Page 151 of Breaking Point
“Why don’t more people know?”
He rubs the nape of his neck. “Because it’s not about me, it’s about the animals, and if I announced I was not just a volunteer but the founder, that’s all people would focus on.”
“I get that,” I say, nodding until my chest pains. “But I don’t know why you didn’t tellme.”
His lips part, his eyes growing wide as he frantically searches my face. “I’m sorry for hurting you,” he whispers, squeezing my knee. “I just…” He takes a deep breath. “It felt like I would be claiming it for the wrong reasons if I told you, and I didn’t want you to think of me that way.”
The sincerity in his tone, the way his eyes seem to plead with me, makes me pause. “You thought it would be showboating?”
He pokes his tongue into his cheek. “I kept picturing how it would sound in my head and all I came up with was,oh Bella, by the way, I own the entire organization and started it from the ground up. Pretty cool, right?”
“Yeah, it is pretty cool and not at all showboating.”
He gives me a blank stare.
A beat passes.
“Okay fine,” I relent. “I can see why you were unsure of how to say it.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m still hurt.” His eyes widen. “As yourgirlfriend,” I emphasize, hoping he buys it, but something tells me he doesn’t.
“Let me go do this interview, and then I’ll make it up to you.” His eyes are piercing mine, those blue depths stealing my breath, and suddenly all I can remember is the way he pinned me to the door and ravished my mouth. That and the rink, the way he held me against him and so easily lifted me?—
I shake my head to clear the thoughts.
But the heat in his eyes tells me Grayson knows exactly what I was just remembering.
“Okay,” I whisper, surprised to hear my voice is hoarse.
His smile stretches, that lone dimple popping out to wink at me.
Suddenly, all I want to do is kiss it.
“I’ll come find you. Do you think you can watch Bambi? She seems to like you.”
Smiling down at the golden retriever looking up at me with big brown puppy eyes, I coo, “Of course I can.” But Grayson makes no move to leave.
Lifting my gaze, I find his on me, searing me to the spot.
The chaos around us pauses. The sounds evaporate, and suddenly, it’s just us.
My lips part as Grayson’s tongue darts out to lick his lips.
His hand is still on my knee, the heat of his skin burning me something fierce, and I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing Iam. That we’re in a public space and I am fully in the role of his girlfriend.
“Aren’t they waiting for you?” I probe, testing.
“They can wait some more.”
I can feel my body melting toward his, can feel the heat of my skin, the rush of my blood, the pumping of my heart.
Until a big slobbery tongue licks up the side of my face.
I burst out laughing at Bambi now sitting between us, panting. I can smell what she had for breakfast.
“Seems I’m not the only one vying for your attention,” Grayson drawls, the sound of his deep timbre voice sending a shiver down my spine.
