Page 41 of Reformation

We are now standing at her car, and for the first time with this woman, I don’t know what to do or say. I can’t lay down a cheesy line. As I look down at her blue eyes, all I want to do is watch them lightly shut as I go in for a kiss that I know would change everything.

“You looked absolutely beautiful today.”

It’s the truth, and at that moment I realized I didn’t get a chance to tell her that she took my breath away.

“Thanks. You didn’t look so bad yourself,” she says, even though she won’t look at me.

I take her chin in my fingers and tilt her eyes up to me. “What’s the matter?”

She tries to look away, but I won’t let her. “I saw you with… your ex today. And it… I didn’t like how…”

Holy shit. Is she feeling this too?

For one second, I forget everything. I forget that she’s my nephew’s teacher and that I’m more than ten years older than her. I forget that I’m technically still married and that she’s off-limits. I forget that my life is a fucking train wreck and that she’s the most genuine soul to walk this Earth.

In that one second, I start to lean down because her cherry-red lips are calling to me like a siren’s song. In that one second, I see her raise up just the slightest, ready to meet my lips with hers.

That second isn’t long enough. Too quickly I remember every reason why I can’t kiss her. So instead of taking her mouth like I want to, I place my lips on her forehead, kissing her sweet skin in hopes that she can feel everything that I’m feeling.

As I back away, I see her slowly open her eyes. My hands have slid down her arms and I take both of her hands in mine. It might not be a traditional first kiss, but this might be the most emotionally intimate moment I’ve ever shared with someone.

“The way you make me feel is like nothing I’ve ever experienced with any woman. Not Annika. Not Michelle. No one.”

I bring her hands up to my lips, placing a kiss on top of each one before I help her into her car.

“Because I can’t tell you enough, you looked absolutely stunning today. And I’m so proud of you. And thank you. For everything.”

And with that, I shut her door and watch her drive away.

Yup. I’m going to need a shower. Only now I think I’ll make it a cold one.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Paige

“I don’t know where the hell you are at right now, but by the look on your face, I want to join you.”

Cassie’s voice startles me and I can feel my cheeks turn red as I try to recover from my apparent daydream. But all the reshuffling of papers and organizing of my desk can’t hide the fact that I’ve been staring into space for who knows how long. Thank goodness Anthony isn’t here today. I would have been a worthless math tutor.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, still trying to deflect. “How was your day?”

Cassie takes a seat in one of my bean bag chairs. “It was Monday. They forgot how to math. But that’s not why I’m here and you know it. I want to know why my best friend skipped out on weekend debrief lunch today. And also, why does she look like how I would guess Cinderella looked after the ball?”

I blush again. I did skip on lunch, and yes, it was on purpose. Our teaching crew has eaten lunch together every Monday since we all started, talking about our weekends and our weeks ahead. I’ve never been the topic of conversation. No one wants to talk about my volunteering expeditions when they could be dissecting Sarah’s bad dates or trying to talk Chad out of redoing his whole house in farmhouse chic.

Ever since I drove away from Garrett yesterday after the champagne lunch, I haven’t been able to stop smiling. Or feel the touch of his lips on my forehead. I knew my friends would call me out on it. And I had no idea what to tell them.

I wanted him to kiss me. God, did I want him to kiss me. My body had been on fire all day after seeing him in that tuxedo. Charlie was right, I was ready to fight an old socialite who I saw take a grab at his behind. And let’s not start on how I felt when I saw him with Annika.

Because I wanted to grab his behind. And do so… so much more.

Who am I? This isn’t me. I have barely dated over the years. And none of them I have lusted for. Especially men who are the definition of unavailable—physically and emotionally.

From the moment Garrett placed his lips on my forehead and left a kiss that I’m pretty sure branded me, all I can think about is that I want him to kiss me more. And on more places than just my forehead.

“See that!” Cassie yells. “That look! Right there. What is that look and what are you holding out on me? Because it looks like you are getting orgasms on the regular and I’ve yet to hear about the person giving them to you.”

It was only a matter of time before I knew I would have to tell Cassie about Garrett. In my defense, what was I going to tell her?

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