Page 23 of Miles Apart
Terrence showed up at the salsa lesson this afternoon. Jay doesn’t know that he all but begged to meet me earlier this morning. He wants his wife back and the past behind them. One thing is clear: Terrence never pursued Madison. Their run-ins at the retreat have been coincidental, though I don’t put it past her to have put a tracking device on him.
Justice and Terrence finding their way back to each other tugged at a desire buried deep. I’ve never pictured myself with anyone, and now I’m telling myself that whatever I feel is a fluke—a moment of weakness—because ofhim.
Every time I close my eyes, I see his lusty, maple eyes. I recall his joggers, outlining the dick I felt but have never seen. Miles took care of me the night we played in Ravenous. He put my needs above his, with a kiss to my curls frizzed from the room we set on fire. What started as a battle of will became a comfort I always avoid.
He threw me off my game so hard that I might need training wheels the next time I ride a man.
“Emma, you there, sweetie?”
“Yes—sorry.” I push out a breath.Get your shit together.“You were saying?”
“I’m holding you up. Go enjoy your night. Have a ball. Please tell Justice I called and to talk to Terrence when she’s ready.” She chuckles. “What are the chances they’d both end up at the same retreat? Love always finds a way. Love you, sweetie!”
“Love you too, Ms. Ang. Thanks for calling.”
Her laughter is warm, like the chocolate chip cookies she bakes on Saturdays. No one gets close enough to attach their heart to mine. Except for Justice and her family, who pulled me in and never let me go.
“What did I tell you about that thank-you?”
I smile. “Not necessary.”
“Exactly. Go enjoy that singles’ retreat to the fullest.”
Plan to.
I’m downstairs in the main restaurant for a nightcap with the person I matched from speed dating. The invite in a gold foil envelope was vague, but I need a reset fast.
No name.
No photo.
Instructions to be here at nine.
I lift a smile at the brunette in a black button-down and slacks and give my name before following her to my match, who’s waiting at our reserved table. A match with a fighter’s body outfitted in a form-fitting V-neck sweater with almond-shaped eyes, a thick nose, and heavy lips.
My glitter heels startle on the stone tile that leads to the cognac leather booth where Miles waits with a glass of brown liquor. It’s a sin how good the color lavender looks on him.
“Oh, hell no.” I shake my head in the spirit of Maya Wilkes, wishing one of thoseGirlfriendswas here now. I played around with Miles to get off, but this can’t happen.
“There’s a mistake.” I shift to the hostess with furrowed brows. “I’m here to meet—”
“Your match,” she says with a smile. “He’s your match.” The clueless woman extends a hand to the man I’ve despised..
The resort determined our matches based off of our scorecards. Someone didn’t carry the two, because I didn’t mark Miles. At least, I don’t think I did.
“I got it. Come here, Emma.” My pulse skitters at the command and outstretched hand.
I glance at the hostess, who’s waiting for me to get my head out of my ass. She takes one look at Miles and walks off with heart eyes. Let her take this date if she’s that sprung.
My hand slips into his, and I sink into the memory of the last time our fingers touched. A bolt of heat scorches my body. Miles’s fingers cover mine, and I let him guide us to the booth in a haze of musk. I settle opposite him and shift my legs behind me so as not to rub knees as he spreads his wide thighs.
“We need to talk.” Hooded eyes roam down my olive-green dress and trace the contours of my body through the material.
There’s no disguising my reaction to Miles. Not the way my chest expands to accommodate the low, steady breathsthrough my parted lips, nor how his focus darts to my tongue instinctively swiping the edge of my mouth.
“There’s nothing to discuss,” I say. “We played. You left.”
My body might want him, but my mouth is ready to cuss him out. Everything I told Justice was true. I’m unsettled. I’m also confused and frustrated. Confused at my reaction to the man sizing me up from across the booth. Frustrated with myself for allowing a man to unsettle me in the first place. Every moment alone with Miles takes a piece of my guard with it. I can’t dothiskind of naked.
