Page 48 of Meet Hate Love
“Of course you do.”
She grabbed at my hips, pulling me against her. “God, but I want you…”
I told myself that no matter how tempting it may be, I could not fuck her right here. Just when I was about to suggest we leave and go back to the hotel, voices broke through the silent cemetery.
“Shit. What are we doing?” She shoved me away, her eyes searching mine as she rubbed at her swollen lips. “That was a huge mistake.”
ChapterFifteen
BLAKE
Vance had kissed me. He’d put those incredible, amazing, perfect lips of his on mine and tongue fucked my mouth. In a cemetery! Dear God. What was it with me and mausoleums?
Holding eye contact with him, I shoved away from the freaking grave he’d had me pinned to. “Definite mistake.” Then I started down the cobblestone path as fast as my short legs would carry my Oompah Loompa ass.
“Bullshit.” His hand latched onto my wrist, bringing my planned escape to an abrupt halt. Screw him and those long legs. “You just melted in my arms.”
My cheeks heated because I so had. My legs were still wobbly. That had been, hands down, the best kiss I’d ever experienced in my life. A fireworks, out-of-body experience kind of kiss. The kind everyone in the world swore didn’t really exist. And I’d thanked him for that life-altering experience by saying how much of a mistake it was. I almost rolled my eyes at my own stupidity, but again, I was not good in high-stress situations, and this—him and that face and body and those lips—was a very high-stress situation. If a simple kiss could affect me that way. Jesus… sweat broke out on the nape of my neck at the thought of what doing anything else with the man would do. Obliterate me?
One of his dark, questioning brows lifted. “Tell me you didn’t melt.”
“Tell me you’re cocky in—” How many words was that?—“four words or less.”
His shoulders fell. He swiped a hand over his Avo-Cato bandage.That’s right, Blake. Stare at that ridiculous bandage and get your hormones under control.The only problem was, even that stupid bandage couldn’t make him look bad. Fuck!
“You’re going to fight this, aren’t you?” He shot me a look that said, “Go ahead. I dare you to resist this insane, black-hole-like pull between us. Gravity always wins, Blake, and I’m gravity.”
The glimmer of the hopeful romantic inside me who’d grown up watching Disney films and believing true love’s first kiss could solve all of life’s problems wanted to say screw it. That teeny, tiny speck wanted to admit there was something between Vance and me worth investigating, but the rational, cynical part of me knew better. Vance was the poster child for the guy a woman should never go all in with. Playboy looks. As much as I hated to admit it, a charming personality. A dick-pic guy.
He was a big, fatDo Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200sign. My heart knew it. My body, on the other hand, did not want to believe it. Especially not after that kiss.
“I’m just…” I swiped a finger over my still-tingling lips. “I’m not trying to get involved with anyone.”
His brows pinched together in a frown. Was he disappointed I wasn’t looking to get involved, or was he disappointed that I’d even hinted involvement in anything past a one-night stand could have been an option with him?
“Okay…” He swiped a hand through his dark hair.
I hadn’t realized a small bud of hope had bloomed in my chest until his lack of rebuttal caused it to shrivel like he had doused it with weed killer. That was exactly why I didn’t need to do whatever this was. I would absolutely end up hurt.
“Okay.” I forced a smile and turned around, dodging a passing tour group.
Awkward,awkwardsilence stretched between us from Oscar Wilde’s grave to Chopin’s. I was barely present, thanks to my racing thoughts about how working with him meant there was no escape. Which meant I absolutely could not get involved with him because when things went down like a steaming pile of elephant shit, and they would, I’d have to sit at my desk, Monday thru Friday, and listen to him breathe from the other side of the cubicle.
Vance stopped in front of me, and my attention dropped to his ass.
“What in the hell kind of memorial is that?” He turned around, thumbing at the grave behind him. On top of the concrete slab laid a green, patinaed bronze sculpture of a man holding a head above his body.
That was definitely unique. “No idea. Maybe he beheaded someone?”
My phone went berserk in my purse.
“Five bucks that string of texts is about Rent-a-Poo,” Vance said, smiling like he was just as excited about it as me.
Not relationship material, I recited that lie in my head as I dug out my device and opened the very active family chat.
Mom: If anyone is available, we need help.
Mom: Moving party inside because the backyard is covered in a layer of manure.
