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But it’s hard to say no.
Harder to shake my head and force a smile, squeezing her hand.
“I couldn’t get the whole day off,” I say. “Not when I’ve got a strategy meeting with a few new investors this afternoon. I have to go straight home, shower, change, and get back. Rick can take you home. I’ll take an Uber.”
Disappointment flashes across her face before her smile returns.
I almost can’t stand it.
The way she smiles at everything, when what I want most is her.
I want her whole heart, all her feelings, no matter how intense.
For now, all I can do is accept, when I created this situation—and nod as she teases, “You asshole. You’re taking an Uber so you don’t get your own car dirty.”
“Guilty,” I admit. “You’ve never seen Merrick angry. Glitter on the upholstery, though?”
I wince.
“Well, in the interests of saving your fancy car ...” She rises up on her toes and kisses my cheek—and comes away with more glitter on her lips. My beard must be foul. “I’ll follow the game plan. You’d better tip the Uber driver a week’s worth of pay for this mess.”
“I will.” I shake a little more glitter out of my hair before turning to follow her outside.
I’m almost walking unsteadily from the madness rattling around my head.
All I want to do is pull her too close to breathe.
Pull her close and lay claim and take everything, every soft inch of her, until she’s entirely mine forever.
XIX
WALKING ON SUNSHINE
(ELLE)
I can’t stop thinking about the way August looked at me.
Standing there with the sunlight pouring through the hallway windows of that school, looking like he just lost a fight with a can of silver spray paint, telling me no.
He’d made an excuse, but I knew what he was really doing.
Drawing a line between us.
Being careful.
Because even if we kiss and touch so casually, neither of us knows what we’re doing, and he’s made his doubts clear about whether we should be doing anything at all.
So he told me no.
Reminded me of my place.
And he looked at me with such longing it nearly cut my heart into a thousand tiny slivers of want.
God.
How can a man look at you like you’re water in a desert? Like he wants you more than life itself?
And how can that wanting make me feel lonely?
