Page 18 of Wine & Whiskey
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Chapter Three
Sittingnext to Nick on one of the beige leather sofas in his living room, Shae is reminded of what an imposing man he is. How his large hand engulfs her cheek as he caresses it, his long fingers brushing against her hair. How the heat radiating from his thick, muscular body warms her as she wraps her arms around herself, trying to stop the trembling.
His eyes search hers, his face tight with worry. “Are you okay?”
Maybe she’s foolish not to be afraid of him. Not to be frightened of him and his gun-brandishing bodyguard who calmly deflect the threats against them, easily reversing their roles from victims to aggressors. Then doling out cash afterward in recompense for the shock of being unwitting spectators to their impromptu drama.
Yet, his gentleness with her never falters. Fierce and protective, he seems to make her safety his only priority, even in the midst of confrontation. Never any doubt regarding his concern for her. No, she doesn’t fear him. It’s his life beyond the two of them that scares her.
She lowers her head, breaking the physical connection between them. “I don’t know. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into coming here.” With shaking hands, she smooths the wrinkles in her black and pink striped skirt. Unable to face his agonized expression, she stares at her dress. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do this. Can you please take me back to my car?”
He lays his hands on top of hers, preventing them from rubbing the fabric, attempting to erode her decision to leave. “If that’s what you want. But I was hoping we could talk some more.”
Memories of the altercation play on a continuous loop in her mind. The images revealing a truth she pretended to ignore, reality she wanted to disregard as easily as the gossip swirling around herself. She takes a few deep breaths, failing to clear the confusion in her head. “I don’t think there’s anything left to say.”
He curls his fingers over hers. “If you leave, I’ll never see you again. I can’t let that happen.”
Trying to ignore the longing behind his words, she struggles to minimize the mutual desire she feels for him. “Why not? We just met a week ago. We don’t even really know each other.”
“That’s not true.”
A familiar twinge of disappointment wells up in her chest—a reminder of all the broken connections after the illusion of her disintegrates. She blows out a deep sigh. “Everyone thinks they know me from magazines and gossip sites. It’s just an image for publicity. I’m not that person.” Before he can respond, she stands up and walks toward the foyer. “I need to go.”
“I know the real you.” The tenderness in his voice forces her to pause. This is the Nick she knows, not the one from the restaurant. The man who makes her think crazy things like this could be real, that the two of them might actually have a chance. “How your cheeks turn pink when you feel shy. How you’re secretly competitive and try to one-up me when we work out. The way you’re always thinking about dessert.”
He stands behind her, close enough his breath warms her neck, his skin skimming hers, stirring an ache for him to wrap his arms around her and eliminate all of her uncertainty. “I know you’ve been hurt before, and you’re scared it’s going to happen again.”
She whips around to face him, heat creeping up her cheeks, flamed from both accuracy and embarrassment. “Why do you think that?”
“Men would kill to be with a woman like you. You could have anyone you want. You’re alone because you choose to be.”
“That’s not…” She wraps her arms around her waist, attempting to shield herself from the unexpected memories his words trigger. Nick isn’t Evan. Apparent from the beginning, yet she’s terrified it will end the same way. “It’s complicated.”
“Not for me. I know you’re sweet and gentle and bring me a feeling of peace I’ve never experienced before. Whenever I’m with you, nothing else matters.” He tucks a piece of loose hair behind her ear. “When I’m not with you, you’re all I think about. I’m falling in love with you.”
The bouncing balloon in her chest from his heartfelt admission quickly deflates from his declaration of love, a painful reminder of the heartbreak she’s endured. “Please don’t say that.”
“Since the first moment I saw you, I’ve wanted to be with you. I can’t get you out of my head.” His fingertips slide under her chin, lifting her face to meet his gaze. “I know you feel it too.”
“All I feel right now is fear.”
His eyes lock with hers, blazing with conviction. “Don’t be afraid. I swear I’ll never hurt you.”
His voice conveys a promise she yearns to be true. Yet doubt hums through her mind, guilt from her own broken assurances fueling her racing heart. “After this morning, I don’t know what to believe.”
“If it hadn’t happened, would you want to be with me?”
She shakes her head. “I can’t pretend it didn’t.”
“I’m not asking you to. All I want is for you to be honest with me and yourself about your feelings.”
The answer to his straightforward request scares her the most. Lying to herself hurts them both, yet protects her heart.
“If you don’t want to be with me, I’ll walk away like we never met. But, if you feel even a tenth of what I feel, you have to give me a chance.”
“What if it’s not enough?” She squeezes his corded arms, the muscles twitching under her fingers. “You’re so calm. Is this how you live all the time?”
