Collide (Collide #1)(78)

"You broke the no-touching-me rule," she breathed out, ignoring what her body was fighting so hard to deny. Even as fleeting as it was, his touch felt insanely good in an insanely bad way.

In one quick stroke, he flicked his gaze down to her lips and then back up to her eyes. "I could've let it stay there."

"And you could've told me about it, too, wiseass." A smile twisted his mouth, one so contagious that she couldn't help but respond with a smile of her own. "Looks like I have to follow through on my promise and make you pay severely for not playing fair."

He cocked an incredulous brow. "Not that I'm against public affection, especially with you, but how do you plan on accomplishing that in a stadium filled with people?"

Emily shot him an evil grin and leaned forward, tapping her finger on the shoulder of a woman seated in the row in front of them.

The woman and her friend sitting next to her turned around.

"I'm very sorry to bother you," Emily said to the blonde. "My friend here is interested in giving you his number. He finds you very attractive and didn't have the nerve to say anything to you himself. Do you have a boyfriend?"

Gavin smiled, shook his head, and all but buried his face in his hands with embarrassment.

The woman and her friend laughed. "I actually don't have a boyfriend right now."

"Well, not that it would matter if you did because that doesn't deter my friend here, but it's all the better that you don't," Emily replied coolly. "Do you have a pen and a paper for him?"

The woman dug in her purse, retrieved a pen, and ripped out a piece of her checkbook. She handed it to Emily, and in turn, Emily handed it to Gavin.

"There ya go, pal. Jot down those digits for the pretty lady," Emily laughed and nudged him with her elbow. "And stop being so damn shy when it comes to picking up women."

With his dimpled smile, Gavin quickly scribbled on the piece of paper and handed it back to the woman.

She took a quick look at it and smiled back at him. "Gavin, huh? Cute name to go with that cute face. You'll definitely be hearing from me."

Gavin nodded, and Emily laughed.

"You're ruthless," he whispered, throwing a peanut shell at Emily's head.

Laughing, she plucked it out. "I warned you."

Many chucked peanut shells into Emily's hair later, the game ended with the Yankees winning by three. During the entire subway ride back to Manhattan, Gavin took great pride in reminding her of the score every few minutes. He also confessed that the number he had jotted down for the woman at the game was a fake. His defense was that he was no longer into women with blonde hair. Shaking her head, Emily laughed and sassed him about his little lie. He made sure to see her home, catching a taxi with her back to her apartment building. After asking the driver to run the meter, he walked her up to the entrance.

Once again, Emily offered him her hand. "It was a pleasure hanging out with you today, Gavin."

"I can shake your hand?" he smiled. "I don't want to break any more rules."

"Yes, it's fine."

He obliged and took her hand, experiencing the same rush of heat he had felt every other time he had the chance to touch her. Feeling like a malicious entity - selfish and wanting - he eventually let go. "The pleasure was all mine."

Drawing in a deep breath, Emily watched as he walked back over to the taxi and drove away.

Riding the elevator up to her apartment, her head grew pleasantly fuzzy, thinking of the wonderful day she had spent with Gavin. She tried to get her nerves to settle because she knew she shouldn't have been with him at all. The balance was hell, but the release was sweet in a disturbing way. She learned things about him that she had never thought possible. Something nudged in her chest, a heightened longing for him mixed with hurt for what he had gone through.