Page 55 of Almost True
“Of course. I’ll see you all later,” she said diplomatically, hustling after me where I pulled her.
We slipped down a lane, under an archway, past another, until we’d distanced ourselves from any other voices or bodies. Every step ratcheted up the anticipation and need that cranked through my veins.
The sun had set, and just the faintest hint of purples and pinks hung on to the west, where it sank. The only light we had now was that of the moon filtering in overhead through the slim branches of a Japanese maple.
“Is everything okay?” Maddie said, turning to face me.
And though I’d intended to ask her, to explain what I wanted, the build of that longing, bracing desire for her had overtaken me. Her hand pressed against the lapel of my jacket, and I dropped her other hand I’d held to lead her away. I threaded my fingers into the hair at the back of her head, eyes flickering from her concerned ones to her lips, and I took.
God forgive me, I kissed her like I’d wanted to for so long. For so, so long. And the existence of mercy meant that she didn’t startle and push me away, or stay frozen in surprise. The beauty of the night, the magic of this garden, meant she kissed me back with every bit as much enthusiasm and need as I did her.
Her lips were soft and responsive. Just like I’d remembered a hundred times, but better. They were no longer a memory, nor was the slide of her tongue against mine, her fingers clutching my shoulders, the soft skin of her neck and silken strands of her hair. They were here. They were mine, for the moment anyway.
She shifted closer, pressing against me and fully wrapping her arms around me. It was only the sound of a distant cheer and round of applause that brought me back to awareness of anyone but her and the reality that though we were tucked away, we were still in public. Anyone could wander these paths and end up interrupting us.
I pulled back with extreme reluctance, promising myself that if she showed any desire, it wouldn’t be long before we did that again. Her glittering eyes and the slight flush on her cheeks paired with thatthoroughly kissedlook made my stomach clutch low.
“I was going to say something along the lines of, ‘I really want to kiss you, is that all right?’ but I didn’t get there.”
She cracked a pleased smile. “It worked out okay.”
I raised a brow. “Just okay?”
She grinned, biting her lush bottom lip. “How aboutquite well?”
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s a little unenthusiastic for my taste, but I’ll take it.”
She smoothed down the sides of my suit jacket where I realized belatedly she’d been holding on at some point, then rose on her toes. She was still shorter by a small space, but she tilted her chin up and, compelled, I leaned down.
“Yes, you can kiss me,” she whispered, right before pressing a short, soft, mind-numbing kiss to my ready lips.
“Good. Thank you. I will.” I pulled her close, one hand on her lower back, and made to lean in and steal another kiss, but the crowd cheered again and I came to my senses. “But maybe not right now.”
She huffed but smiled. “That might be smart.”
“Thank you. I have my moments,” I said, that same loose, free quality I’d felt at our first meeting permeating the air between us. I never talked like this. Never spoke intimately with someone, held them close. And yet maybe that was because I hadn’t felt like this before—not since Viv, and that had been different. Wonderful, but different.
I stepped back, forcing a little distance between us. The small smile on her lips sent a new sizzle of longing through me, so I stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her again.
“We should go,” she said, glancing around like someone might be lurking. Maybe she’d grown used to that—between the threat of her stalker and the general publicity in the last few years, it made sense.
But the idea of losing this time with her, of missing the chance to say what’d been hounding me all night, made my neck itch. I reached up and tugged at my collar, well aware that my time dressed up in a tux was about to expire and I’d turn back into a pumpkin like I belonged. I reached for her hand and she gave it to me—the small gesture sent a wave of relief through me.
“I hope this isn’t too much, but I want to say that I’ve enjoyed tonight. I’m sorry it took me so long. And I want to do it again. And again. And again after that. If you’re—”
“I’m interested.”
We both grinned at each other and inched closer.
“Good. I know you aren’t here forever, I know that. But maybe that’s… right. For us. I want to…” I trailed off, a sudden horror that I’d messed up everything filling me instantly.
“I get it. And I agree. I’m leaving at the end of the summer. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back here. But in the simplest, most facile terms, I like you. And I hate the thought of keeping my distance just because we know it can’t...”
She stopped short of saying what we both knew. This couldn’t go anywhere. I was a single dad with two small businesses and family here. She was the CEO of an international company with a demanding schedule and responsibilities to boards and organizations and who knew what else. This thing between us had a ticking clock, and yet it sounded like we agreed.
“It’s worth it to me,” I said, hoping she understood. Whatever pain we’d face in the end, it’d be worth the time we had. I’d learned well that life was fragile, and nothing was guaranteed. And if I wanted this with her, even for the fleeting time we had, I had to make it happen instead of just standing by and wishing.
Her face lit with what could only be described as joy. “Me, too.”
