The Wrong Right Man(14)
I pick up speed when I spot a drug store and dip inside, waiting at the door for the car to pass, but it doesn’t. It stops right out front. With my heart pounding, I figure it will take them time to turn around if I head back to my building, so I exit when the next person enters and run at full speed down the block and around the corner. I don’t even look to see if the car has turned around and I’m so focused on breathing and not tripping over my feet, I don’t have time to stop when someone steps into my path. I barrel into them at full speed, hearing them grunt as they wrap their arms around me to keep me from taking us both to the ground.
“I’m sorry, so sorry.” I place one hand against a hard chest and attempt to push away.
“Dakota.”
No, it can’t be.
I lift my head, coming face-to-face with Braxton.
“Are you okay?”
“W-What a… are you doing here?” I pant, trying to catch my breath.
“Why does it look like you’ve seen a ghost?” he asks, ignoring my question, and I look behind me then along the street to see if the car is there, but it’s nowhere in sight.
“I…” I lick my lips, shaking my head knowing I just freaked myself out for no reason. “I haven’t ran in a while,” I lie, and the air around us seems to fill with electricity as I look into his eyes. “Why are you here? I thought you were going out of town?”
“I am.” He glances toward the street, and I follow his gaze, noticing a silver SUV waiting near the curb with a large man standing outside near the driver door with his eyes on Braxton. “Did you get the flowers?” he asks, touching my cheek, and I focus on him then drop my eyes to his side and the suitcase there, putting two and two together.
“Do you live here?” I ask, taking a step away from him and watching his jaw twitch and his hand form a fist as it drops to his side.
“I do.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around my middle, wondering why he never mentioned living in the building when I told him it’s where I lived. Oh right—because he’s a big, fat liar.
“Have a good trip.” I turn to walk away as anger creeps up my spine.
“Dakota.” He takes hold of my bicep, stopping me, and I look at him over my shoulder. “We’ll talk.” He skims his finger along my cheek, and I soak in the feeling of his touch then force myself to shrug off his hold. I head inside, feeling the heat of his gaze as I go to the elevator, but I don’t turn to confirm he’s watching me. When the doors open, I step inside then rest back against the wall and wait for them to shut.
Just as they’re about to close, they are pried back open and Braxton appears with his chest heaving. I stare at him with wide eyes, unsure what to do or say as he stares back. When he steps toward me, my breath freezes in my lungs, and then before I can prepare, his body and mouth crash into mine. I react without thinking, sliding my fingers into his hair, and he groans. I whimper against his tongue when he lifts me off my feet and holds me against the wall, his hips locking me in place.
Even as my mind screams at me to push him away, I pull him closer, and his tongue flicks against mine while his hands on my ass urge me on. His scent and touch intoxicate me as desire surges between us like a wildfire burning out of control. Just when I’m about ready to beg him to take me to bed, he drags his mouth from mine and carefully lowers me to my feet. Panting now for a completely different reason, I blink my eyes open.
“I really fucking wish I didn’t have to go.” He captures my face between his palms, and mixed emotions go to war in my chest as he searches my gaze with a tender look.
“Th…” I drop my gaze and focus on his chin, unable to look him in the eye, and rest my hands against his chest. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
“It will inevitably happen between us again and again, Dakota.”
Is he right? Probably. He seems to be my kryptonite. “You’re a liar.”
“I had a reason to lie.” He smooths his thumb across my cheek.
“So you said, but then again, you didn’t have a reason not to tell me that you live in the same building as me.”
“That’s a little more complicated.” Now what the hell does that mean? “When I get back, I’ll explain everything.”
“Sure,” I agree, hoping he’ll let me go so I can remind myself why I’m mad at him—something that isn’t easy with his hands holding me like he doesn’t want to let go.
He smiles down at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. “I know where you live and where you work, Dakota.”
“Why does that sound like a threat, Braxton?”
He brushes his lips across mine. “Because it is.” He steps back, taking his warmth with him, then just as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone and the doors close, leaving me alone once more. When the elevator buzzes, I quickly press the button for my floor then lean back against the wall, lifting my fingers to my lips that are still tingling. I don’t know how to feel, but I do know Braxton was right. If we are around each other, what happened will inevitably happened again, and part of me wants it to.
Lord, I’m so screwed.
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I glance down at my phone to check the time and get even more annoyed than I already am when I see Jamie’s fifteen minutes late to meet me, even though he’s the one who told me what time he’d be here. I look into the diner and debate going in to get a table then jump and scream when arms wrap around me from behind and I’m lifted off the ground.