Page 116 of Phishing for Love
Somewhere in his office, I hear a phone ringing. It stops and then rings again.
We break apart and stare at one another. We’re both breathing hard.
Aaron makes no move to answer his phone. His hands press against his thighs, as though he’s calling on every ounce of willpower to stop himself from backing me up against the wall and kissing me senseless again.
When he frowns, I say, “Don’t you dare apologize. I’m not sorry this happened.”
He watches me steadily, then he takes my hand and tugs me toward him, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I’m not sorry either.”
I close my eyes in relief. “Good.”
His thumb brushes my cheekbone. “I tried to stay away from you, but you’re an impossible woman to stay away from.”
I open my eyes. The intensity in his gaze makes my stomach flutter. “Maybe this was inevitable between us.”
A shadow moves across his face, and I know what he’s going to say. “It’s already August. I’m leaving in two months.”
“I know.” November the third. It’s marked with a thick red circle in the calendar of my brain. I think I’ll forever hate November because of that date.
“Where do you live?” I’m almost holding my breath because it’s probably the most personal question I’ve ever asked him.
He names a place that’s a three-hour flight away. My heart sinks. We could maybe sustain a relationship for a while, but long-distance doesn’t work forever. Someone or something will eventually have to give. But it feels too soon to talk about any of that.
“This can’t get serious,” he says in a quiet voice.
It’s already serious, I think, but I nod to placate him. And maybe to delude myself.
He offers a small smile of relief. And that’s when I realize he wants to pretend, as much as I do, we can be casual and not hurt one another.
His eyes linger on my lips, and I grab his shirt with both hands and yank him toward me. “Enough talk about tomorrow and the future. Let’s just live for today.”
And I pull his head down to mine and lose myself in our kiss. In our foolish promise that we will not break each other’s hearts.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The whole weekend is ours. I cancel Saturday shopping plans with Sofia and Kenzie and Sunday lunch plans with my family. In response to the concerned messaging blitz, I assure everyone I’m fine, but I tell no one about Aaron. Not yet. I don’t want an avid audience while we take the first, stumbling steps toward trying to figureusout. And spending an entire weekend together seems the perfect opportunity to do just that.
During that time, I make a concerted effort to switch off my busy, busy mind, always overanalyzing and overcomplicating everything and I simply soak up every second I have with Aaron. By unspoken agreement, knowing we have only two months left before his contract ends, we throw ourselves into this weekend, neither of us holding back. Too much time has been wasted already.
We steer clear of public places and most of our time is spent at Aaron’s cabin, away from Mr. Silva’s kind but nosy eyes and loose tongue.
On Saturday morning, when I impulsively suggest a hike in the forest, Aaron agrees without hesitation. His response surprises and pleases me so much I launch myself at him with a whoop of excitement, throwing my arms around his neck and wrapping my legs around his waist.
He catches me with a chuckle. “I take it someone loves to hike.”
“My favorite pastime. But I haven’t gone as much as I would’ve liked.”
“I take it Nathan isn’t a hiker?”
I shake my head. “He’s more of a gamer.”
“Ah.”
Such an abundance of information and implication in that one little word. Except I don’t want to talk about my ex-boyfriend when my legs are wrapped around my current one.
“So is Aaron Sinclair a hiker?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“He is now.”
