Page 35 of What She Deserves
“So you’re punishing me?”
“No. I learned my lesson with you.”
“Cut the crap! Do you want me or not? Tell me right here, right now.” He jabbed his finger downward, at the sidewalk.
“How dare you give me an ultimatum. How do I know you’re not going to change your mind again?”
“Because I’m not. Because you have to trust me, trust what we feel for each other. Because I know you feel it too. Iknow, Layla.” He cupped her face. “I hurt you, and I regret it. I wish I could take it all back. The stupid conversation, the fact that you saw me and Heather without any context. The fact that I didn’t call when I was aching to call, but I was too chicken to pick up the phone because I didn’t think I deserved a woman like you.”
Her throat clogged with tears, and her resolve weakened. He sounded so passionate and looked so sincere.
“I want to change the rules again, make you another counteroffer,” he said. “No sex. We only spend time together, the way you planned to spend time with other men.”
She let out a surprised laugh. “Are you capable of doing that?”
He shrugged carelessly and smiled. “I’ll die trying.” A pained smile crossed his face. “Not being able to slide into your tempting body will be hard, but I’m determined to prove to you that I’m not the same man. I’m not a player out solely for a good time, only interested in how many notches I can get on my bedpost. You’re important to me, and I don’t want to lose you again.”
The tightness in her throat turned into a full-on lump. “No sex at all?” Layla said.
“That’s right.”
“Okay,” she said with an air of skepticism.
“You’re in?”
“I guess.”
“A little more enthusiasm would be appreciated,” Rashad said.
She smiled weakly. “I’m not 100 percent certain I’m making the right decision, but I’m willing to try.”
“I’ll take that.”
He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. Pressing her back against the building, he said, “Let’s go on a picnic.”
With his warm body nestled against hers, she could hardly think. “A picnic?”
“Yes. My building has a rooftop deck now. They added a fire pit within the past year, so it’s really nice. Let’s have a picnic up there. What do you say?”
She still hesitated.
“Come on, Layla. We used to have fun together all the time.”
True. They had packed in a lot of activities during the six months they were together. For six months she’d been the center of his universe, drowning in his attention. Another reason why his desire to change the terms of their relationship had hurt so much.
“Yeah, we did,” Layla said, a twinge of pain sprouting in her chest.
“I want to spend time with you. I know what I said three years ago, but my opinion is different. I’m different. Let me show you.”
She closed her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she muttered.
“Is that a yes?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
Rashad swept her up off the sidewalk and she squealed, flinging her arms around his neck.
“I’ll plan everything. All you need to do is show up.”
