AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Electricity fires through me and I quickly drop his hand. “We, uh, well,” I clear my throat and bring my attention to the saleswoman. “Um, the hem. Of the jacket. It might need, um…”
She scans over the jacket and nods. “Oh, you’re right. I see what you’re saying. We’ll get that fixed for sure.” She does a slow circle around Harry, fussing and adjusting and noting the measurements of the jacket. “My god. Again—not trying to be a weirdo—but you are one good-looking couple.”
Harry isn’t paying her any attention. The whole time, the man doesn’t take his eyes off me.
But when Lucy moves toward his crotch with her tape measure, she gasps in shock and jumps a foot back, covering her mouth with her hand. That’s when I notice the massive tent Harry is pitching in his pants.
His attention snaps to her at last and his cheeks go red with embarrassment. He snatches his ball cap off the floor and cups it over his crotch.
Meanwhile, Lucy’s still stumbling around. “Um, h-how about you two meet me at the cash register when you’re ready?”
She bumps into a mannequin and Harry grabs it with one hand, barely keeping it from toppling on her head.
“Uh, um. You two need a minute alone. See you at the front of the store. Okay. Cool. Bye.” The blushing saleswoman smiles tightly at us both, then she ducks through the clothing racks back toward the front of the store.
The second she’s gone, Harry is back to staring at me in a way that sends fireworks shooting beneath my skin. He’s prowling toward me again like he wants to pick right back up where we left off.
But the moment is over now. And my good sense is back in the building. And I’m thanking my lucky stars that the salesgirl walked in on us when she did or who knows? I’d probably be on all-fours in a changing room right now, getting plowed from behind.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I stop his approach with a hand planted firmly in the middle of his chest. “That kiss? What the hell was that?” I croak, shamelessly placing all the blame on him.
The veil lifts from his eyes. He frowns at me. “Don’t act like you were just an innocent bystander, Nadia. Let’s drop the bullshit and be real for a second—you wanted that kiss as badly as I did. You were just as into it as I was.”
I shiver. Because he’s right. But I can’t tell him that. “How can you be so casual about this? You and I totally just crossed the line.”
He nonchalantly tilts his head to the side. “Oh, quit beating yourself up. Consider it practice for our big night at the gala. Youdorealize that we’ll probably end up kissing at the gala, right? Since we’ll be trying to convince your ex that we’re dating and all.” Smirking, he reaches for me again. “In fact, we should probably practice some more. I’m a man who likes to be prepared.”
Horrified, I shrink back. “We willdefinitelynot be kissing at the gala!” Is he insane?! That gala is a work function. No way I’d be making out with a football player at a work function. I continue shooting accusations his way. “And, you’re just going around telling random people that we’re dating now?”
For a second, he studies my face. He shrugs his big shoulders, faking a cool indifference that I see right through. “Sheesh, Nadia. It was just a kiss. It doesn’t have to mean anything. Unless you want it to.” His foggy stare drops to my lips, and that’s what gives him away. “Do you want it to?”
I shut my eyes and massage my tired eyeballs.Do I want it to mean anything? Do I?
No. No, no, no. We’re not going there.
“Can I be honest with you?” I blurt out. And the irritation in my voice is directed exclusively at myself. From the way he flinches, I’m not sure he knows that, though.
He gives me a somber smile. “Your honesty is actually one of my favorite things about you, darling.” He speaks from an earnest place. “You’ve always been straightforward with me about your reasons for not giving me a shot. I respect that. Even though it sucks not getting what I want.” His stare scans my face, that sad smile drooping from his lips.
My heart teeter-totters. Why does he have to be so freakin’ sweet?
I pull in a long, deep breath, calming my hormones and summoning my angels for the strength to resist this man. Because he’ssohard to not like. I mean, seriously. How high am I gonna have to build these walls around my heart just to survive Harry Westbrook?
“I’m having second thoughts about us going to the gala together,” I tell him.“I know you want to…hook up with me. But that’s not where I envision this heading, Harry.”
He squints his eyes incredulously. “Have you misheard every word I’veeversaid to you, woman? I’m not just trying to ‘hook up’ with you. I want to spend time with you. I want to get to know you. Share things with you. And if I’m lucky, I’d love to have you share things with me. That’s what I’ve been trying to show you this whole time.”
Emotions clog my throat like a traffic jam on the highway at rush hour.
“This isreallynot a good idea…” The words flutter past my lips.
He takes a step closer and I see the way his hand lifts at his side, like he’s going to touch me. But he lets it fall limply. “I like you. I’ve never been good at hiding it.” His gaze shifts to the side and he chuckles before peering at me again. “Actually, I nevertriedhiding it. Because I think you’re incredible. And that’s the kind of thing a woman deserves to know. You deserve to know that you’re admired. That you’re attractive. That there’s someone out there who appreciates you and finds you intriguing. Who thinks you’re amazing. Just because.”
This is my cue to say something profound. But all I manage to get out is, “But you don’t know me…”
“Feels like I’ve known you my whole life,” he mutters quietly.
