Page 13 of Reckless Kiss

My mind went completely blank at the idea of having agirlfriend.

Esme giggled. “I’ll take that face as a no.”

For as much as I loved women, the idea of a full, deep, consistent relationship didn’t interest me. I enjoyed my freedom too much. “Please, allow me to explain. For one, I do not have a girlfriend and even if I did I cannot imagine ever wanting to do both. It contradicts the very nature of what I believe. For two,” I held up two fingers for added emphasis, “I’ve never had a night with anyone like the night I had with you.”

There. I said it.

And oh boy did she hear it. The color drained from her face again and her eyes locked onto mine. For a few moments that connection blotted out the entire universe. It was just Esme’s shock and my desire colliding in an impossible situation.

“That’s an easy thing to say,” she finally murmured. “And I’m sure we all love eating up a compliment like that. I certainly am, even though I realize there’s no truth to it.”

Fuck no.“You’re wrong.” I started to move against her so I could whisper every dark thought I had in her ear but Jeffry and Grant interrupted.

“We’re ready to head out,” Grant said, clapping his hands together loudly and rubbing the palms.

I jumped backward, doing the exact opposite of what I wanted. It hurt, much like ripping open a fresh scab. Raw, bloody,wrong.

“Itisa school night,” Esme laughed.

“I’ll walk you all out.” I waved toward the front of the restaurant. Esme shot me a funny look.

Jeffry smiled in understanding. “He’s going to stay and schmooze for a little longer. He lives a different kind of life from us.”

As if she had just now truly connected the dots, her eyes darted around the room and some sort of curtain came down, closing her off from me completely. I wanted to go to her and demand she tell me what she was thinking so I could change it but instead Jeffry grabbed my arm.

“What do I do?”

I blinked a few times? “About what?”

“Esme. What do I say?”

Fucking fuck fuck.“Ask her to join you for coffee.”Make her smile, touch her hand, tell terrible jokes until she starts to banter with you. Then you’ll know she’s ready.

Oh god. Was I really going to give Jeffry this advice? Use what I already knew to helphimget the girl? I had to, didn’t I? I may want another night with Esme but that was it, wasn’t it? And that wasn’t fair to her. She deserved more. Someone like Jeffry who could discuss her work, go out with friends, enjoy movies. Not someone like me. Someone who only wanted another night in bed.

And I certainly couldn’t come between my best friend and the woman he was interested in.

This was a fucked up situation with only one solution.

I had to help Jeffry.

I just had to.

“Ask her for coffee and be sure to make her laugh. If she likes your terrible jokes, ask her to dinner.”

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