Page 126 of Twist of Fate
She licks her lips, and a sad smile passes across them. “I don’t want to go home tomorrow—but I know I should.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t plan for this,” she states. The air is cold and damp, and tiny wisps of chill punctuate every word.
“I didn’t either.”
“I know.” Her fingers graze my chin, feeling like ice. I take her hand and wrap it around my waist under the warmth of my coat. She’s momentarily distracted as her palms slide over my abs. I laugh, and she pinches me. It eases the tension, and I sense her relax in my arms. “I don’t want this to end, Finn.”
“But?” I say. I can hear it hanging in the air.
“But,” she continues, “you were right when you said I should try putting myself first for a change. I’ve been in a relationship since I was a kid. When I came here, I was still nursing a broken heart—or at least an angry one. I want to see where this goes, but?—”
“You want to take it slow.”
“Yeah.”
“Well.” I flash her a crooked smile. “Given that we’ll be an ocean apart, I can’t imagine how it could go any other way.”
I intended it as a joke, but I can see the worry gnawing at her, and I instantly regret it. “Hey, I’m sorry, Ash. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything. I’m not—I would never?—”
“No, I wasn’t comparing you to him. I just worry that this is doomed to fail. I mean, we’ve only known each other for a week. Are we crazy?”
I kiss her again cause I’m finding it hard not to. “Yes, we’re a little crazy,” I agree. “But it’s the good kind, yeah?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
This time, it’s her who reaches for us and brushes her lips against mine. She pulls back, suddenly shy. “What?”
She bites down on her bottom lip. “We don’t have to go back to my hotel just yet, do we? We could go to your apartment. We still have time.”
My throat dries up. Suddenly, the semi I’ve been sporting this whole time becomes one hell of a hard-on.
I’m going to hate myself for this.
“There’s nothing I’d rather do. Believe me,” I emphasize, leaning in a bit closer to prove my point.
Her eyes blaze with intensity.
My dick twitches in delight.
Shit. This is backfiring.
I clear my throat to focus. “But you just asked to take this slow, and I’m going to try to honor that.” Even if it kills me. “Besides”—I give her a wolfish grin—“I’ve got to give you a reason to come back.”
She smiles ear to ear and then rises to her tippy toes to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “All right.” She gives me one more, but this time, her tongue sinks into my mouth, and I groan. “Sure, can’t I change your mind?” she whispers, her lips grazing my ear.
“Yes. Absolutely. I’ll go get the cab.”
Her melodic laughter fills the air. “Come on, Tour Guide, let’s take a photo to memorialize our street.”
I manage to put the reins on my lust-addled brain. She takes a photo on her phone because mine is still off, and she promises to send it to me. We head back to the hotel, but this time, there’s no silence. We’re back to our effortless chatter, and I feel good.
Well, better, at least.
I still don’t want her to leave, but I’m optimistic. I have no idea what the future holds. I don’t know when or how long my father will hold this grudge, but for the first time, I don’t really care.
Yes, I need to tell her about my other life, and I will, but even when I’m forced to return to the corporate office, I will be shadowing my father for years. It will be decades before he even considers retiring, and I have to face the challenges and expectations that come with his job.
