Albany searched my eyes. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to say no to you. Which is why I needed you to keep your word.”
The pain in her eyes was unmistakable. I rested my forehead against hers. “I’m trying, but I can’t stop wanting you.”
“This is so hard.”
I kissed her again, dipped my tongue in her mouth. “Yeah, but that last time … It was—”
“So good.” She cupped my cheeks in her palms. “Idowant you. More than I should be admitting. But I’m getting too old to just be fucking.”
Unable to help myself, I laughed.
She dissolved into a fit of giggles, too.
Reluctantly, I stood and held out my hand to her. When she placed her palm in mine, I helped her up. I stuffed her panties into her purse. “I want to keep them, but I won’t,” I confessed.
She brushed past me. “I thought it was possible to just have one night with you, then lock it away. Keep it in the part of my heart that wants to move forward with my life.” She stopped in front of her door. “I was doing good until I saw you. With her.”
“We were never together. I didn’t lie to get her to tutor me. We’ve never been more than friends.”
“Just the thought that you were with her sent me into a rage.”
I leaned into her. “Is that so bad?”
“It’s not good.”
She unlocked her door and went inside. The fact that she didn’t slam the door in my face was all I needed to follow her. Albany walked straight to the kitchen, poured herself a large glass of wine, and gulped it down.
I slid onto one of her barstools. “Your grandfather died. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Are we there yet? At the point where I tell you all my business?”
“I think we are.” I reached across the countertop and grabbed her hand. “Bug, you know how I feel about you.”
She lifted a questioning brow. “Do I really?”
My heart raced. I knew I finally needed to tell her everything, but it didn’t feel right to say the words after what we just shared. Then again, maybe it was the perfect time. “We need to talk.”
Glancing at her watch, she smirked. “Your minute is up.”
Chuckling, I led her over to the couch. And she let me. “Can you sit with me?”
Instead of joining me on the sofa, she sat on one of the chairs. “What’s up, Wes?”
“That night …” I sighed, dreading the conversation even though I knew we needed to have it. “I didn’t want to leave you.”
“But you did.”
“After my father died, we became pawns in a world we had no idea existed. People who he worked with, who he harmed, were coming out of the woodwork demanding answers. Money. Revenge.”
She frowned. “What?”
“The night we left, I wasn’t supposed to be with you. Mom wanted us to disappear earlier in the day, but I disobeyed her to come to you. I couldn’t imagine leaving town without seeing you again.”
“But I—”
“It was a good day. Perfect. Then you kissed me and told me you were ready. We made love, and I wanted to hold on to you forever.”
“Your mom called,” she whispered.
