Page 15 of Relentless Pursuit

“I don’t drink often.” She glanced down at the hold he had on her. “Thanks for the save.”

He nodded as he released her. “The view is incredible up here.”

She headed toward the windows, taking in the nighttime sky. The lights were bright atop the buildings, many were twinkling beneath the stars. In the distance, she could see Times Square, but they were too far to see the flurry of people and Broadway marquees. Without warning, he was behind her, close enough for his breath to skim the back of her neck. She closed her eyes and tried to steady herself. She didn’t need to trip again.

“Forgive me,” he whispered.

When he ran his fingers along her shoulders, her breath caught in her throat.

“For?”

“Failing to tell you how lovely you look this evening.” He swept her hair to one side, his fingers lingering just below her ear, circling her skin. “Those should have been the first words out of my mouth.”

“You don’t seem like a man who apologizes.” Her eyes shot open when he pressed his lips to the pulsing vein in her neck.

“I don’t, but for you I would make many exceptions.” He turned her to face him, the room moving with her. Was it the alcohol or was she intoxicated by him? “There’s something about you that makes me want to forget everything I know.”

“I feel it too.” She rested her palms on his biceps. “What are you going to do about it?”

Kiss me this time.

A boldness took over as she raised her shaky hand and brushed her fingers across his lips, biting her own as she touched him. He closed his eyes, but didn’t attempt to stop her. His breathing picked up as she inched closer, but he stood so still.

“Do you remember that night we danced?” she asked. “The last time I saw you?”

He nodded as he took her hand in his and rested the other on the small of her back, swaying her to the soft music that had been playing in the background all evening.

“I think of it often,” she told him. “More than I should think of any fleeting moment.”

“You were the most beautiful woman there that evening.”

“Jack might disagree.”

“While Caroline made an exceptional bride, she couldn’t hold my attention.” He tightened his grip on her. “I followed you to the terrace and watched as you took in the view. I meant to turn away, but I couldn’t.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

“I should have. Just like tonight. I shouldn’t be doing any of this.”

“Don’t say that.” She leaned up and brushed her lips along his jaw. “You feel something between us. I can’t believe that of all the places I could have come to, I found the one you own. That has to mean something.”

“Coincidence.” His dismissive tone discouraged her, but she wasn’t going to give up.

“Romantic.”

“Definitely not that.” He shook his head as he pressed his lips in a hard line. “Not from me.”

He was too much of a guy to admit he could do romance. Connie had told her women didn’t seek him out for anicetime. No, they wanted a wickedness they could remember for a lifetime. Kayla craved to know the things Julian desired. She wanted to be the woman he took them from with no apologies and no exceptions.

“It’s getting late,” he said. “I should get you home.”

“I can be her,” she blurted out, because she wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip through her fingers. She didn’t believe in coincidence. She had to seize the moment.

“Who?”

“Whoever you seek out on your application. Let me try to be her for you.”

“If I hadn’t overindulged you in champagne, would you be this courageous with me?” He tilted her chin, holding her still as she pondered his question. “Be truthful, and not just for me. You owe it to yourself to be honest.”

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