Page 22 of Don't Regret Me
“So much for being friends with him,” she mumbled, though she’d known Franklin was lying the moment he said it. She stared after Nick until Jasmine nudged her.
“Go,” she hissed. “I’ll stay here and get more out of him.”
Liz jumped from her chair and ran outside, searching the darkened street until she found a tall, shadowy figure hurrying away.
“Nick,” she yelled, running after him. “Wait.”
He didn’t respond.
When she finally caught up to him, she grabbed his arm and yanked him to a stop. “Were you going to ignore me?”
“Yes.”
“What was that back there? Are you just traveling from restaurant to restaurant, making people mad tonight?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” He pushed a hand through his hair. “Are we done here?”
Liz stared at him, wishing she could see inside his head. When his eyes met hers in the glow of the streetlight, all she could think of was how much she wanted to kiss him. Right then. Right there.
And so, she did.
11
NICK
He didn’t know what possessed him to kiss her back, but after the night he’d had, it was the one act that quieted the voices in his head. The ones telling him he’d made a giant mistake returning to Gulf City, that he didn’t belong in such a kind, good place.
Not long ago, this woman yelled at him in front of a restaurant full of people. And now, he wanted her to do it again, for her to treat him like he was just any other rude customer and not the Hollywood superstar.
With a sudden jolt back into the real world, Liz yanked herself away, her hand covering her mouth in shock. “I’m so sorry. I really shouldn’t be allowed in public. Forget this ever happened.”
Refusing to meet his eyes, she stepped around him and headed for the parking lot.
Now, it was his turn to run after her. “Wait.”
“Call it a momentary lapse in judgment, Mr. Jacobs. A fan moment.”
They reached her car, a beat-up old Honda, and he put a hand on the door to stop her. “I don’t believe for one second that you’re a fan.”
That earned him a half-smile. “You’d be surprised by many things about me. Now, can I go? Or do you plan to make me stand here all night?”
If he had his wish, she would stay right here until she explained to him why she kissed him, why it felt like she’d done it before. He leaned down, his breath brushing across her face. “Answer one question.”
She visibly swallowed, her eyes darting away. “Just one.”
“Do we know each other?”
Her eyes snapped to his, dark pits reflecting the moonlight back into the sky. “We met the other night. You know that.”
He stepped back, releasing a frustrated breath. “That isn’t what I meant.”
“I have to go.” Shoving his hand away, she got into her car and slammed the door.
She cranked the engine, but it sputtered and died. Again and again, it didn’t start.
Bending down, he peered into the window and knocked two knuckles against the glass. “Need a ride?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. “Fine.” She shoved open the door and got out. “But we aren’t going to talk.”
