Page 55 of On the Ropes
She shook her head. “Of course not.”
I thought about the call with Harry again. He said my hesitancy to be in the spotlight was fine. That I’d get some kind of mentoring. An investment in my career long-term. I couldn’t dwell too long on how hypocritical that was, given their position on head injuries.
“Maybe…” I hesitated. “Maybe I should consider it. Because of the commentator job. If I got it and accepted it, I’d be in a live studio.”
“That’s a much bigger audience than I have,” she said. “I’ll be small potatoes to you by then.”
“That’s not possible, Tabitha,” I said.
We were motionless in the middle of so much movement: music, people talking, cars driving by. The air was still charged between us. It kept happening every time we were alone together. It was dangerous, like an accelerant.
A few crystals of cinnamon and sugar lingered on her lower lip. “You have some…” I gestured with my thumb toward my own mouth, and her fingers flew up instantly, brushing the opposite side.
I felt a muscle ticking in my jaw. What the hell else had I been missing?
“Can I?” I asked.
“Please do.” She tipped her face up. I slid the tips of my fingers around the back of her head and hovered my thumb over her mouth. I swiped it softly once, twice, across her bottom lip. The sugar fell. Our eye contact never wavered. Lust hollowed out my stomach, sent waves of desire surging through my limbs.
“Thank you, Mr. Machine,” she said quietly. But didn’t pull away. I heard the vague echo of a trip gong in the back of my head, the kind that indicated a boxing match could begin.
I stroked my thumb across her lip a third time.
It wasn’t necessary. Or needed.
It was the definition of indulgence.
I heard her breathing hitch. Saw the attraction I felt reflected on her face—her fluttering eyelashes, her throat working, the puff of air on my thumb as she finally exhaled. As I reluctantly let go, I dragged my fingers through her tresses.
“Got it,” I whispered.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking shy in a way I’d never seen before. “So I’ll, um…” She whirled around once. Twice. Touched her forehead with her hand. “I’ll work on getting people’s permission and see who’s interested. And I’ll try and get some interviews in before we start all the heavy trash lifting today.”
I nodded, unable to trust my voice.
She paused halfway through opening the front door. “You’re part of this story too, Dean.”
