Page 28 of Until Kendal
His lips on mine sent steam through me, and I went on my tiptoes. Honestly, I forgot the world when he held me close to him. All I wanted was more of him.
ChapterNineteen
Kendal
His kiss rushed through me. My ears thrummed with my desire, and my legs were all weak like cooked spaghetti. I pressed my hand on a nearby table to steady myself. Desire and shame didn’t mix well inside me.
I lowered my head and realized his kiss didn’t alleviate how my stomach was tight and jumpy. I’d pushed him away, and he'd proved how great he truly was. So my heart beat a mile a second as I said, “I’m so sorry.”
“We already talked about it, but I have an idea.” My eyes widened, and he offered his hand and said, “Let’s go do something fun.”
Outside, my father might drive past us or stop in front of us. The town wasn’t that full of people. This wasn’t a city like Nashville. But if we stayed in his hotel room, I would either continue stressing or want to rip off his clothes and find out if his body on mine sent me into spasms.
Because I had no other choice, I nodded. “Okay, nothing big, and I wanted to ask you about this job and what you really see me doing?”
If we stuck close to the hotel and the police station, we would probably be fine.
He pressed his hand on my back, and we headed to the door. “Sure, you go to work with me. You’ll obviously meet Arman in person, and you take all the calls from contracted game creators first and talk them off whatever ledge they feel they are on.”
Once we went outside, I glanced around like I was looking for a fast car. At least I hoped that was what I looked like. If my father was nearby, I would recognize him. But I pretended I was fine. “That’s it?”
He motioned to walk in the wrong direction. I waved him toward a small bistro that served wines and coffee. My father preferred hard liquor and beer. Joel, having no idea about my thoughts, said, “Well, if you’re good, we’ll move you over to potential clients to help smooth out any personal qualms they might have that aren’t in the contract.”
He picked a seat on the patio. My spine tingled, but I said, “So basically, you want me to dress up your company as the good guys they want to be in business with.”
“Yeah.” He ordered a frothy cappuccino, so I picked a mocha, which I usually considered a treat.
My heart thrummed, and goose bumps grew on my head. We settled in, and I sipped my coffee, though it felt like I was being watched. I crossed and recrossed my legs, and the seat seemed to wobble. Then, for a moment, I thought I was crazy, until my gaze spotted Gene Brown down the street.
I pressed my hand to my heart and jumped. “Joel, stop.”
His cup almost spilled when I grabbed his hand and tugged. He followed, but my spine had chills. I couldn’t think, but I needed to run, fast.
We made it to the street in front of the hotel before Joel stopped, then he pointed to my father as he asked, “Who's that?”
I wasn’t sure I could even breathe. If he knew we were here, he might know my mom was inside. If he didn’t, then I'd led my father to us. I stilled, but then I gripped his arm tightly. With Joel here, I would have a chance to grab my mom and run, so I said, “Let’s go back inside the hotel.”
“You’re trembling,” he said and walked me in.
I turned to watch the door, but Gene didn’t come into the lobby. As we made it to the door of Joel’s room, I asked, “What kind of bodyguard did you send with my mom?”
He unlocked it, and we crossed the threshold. I paced to the couch and back as he said, “A trained one. She said you’d not like her going out alone. Should I call and tell him there might be a problem?”
Time to face the truth.In the past, my father avoided ever stepping foot near the food kitchen, as he preferred no witnesses. He’d hated the smell of poor people near him, though we'd never had two nickels.
Truthfully, I wasn’t sure how my heart might calm down, but I took Joel’s hand. He was like an anchor I needed so I met his gaze and tried to find my voice then I realized I needed to disappear.
And if Joel stayed, he would be in danger. I hugged my waist and decided quickly to pack, grab my mom, and disappear. Whatever happened with Joel ended now. I blinked and said, “No. It’s time for you to head back to New York, alone. I need to get my mom. Maybe I’ll call you, but don’t count on it.”
“You’re clearly frightened.” He led me to sit on the couch, and with his arms around me, I felt safe. Joel protected me, and for the first time in my life, I accepted help. He held me tightly. “Everything will be okay. I’m here to help.”
If he only wanted friendship or something temporary, we would make more sense. I glanced up, and my heart now beat entirely differently, mostly for him. “I’m not thinking straight after last night. Why don’t you and I see what happens next?”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “You’re distressed. It’s probably not the right time.”
“Sometimes all we have is right now.” Then I kissed him.
I needed him—more than he knew.
