Page 62 of Lease to Love

The third thing was his eyes… They dropped to my mouth then lifted to my eyes again, and my breath caught.

Oh.

Oh, shit.

He was definitely going to kiss me.

My brain supplied the thought with the calm certainty of a fact.

Wait.

No.

This wasn't the arrangement.

Roman was controlled. Strategic. Deliberate. He didn't make impulsive decisions because a night went well. He didn't cross lines because somebody looked good in silk.

He'd laid out terms. Conditions. Boundaries.

This was business.

I knew that.

I knew that.

Then his head tilted slightly, his eyes dropped to my mouth again, and I stopped thinking.

Okay.

Okay, yes.

This is fine.

Yes.

His face moved closer. So close I could feel the warmth of his breath against my cheek. My heart pounded so hard I was certain he could hear it.

Then his lips came close enough that I closed my eyes.

And then he whispered:

"It's a busy street. Figured I'd walk you to the door."

I waited.

His voice stayed low. "Good optics."

I froze.

The cold arrived before the understanding did.

My eyes opened.

For two full seconds, my brain simply refused to process the words.

Good optics.

Not a kiss.