Page 46 of The Mistakes I've Made
Now or never, Sutherland.
I couldn’t go one second longer without—
So, I kissed her.
Taylor’s mouth crashed into mine, and all the anger I’d had, all the rage I’d felt over his pompous behavior, suddenly fell to a mushy puddle at my feet.
Just this kiss.
That was all there was.
It filled my every thought. The way his hands seemed to have minds of their own—one so tender, gently cupping the curve of my cheek, while the other possessively pinned me so close to his chest.
And his lips.
Dear God, his lips.
They consumed and dominated. I’d never felt so utterly enthralled by a single kiss in my whole damn life.
I never wanted it to end, which was exactly why it had to.
I wasn’t here for this, and as badly as I wanted it, as badly as I wanted him, the simple truth remained. I had six weeks to prove to my father that I was more than an heiress riding on his coattails.
So, as hard as it was, as much as it hurt, I placed my hand against his chest and pushed myself away.
Away from the heat and the spark.
Away from the need of something more.
Away from the possibility.
“I can’t do this,” I said, my lips still swollen and wet from his touch. “I don’t have time for distractions.”
My words hurt him, and I regretted them the moment I’d said them.
Wiping away my kiss like a dark stain from his mouth, Taylor snapped back in anger, “Seems like you had all the time in the world for Mr. Halladay.”
My back stiffened slightly from the jab. “Yes…well, it seems like you have plenty to keep you occupied,” I said, the visions of him flirting with the blonde at lunch still fresh in my mind.
It shouldn’t have bothered me, but it had.
It really had.
An amused expression flashed across his handsome face as he traced his bottom lip with his pointer finger.
I tried not to watch.
“I think we need to set down some ground rules if we’re going to continue working together,” he suggested, taking a step back. He leaned against his desk once more, a stance that accentuated his long, lean body and reminded me of just how good it had felt to have him pressed up against me.
I swallowed hard and looked away. “I agree.”
“Good,” he answered. “First, this obviously shouldn’t happen again. I wouldn’t want you getting…distracted.”
My stomach clenched as I noticed the way he’d said the last word like it was a foul taste upon his tongue.
I nodded in agreement.
“Also, I don’t think we should date anyone else.”
