Forbidden Love with the Marine(50)
Afraid of what he might do, he called Drake on his mobile phone to apologize that he had to go and would talk to him later.
“Is everything okay?” Drake asked worriedly on the line. “The guys will be here any minute. Why’d you go off like that?”
“Something came up,” Blade said, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes tightly for a second. “I can’t talk now but I’ll be fine. And about that offer we discussed...I’ll give you my answer next time, you have my word. It was good seeing you, Drake.”
“You too, brother,” Drake said deeply. “Take it easy.”
Blade thanked him and hung up though he wondered how the hell he was going to be taking anything easy what with the quandary he had on his hands.
Chapter Twenty-One
It had taken a lot for Makayla to come to a final decision.
She checked her reflection in the mirror one more time, regarding the way the ruffles fell beautifully on her snug-fitting dress. She didn’t feel particularly beautiful, though she knew that the outfit, her hair and make-up was stunning. Blade was coming to pick her up to go somewhere fancy for dinner. She hadn’t seen him for two days thanks to her trip to London on business.
She’d accompanied her boss to close a major investment deal with their UK partners. Dave had been really impressed with her contribution and had dropped hints about the company considering her for another promotion. His offer had a catch though and Makayla felt torn but that wasn’t the main reason why she was in such low spirits.
Seeing Blade again was always enough to put the wind to her sails no matter how her day or week had been. But tonight the dinner date was one she’d been dreading ever since he’d called her that morning to remind her.
Suddenly, she heard his truck pull up in front of her apartment. Her roommate, Gina was on night duty at the hospital, so when Blade came in through the unlocked door he wasted no time before tugging her into his arms and kissing her senseless.
Makayla lost herself in his taste and feel and for those few moments, life was magical. She breathed him in like oxygen and held it there, in her heart. She never wanted to exhale. But seconds later he was drawing back gently, forcing Makayla to return to the here and now as she opened her eyes slowly, almost unwilling to break from the spell of his kiss.
“God, you can’t possibly look more beautiful than the last time I saw you,” Blade rumbled, his words thick with arousal as he gazed down at her in the silky white dress with its cut-out pattern at the waist, arms and the hem ending in seductive ruffles down her hips. She’d wanted to look extra-special tonight, wanted Blade to keep a wonderful image of her after she...
“Thank you,” she returned with a ready smile even as her heart cracked within. “You look ever so dashing if I must say.” He did, too. Whenever he took the effort to be in a suit and tie he looked like a freaking sex magnet. She felt like she would dissolve into a gooey mess just looking at him with his baby-blue dress shirt setting off his dark blue eyes, his jacket fitting him like it was made for him, his shoulders as hard-packed and broad as his waist and hips were lean and tapered. His dark blonde hair was growing out and now had waves which were slicked neatly back.
“You mustn’t, but it’s appreciated all the same,” Blade said, grinning before leaning forward to kiss her forehead as he added huskily, “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” Makayla said on a sigh, clutching at his lapels for one desperate moment. But before he could notice any inner turmoil, she pulled back and looked up at him with a cheeky grin. “Well, since you’ve refused to let me cook any dinner for you in return for all the fabulous meals you keep whipping up for us, let’s go have our fancy night out then.”
Blade chuckled, placing his arm in the small of her back as they headed for the door. “Angel, even you wouldn’t eat your own cooking. You’re adorable, Makayla but you can’t cook.”
She made a pouty lip which ended up getting plucked in a quick kiss that stole her breath. Blade drew back, eyes gleaming dangerously. “We definitely better leave now before I give in to the urge to rip into you here and now, sexy. Besides, tonight’s extra special and that’s why I planned this “fancy night out”. Now come on.”
He was smiling warmly as he led her outside, and Makayla forced a bright smile on her face even though she balked inwardly. What did he have in store for them, she wondered? Whatever it was, she couldn’t help thinking that her own plans were going to conflict in the worst way and this made her dread the whole evening all the more.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Blade wasn’t dumb and he knew Makayla far too well not to tell that something was bothering her. Their meal arrived and she barely picked at it, confirming his suspicions. Blade told himself he knew exactly what had her in such a mood and he felt sure he also knew just what to make that smile on her face turn from phony to heart-felt.
“Makayla.”
Her head jerked up guiltily when he said her name softly. He took her hand over the table cloth, eyes pinned to hers. “You’re troubled, I can tell.”
Her ensuing laugh was shaky. “I’m maybe a little nervous tonight, I guess.”
“That’s funny because so am I. But more than a little.” He was grinning when she frowned in puzzlement even as she smiled.