Page 45 of And Then I Kissed Him

“Sometimes the best choice really is to let go. Look at you now. You’re glowing, sunshine.”

His words filled me up with some kind of happiness. I couldn’t help but allow my lips to widen as far up my ears. “It’s your fault, mister. I guess you light me up.”

His thumb grazed my bottom lip. “You’ve got a beautiful smile. To know that I was the one who brought that back lightsmeup.”

Gosh, he was too close. And he was staring at my lips.

“Did you really steal his girlfriend?” The words shot out of my mouth on automatic.

“What…” Sam looked at me like I was crazy. Till he suddenly realized what I truly meant. “If you are referring to the girl that came up in my argument with Joe, she wasn’t his girlfriend. She was just a girl he had one date with, and it was she who initiated a flirt with me. I didn’t even look at her twice. Do you really see me as a man who goes for the same type of girls as Joe does? She was a math geek. A female version of himself except with a few extra shots of vodka in her system.”

“But you thoughtIwas Joe’s girlfriend.”

“Okay, now I am getting your real question.” Sam peeked behind him as if making sure we were alone. “The answer is no. I did not fuck you because I have some cunning plan to get to Joe. If I wanted to steal you from him, I would have done just that from the first day you came parading your little ass into my office. If I wanted to, your job interview would have been more… revealing. I really liked the cute little dress you wore that day.”

A smile came to my lips at the memory. I punched Sam’s arm playfully. “That dress was what I was wearing to run errands in town when your office called me with just an hour’s notice. It wasn’t the least bit appropriate for a job interview.”

“No, it wasn’t. But you were promised that a decision would not be taken based on looks. Although they did leave quite an impression on the boss.”

“Be honest, Sam.” I grabbed his hand, tugging lightly on it to rewind back to the serious moment from a few seconds earlier. “After I kissed you, would you have kissed me again if you didn’t think I was Joe’s?”

Sam’s face was void of any humour. His hand turned into mine, interlocking his fingers with mine. “I wanted to kiss you, Lucille. I never pretended I didn’t. Frankly, if I had known you were a free woman, I would have kissed you a long time ago. Now, a question for you: why did you let me believe you were his?”

“Because –”

“Shh.” Sam set a finger over my lips. “I’m not the one who needs the answer.”

From the first time I met him, I knew he was capable of stirring up every part of me – my mind, my body, my soul. I had let Sam think I wasn’t available to protect myself. Because… Because it was safe. Because it kept him away. Because I feared that he would get to me and I knew that I would have liked it. Just like I did.

Sam released my hand. “I should go. It’s getting late. What time is the moving van coming tomorrow?”

“At six. Right after work.”

“Then I’ll leave the office early, go home and change and I’ll be here at five-thirty, alright?”

“I really appreciate you helping me out, Sam.”

“That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?”

Friends. That was the new position that was protecting me from him now.

Sam kissed my cheek. “See you tomorrow, sunshine.”

* * *

Chapter Ten

“Park here.”

Sam looked at me like I had just spoken the craziest thing. “What, here? Fuck no. That’s too close to the sea. The breeze will blow sea spray on my car and don’t you know that sea salt could ruin the paint?”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes dramatically. “Okay, Mr Benz. There’s a parking area around the corner. Your precious car should be shielded enough there.”

Sam obeyed my directions and purposely chose the last spot behind all the other parked cars. As soon as he exited his car, Sam looked around at his surroundings. “Where are we going?”

“You’ve never been here, have you?”

“Probably not. Haven’t been far out from the town centre in a while.”

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