Page 116 of The Art of Almost Losing It
I’m smart. I’m not an idiot. I should have taken the money. Always take the money. I’m an analyst, not a romance-movie heroine. My happy endings come with seven zeros.
Yep, it’s decided. Dani’s dreams of love and family are dead. She’s going full-on rich recluse.
“I’m going to…” I grab his tie. “Make you a very happy boy.”
I try to do my best sex kitten impression. Yes, Gran tried to do a homeschool class on it. It didn’t go well, but maybe since the lighting here is so low…
“I think I can give you what you’ve been craving ever since you saw me,” I whisper against his lips, “and threw me half naked in your closet.”
His eyelashes flutter. It’s like he almost,almostwants to kiss me. His mouth isright there.
“You ready for me to make you happy?” I breathe.
I feel him shift, the tension in his body give way, then he explodes.
“Get out!” He shoves me away.
“Wait, no! I have to—”
“Out!” he roars.
“Why? Let’s talk about this.”
“Get the fuck out, Dani!” He rages, slamming his fist on the brass elevator door, leaving a dent.
I scream, clapping my hands over my ears.
“If you don’t fucking get out now, I’ll never let you leave.”
22
GRAHAM
In the dark of my penthouse, I slide down the wall and rest my head between my knees.
What the hell am I doing?
“What the hell!” I punch the floor then clutch my aching hand.
What is wrong with me? I can’t kiss her.
I don’t kiss.
I’ve never kissed a woman. I’ve fucked them—only like three of them, when the longing got too bad and I gave in to my worst desires.
I didn’t kiss them, though. Never kiss them.
Kisses mean love. Love means control.
I didn’t want those women to get the wrong idea.
It’s one of my boundaries. My points of no return.
I slam the back of my head against the wall, probably leaving a dent.
It’s not enough to banish the memories.
My dad would “marry” the girl he kidnapped, always want a kiss like they were in a real relationship. Stuart made them pretend they liked him.
