not want to want me. If so, how can I change his mind? I need to find a way.

He turns to the cabinet that I had pointed to and pulls out two of my dinner plates. Before he turns around, I grab a set of chopsticks from the bag and yank the sticks apart. Capturing a piece of his sushi, I raise it to his mouth. “Open.”

His lips break apart while his eyes track the progress of my chopsticks. His eyes flick from the sushi making its way to his mouth and my own eyes. Having spent several months in China and Japan for various photoshoots, I am somewhat of an expert with chopsticks. I drop the piece of sushi inside his mouth, and both his lips and eyes close. Chewing the morsel of food, he looks like a decadent god.

“So good,” he murmurs. He points to each of the take-out containers. “Help yourself.”

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