Page 55 of Unless It's You
“Mmm, yes.”
“Well, I’m not sure I even want to do that. Remember last time?” I lift my thumb and tilt my head.
“I do remember last time. She might be a bit protective of me.”
“Hmm. You’re saying the kitten might have a thing for you?” I shake my head. “This might be a terrible idea. I’m not committing to it. Just considering.”
On so many levels.
“Agreed. It might be a terrible idea. But the only way to find out is to try.”
I can’t help but think that he’s talking about more than the kitten.
“Should we go now?”
“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon. Don’t you have to work?”
“Sure, but I can move things around.”
I have a call at four o’clock with a client on retainer who wants to kick off a new project next month. Just another thing to add to my overflowing plate, plus I’m flying out tomorrow afternoon for another client shoot, this one in Switzerland.
But this thing with Ethan? Figuring it out? It can’t wait.Ican’t wait.
“Are you sure?”
“Give me one minute.” I click through to my email inbox and send a quick reschedule request to the client. “Done.”
Ethan stands and swoops up his laptop and phone, those eyes locked on mine.
I think we’re going down a one-way road, and I have no idea what’s at the end of it. But no part of me wants to—or is able to—turn around.
Ethan drops Nessieonto my lap.
“Hi sweet kitty.” I stroke her soft fur. “No biting me today, okay?”
Ethan eases himself down next to me, his body turned in my direction, his inked arm laying across the back of the couch. Even though we’re in the same positions as last week, the feeling in the room is so much different. But just like last week, I want to kiss him. I distract myself with the bundle of cuteness in my lap.
“Are you mad about me going over your head for Skye?”
I glance up sharply. Ethan’s staring at me intensely. How can he think I’m mad at him right now? He must have dated some awful women.Because this?I mentally wave my hands around my entire body.This is not mad. This is a woman overwhelmed. Aching. Confused. Not mad.
“No. Normally, yeah, I would be. But not this time.”
“How about for making you not cheat on your great-aunt’s list?”
“I never wanted to cheat.” I shut my eyes and sigh. “Aunt Evelyn meant the world to me. I hate the idea that I’m taking shortcuts with her last wishes, but I’ve been too overwhelmed to figure out how to do it all in a month.”
And now, the only item left isFind the One that Got Away. Ben messaged me back over the weekend—this time via text, not Facebook Messenger—with a short:I’d love to meet up and talk. How about next Saturday night?I need to follow up about exactly when and where, but now it’s confirmed I have to face him in person.
“So no, I’m not mad.” I study Ethan’s face—slight bump to his nose, wavy, dark hair, beard still giving him a wilder edge. His mouth is wide and lips are thick, and... dammit. I shift on the couch, causing Nessie to jump and land claws first on my thigh. “Ouch!”
But I don’t look down at the cat.
“Maybe I should put her away.” A corner of his mouth turns up.
I nod, and Ethan swoops Nessie up and leaves me on the couch while he returns her to the kitten room. When he gets back,he sits closer to me, our thighs touching, but leans forward facing the coffee table, closing his eyes and pressing his elbows into his knees.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I function better when we’re not staring at each other, but I can’t look away from his broad shoulders, biceps thick through his button-down shirt, head hanging.
