A Cosmic Kind of Love(70)

She gave me big, remorseful eyes, making it hard to stay angry at her, even though I still felt this kernel of indignation in my gut. I tried to laugh it off because I’d never been the type to hold a grudge, and I wouldn’t let my irritation with Hallie’s date hurt my friendship with Darce. “Of course, I forgive you.” My gaze drifted back to Hallie.

“Chris, you’re clearly extremely bothered by the fact that she’s on a date with another man. I think we should leave.”

Hallie suddenly got up from the table and began heading toward a hallway that had a neon sign above the wall that read RESTROOMS with an arrow pointing the way.

“Darcy, I hate to be rude, but just give me a few minutes.” I slid off my seat before she could protest and hurried around the tables. Derek had his phone out and was engrossed in whatever was on there. He didn’t notice me hurrying after his date.

The hallway was low-lit, with two doors on the left for men and women. It made an L-shape as it turned left toward the end. I ducked my head around the corner and saw it led to an emergency exit. We were alone.

Leaning against the wall opposite the ladies’ room, I waited for Hallie.

I didn’t have to wait long.

She stepped out of the room, head down, as she rummaged through her purse.

I finally processed her outfit, and my fingers curled into fists as heat shot through me. Hallie wore an oversized sweater, an off-white color that made her pink hair pop.

And that was it.

It fell to her upper thighs like she’d just rolled out of a guy’s bed and pulled on his sweater.

She wore it with a pair of the sexiest goddamn shoes I’d ever seen in my life. Her legs had a shimmer to them that drew the gaze. Jesus Christ, she had great legs. I wanted them wrapped around me.

I pushed off the wall, and her eyes flew up at the movement.

“Holy shit.” Hallie gasped, clutching her chest. “You scared me.” Her hand dropped as her round eyes got impossibly larger. “What are you doing here?”

Instead of answering, I took hold of her elbow and guided her around the corner, out of sight. I situated her against the wall and settled my hands on her hips, the fabric of her sweater sliding an inch up her thighs. She felt warm beneath my touch but also small and delicate. A renewed wave of something I didn’t quite understand crashed over me.

It disconcerted me to consider it might be possessiveness.

That was not a quality I admired in anyone. My father had treated my mother like a possession.

Fuck.

Staring at her, dazed, overwhelmed, I reassured myself that I didn’t see Hallie as a woman to possess.

The difference between me and my father was that I wanted to belong to Hallie as much as I wanted her to belong to me.

“Chris?” Her breath hitched on my name.

It took every ounce of willpower I had not to kiss her.

My hands flexed on her hips. “Why didn’t you tell me you were dating someone?”

Hallie stared at me like she’d never seen me before. “I’m not. This is a first date. It just kind of happened. You know my friend Althea . . . Derek’s her fiancée’s brother. It’s casual. Nothing serious.”

I frowned at that. “So you’re a casual dater?”

She stiffened and murmured, “I need to get back.”

Her eyes dropped to my mouth.

Oh yeah, I was so done with this dance. “What if I asked you to end your date with him and come back to my place with me?”

She shifted beneath my hands, those gorgeous eyes searching my face. “You’re a good guy, Chris, so I know this can’t be some pissing contest, right? I mean . . . you friend-zoned me.”

Dammit. I knew I’d messed up that night at my apartment. “I didn’t friend-zone you. And I don’t want to have this conversation at the back of a bar. But I promise you, I’m not screwing around. Please. Leave with me, Hallie.”

She considered this and then slowly nodded her head.

Triumph and anticipation flushed through me.

I squeezed her hips and then forced myself to release her. “I’m going to put Darcy in a cab. Meet me outside when you’re ready.”





TWENTY-SEVEN





Hallie


That’s cool. I think I’ll stay here, have another drink. You good?”

I gaped at Derek. Althea was right. He was awesome. “I’m g-good,” I answered nervously. “I just feel bad.”

“Don’t be. Sometimes guys need to see what they’re going to lose before they pull their heads out of their asses. Sorry we’re morons that way.”

I laughed, but I could hear how breathy it sounded. My nerves were shot to hell. I could still feel Chris’s hands on my hips even now. Possessive. Wanting.

The way he’d looked at me in the hallway . . .

Oh wow.

Definitely not friend-zoning me.

Derek had said as much as Chris walked away from the table and back to Darcy earlier.

“Okay, you do realize he wanted to scare me off, right?” Derek had laughed as soon as Chris was out of earshot.

Hope had been blossoming and deflating in me so much these last few weeks that I didn’t want to hope anymore. I’d waved off Derek’s assurance that Chris definitely had more than friendly thoughts about me and attempted to concentrate on our date and not on the fact that Chris was in the same room. Impossible, considering I was hyperaware of him.