Page 80 of Crossing the Line
“Not over the phone,” he said.
Then I reminded him that we were supposed to hang out on Monday night, but he neglected to call me. Gosh, I sounded so sad.
Hercules explained that he’d mostly been awake for the better part of seventy-two hours, reading through the Lord Trust rules. “I really am sorry, PG. If it’s any consolation, I’ve been missing the hell out of you. I wanted to call you early this morning. But I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I meant to take a short nap, but I ended up crashing. I woke up, right before I called you. And I wish I could’ve prepared you for Lauren’s bullshit. I didn’t think she knew about the contract.”
Okay, so his apology was pretty perfect. That was why I forgave him. However, I didn’t tell him about my date with Clive. I guess I was ashamed to let him know how fast I was willing to move on to another man.
Now, as I wait for Hercules, I think about my datewith Clive. He was quiet as he drove me home. I think he knew he screwed up royally by trying to spread his wings like a peacock. I wanted to thank him, though. He’d made me realize that I needed a recuperative break from the opposite sex and from life. Before I went to bed, I had two tasks on my to-do list—call Eden and find out when she’d be in town so that we could schedule lunch or dinner. And I needed to call my grandmother and ask if she could host me for another year.Twelve months away from Hercules will do the job, I thought. Then, maybe, possibly, if Clive was still single, then I would’ve given him a real shot. It took a lot of nerve to find me after I left the table and then open up with a sincere apology. I told him that before we parted ways. He stared into my eyes longingly as we stood at the door to my building. I think he wanted to kiss me. I wish I’d wanted the same thing. Maybe in twelve months, I thought, I would want to kiss him.
Hercules’s SUV stops in front of my building. I check the time on my watch. He’s five minutes early. And just like that, Clive has become a distant memory.
My heart stands at attention. I know what’s coming next. My cellphone chimes as I hold it in my hand. Beaming, I answer it as I watch the Adonis known as Hercules Lord step out of the back seat. He’s a glorious sight to behold—like a famous work of art.
“Hi,” I whisper.
“Hi,” he says back, gazing up at my picture window.
I wave at him just to see if he sees me. Hercules waves back. We’re grinning at each other. My heart expands like a balloon in my chest.
“I’m on my way down,” I sweetly say.
“I’ll be waiting.”
His voice releases butterflies in my chest. I end our call and race into my bedroom to examine myself in the standing mirror. I’m wearing faded-black skinny jeans, which I didn’t realize I owned until I went searching for something that might be sexually appealing.That’s kind of a first for me.I want to arouse Hercules.The tags were still on the jeans when I pulled them off the hanger. My blouse is white eyelet that tapers at the waist. Black booties are on my feet.
I look posh.
I approve.
I snatch my lightweight black duster sweater off the back of the sofa and race out of my apartment.
When I step out into the morning light and onto the sidewalk, I stop to regard the vision that is Hercules. He’s staring at me with wonderment too. It’s only been four days since we’ve seen each other, but it feels like it’s been a lot longer.
“Wow,” Hercules mouths as I exit the building and close the distance between us.
I simper bashfully and drop my eyes to the concrete. I’m happy he approves.Well done, Paisley Grove. Well done.
He looks good too. He’s wearing jeans too. They’re light denim and they fit him perfectly—with ease. And he has on a dark blue T-shirt. On top of that, his cologne smells oh so delicious. I can never imagine him being with someone like Lauren. I can only picture him with someone like me.
Hercules’s eyebrows gradually raise appreciatively. “You look stunning this morning, PG.”
My smile lights me up from the inside out. I can’t believe my reversal of fortune—and in a good way. The last two days were hellish, but now I feel stupidly incautious. I don’t want to reprimand myself, though. I’m just going to go with it and let the chips fall where they may—at least for today.
“So do you,” I say, still smiling.
Hercules and I remain stuck in each other’s gaze. We should kiss. But kissing him now feels too premature. Given that he’s going to be officially married in one day, I want to know what he has to show me first.
Finally, my smile wavers. Hercules must sense me faltering as he takes me by the hand. His grip is possessive. “We should get going. It’ll take us a little less than an hour and a half to get there.”
“Where are we going?” I ask, keeping my feet glued to the sidewalk. It’s time he reveals something about what he has in store for us.
“Nova Scotia.”
I yank my head back in surprise. “Canada?”
“Yes.”
I spread my palm flat against my purse. “Thank goodness I keep my passport on me.”
