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She pulls back, eyes searching mine, wide and fearful now. “What?”
“There has to be a room we can—”
“No. Oh, no.” She goes bright red before pulling away entirely and running into the ballroom.
6
AINSLEY
Icould die. I could just die right here in this bathroom stall.
“Stupid, stupid,” I whisper, covering my face with my shaking hands. The stinging pressure behind my eyes threatens a flood of tears that I have to frantically blink back. That’s just what I need, a face full of runny, smeared makeup. That would be a real cherry on top, wouldn’t it? It’s not bad enough everybody here seems to have a thing for hurting me. Like I need Paul calling me a clown for the rest of my life. He’d probably settle for that, too. It’s unimaginative enough for him.
I might not burst into tears, but inside, I’m in shreds. What was I thinking? Who in their right mind runs away when a man’s hands are all over her—and she wants them to be? That’s the thing, what I can’t wrap my head around. Why did I freak out? Like I’m ever going to have that opportunity again.
After all, I’m already a quarter of a century old, and that was the first really hot kiss I’ve ever had.
So hot. Hot enough that I’m surprised my underwear didn’t melt right off. My heart’s still racing, my body’s on fire, my nipples are hard, and I’m so wet it’s almost kind of alarming.
He couldn’t mean it. That’s why I had to run. My whole life, everybody’s given me crap about me being me. I’ve never been good enough, smart enough, pretty or cool, or any of that. And all of a sudden, a man like Talon actually wants me? After only knowing me for a few hours?
Closing my eyes, I lean against the wall. The tile is cool, welcome relief against my overheated cheek. I wish it could cool off the rest of me since my lady bits are staging an uprising. They want more of what was going on before I ran away like a scared rabbit. All these years, they’ve been waiting for something like this, and I had to go and fumble the ball while I was practically in the end zone. I almost feel like I should apologize to them.
I should definitely apologize to Talon. He’s been nothing but sweet all day, above and beyond. I can’t believe he’s this dedicated to keeping me happy.
Wait a second.
I push away from the wall, and now my heart is racing for a different reason. What if this is all an act to keep me happy? Would he go that far for a good review online? Maybe a little word-of-mouth business thrown his way? I don’t want to believe he’d be that mercenary, but I don’t know him. He could be capable of anything.
When I look at it that way, it’s probably for the best that I stopped everything and ran off. We both have time to cool off and get our heads together.
And he definitely needed to cool off. I might be a virgin who’s hardly ever been kissed, but I know how to tell when a man is aroused. Some people like to think of librarians as being meek and clueless, but I’ve read my share of books. I know all the signs, and something hard was definitely poking at me.
At me. He was hard for me. So it can’t all be an act, can it? I don’t even know what I’m thinking. I don’t know what I want to be true.
Flipping down the lid on the toilet, I gather up my skirts and take a seat. Could I get away with leaving early, just putting this whole thing to rest? All that’s really left is the cake cutting—otherwise, it’s just a matter of partying from here on out. I’m not exactly somebody who likes to party, so I doubt anybody would think twice about me going home early. Maybe I’ll wait until I can snag a piece of cake and take it home with me. I could cry over the crumbs and beat myself up for passing up on what could’ve been the opportunity to finally lose my virginity to a guy who seems decent.
And hot. He is definitely hot. And he knows how to kiss—the memory of it makes me feel all fluttery and a little dizzy, like I was in his arms. Like the world was spinning faster and faster and all I could do was hold on to him to keep from flying off into space. I touch a finger to my lips and close my eyes at the memory of how it seemed like he was trying to devour me.
The sudden opening of the door shakes me out of my memories. A blast of loud music follows, along with the laughter of a couple of girls practically shouting at each other. Drunk or getting there. I roll my eyes and settle in to wait them out.
“He’s fucking hot. Like in a dark kind of way, you know?” The girl asking the question stumbles into the stall next to mine and must lose her balance since the wall between us shakes, and she mutters a curse. I have to cover my mouth to stifle my laughter.
The girl at the sink snorts. “You better hurry up and piss if you want a chance with him. Otherwise, he’s been practically glued to her side all night.”
Oh. Something tells me I know who they’re talking about.
“Where do you think she found him?” Both girls burst out laughing, and the sound of it makes me shrivel a little inside. I’ve been hearing laughter like that all my life.
“Maybe it’s one of those charity wish things,” the other girl suggests from the sink. I lean forward, peering through the crack in the door. She was one of the tall, willowy girls going for the bouquet, and now she’s touching up her makeup.
“Stop!”
“Well? What else could it be? What the hell is he doing with her?”
“Maybe his eyesight’s bad.”
She pouts her lips like she wants to kiss her reflection. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. “But he caught the garter, didn’t he?”
