Heath (Wild Boys After Dark, #2)(34)

Her insides twisted into a tight knot. “Okay?”

“I’m not going to push you into something you’re not ready for. I want to be with you. I’m ready, and I don’t care how fast it is, but that doesn’t mean you have to be on the same page with me. If you’re not ready, you’re not ready.” He caressed her cheek and pressed his lips to hers. “I’ll take what time I can get until you realize that this is the real thing.”

“I don’t know that I’m not ready to wake up in your arms. I just don’t know if I am ready.” She turned away and shook her head. “I sound ridiculous.”

He pulled her into his arms again, and his smile warmed her. “You’re not ridiculous. You’re careful. I appreciate that, because I don’t know how to slow down this bullet train, and I’m not sure I want to. So it’s probably good that you’re careful.”

“So, what now?”

He took a step back. “Now I cool my jets and let you have some space to think things over.”

She gripped his forearms. “You’re leaving?”

“Sweetheart, if I stay, I’m not going to want to leave. And if I make love to you, then I really won’t want to leave. Maybe a one-night break is a good thing. We can both clear our heads. Can I see you tomorrow night?”

“Of course.” She was too conflicted to think straight. “But I don’t want you to leave.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear. “But you don’t want me to stay, either, and as much as I have to protect your heart, I also need to protect mine.”





Chapter Fourteen


FRIDAY BROUGHT SUNSHINE and conflict. Two opposing forces that wreaked havoc with Ally’s mind. On her way to meet Amanda for lunch, Ally read through the thread of texts she and Heath had exchanged over the morning.

Heath: Good morning, beautiful. Missed you last night.

Ally: I missed you, too. Can’t wait to see you tonight.

An hour later…

Heath: What do you want to do tonight?

Ally: You.

Heath: Shouldn’t you wine and dine me first?

Ally: If you’re into that sort of thing, sure.

Heath: I’m more than a sex machine. I think I’ll wine and dine you. Do you like clubs or someplace quiet?

Ally: Your choice. I just want to be with you.

Heath: Careful, sweetheart. That sounds an awful lot like you’re falling for me.

Ten minutes ago…

Heath: How about if we go to my place after dinner? You’ve never been there.

Ally’s pulse quickened at the idea of entering Heath’s private lair. Part of her saw spending time at her apartment as having a modicum of control, only she hadn’t realized that until she’d read his text, and now, relinquishing control to Heath was surprisingly easier than it had been last night.

Ally: Yes. But I still don’t think I can stay over.

Heath: Way to kill a guy’s hopes.

Ally walked into the café around the corner from the hospital to meet Amanda and sent a quick response.

Keep hoping. You never know when I’ll change my mind.

She stood just inside the doorway of the café, surveying the tables and booths, looking for Amanda. The line to the counter at the opposite end of the café ran along the wall to her left and stopped just a few feet short of where she stood.

“Ally!”

She spotted Amanda in a booth by the wall. The heels of Ally’s boots clicked as she made her way to the booth and slid in across from Amanda.

“I didn’t see you. Sorry.” She set her purse behind her and eyed Amanda, whose blouse was unbuttoned lower than usual. When they’d spoken in the morning, Amanda had said that her date was a dud. He’d been cute and sweet, but too nice. Ally didn’t know a guy could be too nice for Amanda. For her? Sure. But for her conservative sister? She needed details.

“What is up with you?”

Amanda’s eyes widened. “Nothing is up.” She straightened her napkin on her lap, and when her name was called, indicating their food was ready, she jumped up to get their order. “I’ve got it.”

Ally hadn’t seen Amanda look so excited in a long time. She watched her sister hustle across the floor in a pair of black heels that were higher than what she usually wore. She knew her sister reserved these particular sexy heels for special occasions. With them, Amanda wore a tight black skirt that accentuated her tiny waist, and if Ally wasn’t mistaken—which, after twenty-six years, she surely was not—her sister’s ass swayed in a way that had available written all over it.

What the hell?

“Here we go.” Amanda set the tray on the table and slid into the booth, handing Ally the salad she’d ordered for her. She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, while Ally tried not to sneer at the two guys checking out her sister from a nearby table.

“Here we go? Like I didn’t just watch some sex kitten who used to be my conservative sister slink up to the counter?” Ally smiled as she stabbed a tomato and pointed it at Amanda. “What happened to you last night?”

Amanda shrugged. “I don’t know. Jeb was really sweet. He was smart and funny and nice.”

“Yeah, you gave me that already. Too nice, if I remember correctly.”