Virtuous(35)

“How do I give her money?”

“You, um, you don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t. I want to. That would make me happy. Is there a fundraising effort or anything?”

“Yes, through the school, but you don’t have to—”

He taps his finger against my lips and smiles. “I know I don’t. I truly want to.”

“That’s very nice of you. All of this… Really, I can’t begin to tell you how much it meant to her—and to me.”

“It was a pleasure.”

“I’m sure you have somewhere to be, so I, um, I’ll let you get going.”

“That’s it?” He fixes that gaze on me, and I feel like the proverbial deer trapped in headlights. It’s that potent.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You’re going to walk away and that’s that?”

“I know how busy you are, and I’ve already taken a good chunk of your time.”

“I’m actually enjoying a rare bit of time off before I leave for LA and then begin postproduction on the film we just wrapped.”

“Oh.” I’m not sure what else to say. Hearing he’s been enjoying time off that didn’t include calling me annoys me, even if I wish it didn’t. “Well, I hope you enjoy your time off.”

“Thank you.”

Suddenly I need to know. I have to know. It’s the last thing I want to ask and the only thing I need to know. “Were you going to call me? If I hadn’t texted about Aileen, would I have ever heard from you again?”

He looks down at me for a long, intense moment. “No.”

“Good to know.” I begin to walk away, but he follows, grasping my arm in a grip loose enough that it doesn’t trigger any of my well-honed defense mechanisms but tight enough that I can’t get away without a fight.

“Let me explain.”

I attempt to pull my arm free of his grip. “No need. I get it. You could have anyone.”

He gives a gentle tug that throws me off balance, and before I know what’s happening, I’m pressed against his chest and his arms are around me. “I don’t want just anyone. I want you.”

I’m so busy trying to catch my breath from the events of the last two minutes that I can barely process what he’s said. And then he’s kissing me. His hands frame my face as his lips move softly over mine. The kiss is sweet and undemanding, but I feel its impact everywhere. I lean into him, wanting to be closer, and raise my arms to encircle his neck.

I forget we’re on a city street where anyone can see us. I forget who he is and that photographers stalk him. I forget that it’s freezing or that I was about to walk away. I forget that he had no plans to call me. I can only think of what it feels like to be surrounded by his rich, masculine scent as his lips destroy my resistance.

He breaks the kiss and turns his attention to my neck. “I wasn’t going to call because of me, not because of you. Not because I didn’t want to see you again, because I did. I do. You’re all I’ve thought about since I saw you last. When I got your text yesterday, I was so happy to hear from you.”

I’m not sure which is having a greater impact on me—what he’s saying or what he’s doing to my neck as he speaks. His breath is warm against my cold skin. I’m one big goose bump as I hang on his every word. I’m breathless as I wait to hear what else he has to say.

But he withdraws from me, so suddenly I stumble. He’s right there to catch me, his hands on my shoulders steadying me. “Will you come with me so we can talk some more?”

I know I should decline. I should walk away from him while I still can. This whole thing is nothing more than a fantasy that can’t possibly go anywhere. I already know he has the power to hurt me, perhaps worse than I’ve been hurt in the past, and I can’t bear the thought of that. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Please?” He bends his head to the side and smiles at me. He’s cute, and he knows it.

Maybe if he hadn’t kissed me, I’d be able to resist that adorable grin and the equally adorable plea. He who could have anyone wants to spend more time with me. It’s hard not to be flattered by that. What’s another hour with him at this point?

“Okay.”

He raises his arm and flags down a cab. “You’ll freeze on the bike. I’ll come back for it later.”