"It's fine, Alana. Go do what you need to do."
It's not fine though. I let myself get carried away. I got caught up in the moment with Amos, and now I've let my little girl down.
I grab a cardigan out of my purse and throw it on, pulling it tight over my chest to hide the missing button. My cheeks are flushed, and I must smell like someone who's just had three orgasms.
Amos walks me to the door. "I'd like to do that again sometime."
I keep my attention on my purse as I dig my car keys out.
I don't reply. I can't even look at him as I leave. I let myself get carried away with a man. But I can't let it happen again.
16
AMOS
Ismile at the receptionist as I lean on the wide reception desk. "I'm here to see Alana Johnson."
She eyes me like I'm a giant cookie and picks up the receiver. Her eyes linger on my muscles, and there's a small, knowing smile.
"Alana," she says into the phone. "There's amanhere to see you."
She draws out the wordman. I straighten up and walk to the window. The last thing I want is the receptionist flirting with me.
While I wait for Alana, I pace the room. She left in a hurry yesterday, and she didn't return my text. Okay, texts. I might have texted her more than once. But damn, yesterday was incredible.
She finally opened up a little, and I loved watching her let down her guard and take something she wants. The memory of Alana coming undone on my palm stuck with me all night. I relieved my own ache in the shower, reliving the moment and wishing she was there with me.
I've never felt this attracted to a woman before. But the way she left all in a rush has me concerned.
I get it. I'm about to become a caregiver for a child, and she doesn't want to get involved. But I've learned life can be short. If there's something you want, you should go after it.
I look up as Alana comes into the reception area.
She's looking sharp in black slacks and a crisp white blouse. This one has all the buttons, I note, remembering the one that pinged off as I pulled her top open. A surge of heat races to my groin, and my dick twitches to life. I turn away from the receptionist so she doesn't see something she shouldn't and think it's for her.
Alana fixes me with a wary gaze. "Hi, Amos."
"I've come to take you out to lunch."
Her eyes flick to the receptionist, who's blatantly staring at us, then back to me. "Is there something you need to discuss?"
I get the hint. She can't be seen dating me in front of her colleagues.
"Yes," I say. "I have some questions before I pick up Sam this afternoon."
She nods. "I've got my own sandwiches. I'm about to take my lunch break. You can walk with me."
I'd prefer to take her to a cafe nearby for lunch, but I'll take any scraps I can get. I wait while she grabs her coat and a brown bag of sandwiches.
There's a park across the road, and we follow a path until we reach a picnic bench. I take a seat, and she sits opposite me, but she doesn't pull out her sandwiches.
A gust of wind whips her hair, and a strand escapes her ponytail, dancing across her cheek. On instinct, I reach out, take it between my fingers, and tuck it behind her ear.
"I'm sorry I left the way I did yesterday," she says. "It was unfair."
A frown crosses her brow. I want to smooth it away with my thumb.
"It's okay to put yourself first sometimes, you know."
