Page 63 of Love In Hiding

“London,” he breathed against her mouth, the warning in his voice rough. “You keep doing that and it’s going to be hard to leave.”

Her fingers threaded into his hair, tugging just enough to make his pulse spike. “Maybe I don’t want you to leave.”

“But you also don’t want me to stay,” he said, his mouth lowering again.

They were nibbling at each other’s lips now. She wasn’t arguing what he’d said.

It was too soon for them both.

If she took him to her room, he wasn’t sure what conclusion he’d draw from it. And maybe he didn’t want her thinking the same about him.

She shivered once, then twice, her mouth pulling away, her nails grazing his jaw. “We need time to figure out what happens next.”

He lifted his head and met her eyes. They were bright, determined, and a little breathless. “I’m already pretty damn sure, even if I agree one hundred percent with you.”

“It might be the first time we agree about anything.”

He kissed her again. Deeper, slower, claiming every inch she offered. Her hands slid to his shoulders, gripping themtight, and he felt her melt into him as though she’d been waiting for this just as long.

And God help him… he knew this was the start of something he wasn’t going to walk away from.

But for tonight, he had to do it.

Otherwise the regret would seep in just as much as the guilt.

18

SEEMS THAT WAY

“Have you been sitting on the couch all night?” Paris asked when she walked into the living room two hours later.

“What?”

London turned her head from where she was staring at the TV and not absorbing a thing showing.

The words were background noise, the people moving around were like a dream she was awake for.

All she could focus on was that damn kiss.

The one she’d been thinking of for days.

From a man she’d love to get to know more, if she could separate the fact that Monday through Friday he tended to annoy the shit out of her.

“I asked if you’ve left that spot on the couch all night. I know that look of yours. You stare off into space contemplating all your life’s choices.”

“Oh, I’ve been contemplating a lot of things. And no, I’ve only been on the couch for about an hour. I went to dinner with Spencer tonight.”

“I’ve got to hear this. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because he didn’t ask until after you left for the day. I wasn’t going to text you when you were working. And how did that go?”

“Nope. Not talking about work. This is too juicy. Tell me about Spencer and how it happened.”

She relayed the events of the day. “I really pushed him hard in the office. I told myself I needed to know what he was thinking. It was killing me this laid back attitude of his.”

“You beat yourself up over that shit,” Paris said.

“I do. I’m sick of doing it. We moved here for a fresh start in more than one way. Still, I never expected this to happen.”