Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(59)

having put it all out there.

“Thank you for being so honest. It makes me want you even more, and I do want you, Laney...so f*cking bad it scares me. Let’s try

this one more time—are you in a committed relationship with Evan?”

“No.”

“Are you in love with him?” His hand moves down my face, his fingertips softly caressing me, and I lean into it and close my

eyes. I can’t look at him when I answer. I don’t want him to see the scared little girl in my eyes.

“I don’t know.” My own answer confuses me.

I have no doubt that I love Evan, but am I in love with him? We were so perfect and the minute we changed it, things got too hard.

Yes, college had everything to do with that, but why couldn’t we last? Was it supposed to be Evan or was it just that Evan was

always there? That’s the thing that scares me most—why am I so strongly and instantly attracted to Dane? Why do I think about

spending time with him? First temptation? Nope, I don’t feel the pull to Zach, Tate, Sawyer, Parker...no one else, ever. To be

honest, besides Evan, Dane is the first guy I’ve ever considered liking in my entire life.

“You didn’t say yes.” His finger is now tracing my lips. He’s going to kiss me, and I’m going to let him.

I blow slightly out, teasing his finger, and I hear him inhale.

“I will never kiss another man’s girl...but you’re not his, Laney. You’re not mine...yet. But you’re not his, either. So the

way I see it, you’re kissable.”

I say nothing. I just open my eyes and look into his; if he can hear my yes in that, he can have my kiss.

“Last chance, Disney. Once I get a taste, I’m coming after you with everything I’ve got.”

I couldn’t say no right now if I wanted to, I can barely breathe. His words are so sexy; they stroke every part of me. He leans

into me and I close my eyes.

“Open your eyes, Laney, look at me. Make damn sure you know it’s me kissing you, and don’t you ever hide from it.”

I do as he says and then his lips are on mine. This isn’t the kiss of a best friend, not the kiss of the boy next door who made

you spit-shake on a deal and will always take care of you. This is the kiss of a madman who wants to make you scream his name up

against a wall. This kiss makes it okay that I even just thought that, because it’s a fact.

I can’t take it. I break the contact and throw my head back, trying to catch my breath.

“Nuh-uh, not done yet, come ‘ere,” he growls, reaching around the back of my neck and pulling me to him. He takes my mouth again

with lust, bites, and a low groan. Grabbing my face, he turns it, deepening his angle and the throbbing between my legs.

Fuck, this guy can kiss.

Dane breaks away this time, only slightly, still close enough that his breath tickles my lips... “That wasn’t random, that was

supposed to happen,” he says, giving me another quick kiss.

After a brief silence, simply because I still haven’t recovered the ability to speak, he pulls back into traffic with his right

hand now interlaced with mine. He gives my hand a squeeze before he asks, “where to?”

Seriously, I’m expected to think? “Um, right...and I hate coffee but I love coffee ice cream.”

We turned until dark, never actually making it to a destination.





Chapter Twenty-Eight


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BIRHTDAY GIRL

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Laney

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“Happy Birthday, Laney! Wake up, wake up, wake up!”

Okay, Bennett is bouncing on my bed and I fear greatly she’s going to fall on me any minute.

“I’m up, I’m up!” I tell her, laughing. It must be because it’s my birthday, the big 1-9. I never wake up in a good mood.

“Look on the table, birthday girl!”

I look over and see the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers waiting for me. I get up to go inspect and count 19 red roses, with lilies

and baby’s breath mixed in; it’s breathtaking. I check the card hesitantly. I would give anything to be there with you today. I

love you, birthday girl. XO, Evan. I can’t remember the last birthday I spent without him and a silent tear trickles down my

cheek.

“Who are they from?” Bennett asks from behind me.

I quickly brush away the tear before turning to answer her. “They’re from Evan. Aren’t they beautiful?”

“They’re amazing, Laney. Are you okay?” she asks, concern etched across her face. She rubs my back. “It’s not okay to be sad

on your birthday, chica! I know we haven’t spent much time together lately, but I have all day blocked off to ring in your 19th

with cannons!”

She really is a little ray of sunshine, this girl; I’m guessing she’s never screwed over a friend in her life. I silently vow to

never compare her to Kaitlyn again. “I’m good, Bennett, I just miss him, but we’re gonna have a great day! I’m so glad to have

you here with me. Thank you.”