Page 69 of Love Undiscovered
“No.”
“Flyers?”
“Who? No. It’s doubtful,” I say.
“So,” he says. “Tell me how you went to school in Philadelphia while your family was here?”
“Boarding school.”
He stops us in the middle of the sidewalk and turns me to face him, one hand on each of my shoulders. His face is soft, and his eyes look concerned.
“You went to boarding school all the way across the country for grade school AND high school?”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, then turn to continue walking back to my office. I can feel the tension building in my shoulders. From unresolved anger and bitterness; longing for love from the ones who chose to bring me into this world to begin with.
“Yes.”
“Were you a bad girl?” he asks with a pretend gasp, which immediately lightens the angst growing inside me. I don’t like talking about my childhood. Hell, I don’t even like thinking about my childhood.
“I don’t think so,” I say.
“Then why?”
“That’s a topic best left for another time. Besides, if we don’t pick up the pace, I’m going to be late back, and I hate it when I’m late.” I turn and start walking again, now only a few buildings away from my office.
“Why didn’t you say so?” He picks me up in a fireman’s hold and starts running down the street.
“Chance! Put me down!”
“You said we had to hurry,”
“Put me down!” I bang on his back with my fists. It feels futile even as I do it. “I swear to God I will kill you if I’m flashing anyone right now.”
“I got you,” he says. I know he does, since one of his arms is at the base of my ass, holding my skirt down. He slows to a jog, and then walk, as we get to the front of my office building, stopping in view of the lobby.
“You’d better hope no one can see us!”
“Relax, Icy. No one is even paying attention.” He slides me down the front of his body. My skirt bunches between us and I move to smooth it down. He smooths the back for me, taking extra time with the part of the skirt over my ass. I have to laugh at him.
“You’re incorrigible,” I say, trying to give him a stern look while I poke my index finger at his chest.
“I can’t even spell incorrigible,” he says, bringing his hands up and placing them on either side of my face. “I can spell kiss though. Which is what I’m about to do unless you say no.”
I really want to say no.
I think.
No, that’s not true, I really want to say yes.
God, it’s hard to think when he’s this close to me.
With those eyes, and those lips. I nod. He lowers his head slowly to mine. I close my eyes and open my mouth slightly. I feel his breath before I feel his lips, so soft is his touch that I might have missed it were I not expecting it. His lips linger on mine, and long before I’ve had my fill, he pulls away.
“I’ll see you Saturday, beautiful,” he whispers. Then he turns and walks toward his bike, which is parked on the street. He puts on his helmet and his leather jacket and takes off without looking back. I stand there for a minute, hands still on my lips, not quite believing what just happened and how much I enjoyed it.
He has such an effect on me. Still. I don’t get it.
I barely take two steps before I have to swipe my badge to get into the building. The coolness of the air feels good against my heated skin. Connie is sitting at the front desk fanning herself with a piece of paper.
