Page 89 of Delivery After Dark
“What happened?”
“We ran out of things to talk about in the third week, and after that, it was just… boring. Which made me lonely for something he’d never be able to provide. It just gets so tiresome after a while, to the point that I’d convinced myself I’d be better off alone than playing the game anymore.”
He caressed her arm with a light touch that set off goose bumps. “And now?”
Sierra hesitated, wondering how truthful she should be on the morning after the most momentous night of her life.
“Tell me what you’re thinking. There’s no wrong answer.”
“Well, this feels pretty good.”
“Only pretty good? I need to up my game.”
She choked on a laugh. “If your game was any better, I’d be in the hospital.”
He gave a satisfied smirk. “Is that right?”
“Don’t get cocky.”
“Speaking of cocks…”
“Put it on ice, pal. I’ve got to get to work. First client in an hour.” Thank God for the off-season and a first client at eleven rather than nine, the way it would’ve been in the summer.
“I never put ice on him. He deserves better than that.”
“Can I ask you something I probably have no right to ask this early in our situationship?”
“Is that a word?”
“I believe it is.”
“Ask away.”
“If you’re planning to leave here at some point, will you tell me sooner rather than later? Because…”
“Because what?” he asked, continuing that maddening glide of fingers over skin that had her wishing she had more time.
“I… um, well… After all this… You could probably break my heart pretty easily, and that would totally suck. You know?”
“I do know, and for what it’s worth, that’s the last thing in the world I’d ever want to do.”
“That means a lot, but I think maybe you need to figure out your life before we let this go any further. I don’t want to be another complication you have to deal with at an already complicated time.”
“You’re a ray of light in the darkness, Sierra.”
“Oh, well… Like that doesn’t make everything worse.”
His laughter was the best thing she’d heard in a while, because she knew he hadn’t had much to laugh about. “I mean it. Let’s try to enjoy this for what it is. We’ve both been around long enough to know this sort of thing doesn’t come along every day.”
“No, it doesn’t, and that’s what makes it scary.”
“Don’t be scared. I promise I’ll talk to you about what I’m thinking and any plans I’m making. For right now, today, I’m focused on getting through another day cleaning up after my brother while looking forward to seeing you later. If you’re not busy, that is.”
“I’m not busy.”
“Then this day is already looking up.”
Chapter 19
