Page 45 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
“Is it past your bedtime, Max?”she teases, walking her fingers up my chest.
“It is.”
I keep a straight face, but I’m glad to hear her being a little sassy again.She’s more relaxed than she was earlier.
We congratulate the brides and say goodbye to our families.When we exit the banquet hall, it’s pouring.It was barely sprinkling when I was out here with my brothers, but now it’s a downpour.
“You stay here,” I say, “and I’ll bring the car to the entrance.”
“Where’s your umbrella?”Kim asks.
“I left it in the car.”
“Good call.”
I level her with a glare.“It wasn’t raining when I arrived, and it’s awkward to carry an umbrella around all night.It’s a good quality one.I don’t want to lose it.”Not one of those cheap, flimsy umbrellas you get at the drugstore; no, when I can afford it, I do my research and get the best I can, even when it comes to umbrellas.
“You can use this one.”She pulls the shark umbrella out of her purse and hands it to me, her lips quirking in amusement.
Given its small size, I’m not sure how effective it’ll be at keeping me dry, but it’s my only option.I don’t want to wait until the rain lets up—who knows when that’ll be.
I hurry across the lot with the shark perched above me, trying not to step in any puddles out of concern for my shoes.I still get rather wet, but I think I manage as well as I can, given the circumstances.I back out of my parking spot and pull up to the entrance, where Kim is waiting.Thanks to the overhang, she stays mostly dry as she enters the car.
“Now tell me where I’m going,” I say.
She directs me to where she lives in the east end.Nowhere near my apartment, but that’s okay.
We’re quiet in the car; I feel as if talking would mess up my concentration.Focusing on the road is all I can manage after such a long day when I have Kim next to me.
“Apparently there’s some flooding downtown,” she says.
“Mmm.”
That’s about the extent of our conversation until I pull up in front of her building and put the car in park.As I turn toward her, my skin prickles.I’m perturbed by how off balance she makes me, but at the same time, I crave more.
I’m also very aware of how this whole thing has not gone the way I’d like…and how I gave her a peak into my dirty fantasies last time.My cheeks heat, but I press forward.
I have to do this.I have to try.
“Would you…” I swallow.“Would you allow me to take you on a date?”
She starts laughing.“Your reaction to all of tonight—and what happened at Tessa and Malcolm’s wedding—is to ask me on adate?”
“Yes.”
She tilts her head.“Are you giving in to family pressure?”
“No.It has nothing to do with that.”
“You don’t sound as if you like me.You sound as if the words are being dragged from your lips against your will.”
I sigh and rake a hand through my hair.This is veering off course.
“Do you like me despite your good sense?”she asks.“Like Darcy?”
I know she’s talking aboutPride and Prejudice—I’m well read—but I don’t fancy myself a Jane Austen hero.
“I assure you, that’s not the case,” I say.“Quite the opposite, in fact.”I think she’s wonderful, and I don’t understand why every single person didn’t ask her to dance.“I’m just frustrated with the situation.The fact that I made a bad impression the first time we were together, the fact that our families are involved.”
