Page 56 of Risk Assessment
Raleigh started pacing in the hallway. “I amnotmissing the wedding. If I pack it in now, Lydia will go through the roof. Not only did the PR hack she picked bring her daughter’s ex-fiancée to the wedding, but she has to leave because she’s brought a stalker, too? Take a minute to think how that will play out. Clark being here will be my fault, and the whole thing will make me seem like the bad guy and them the victims.” She threw her arms in the air as she came to a stop in front of Dylan.
He opened his mouth to speak.
“I know.” She shut him down with a look. “You’re going to say I can claim to be sick, but unless they’re taking me away in an ambulance, that’s just not going to cut it. So, while I appreciate your warning, I have to stick it out. Besides, if I leave, then Clark wins, and I’m not willing to let him do that, no matter how scared I am. Plus, there are no guarantees he won’t follow me back home. He knows where I live.” She took a deep breath. “If I stay and I expose him for the piece of shit he is, I win. I reallywant to win, Dylan. I want to stop him from doing this to anyone else.”
There, she said it out loud. She was scared. It was powerful to admit, but it made her stronger to own it.
“I can see you’ve made up your mind.” Dylan moved forward and put his arms around her, bringing her in for a tight hug, resting his chin on top of her head. “I get what you’re saying, and I understand it, but I still would be happier if we left. So, since you won’t do that, I’m not going to leave your side until this mess is over. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Just his words, his pledge to protect her, lifted a weight from her chest. His arms around her made all the difference in the world. She felt safe and secure in his embrace. When she breathed in his scent, more of the fear dissipated. She would be all right. She could do this.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Ithink maybe we should turn in,” Dylan said as she raised her face to be kissed.
He’d been holding her for a few minutes and, at first, she’d been relaxed, but then it all changed, and the space around them became charged. Her desire was building, and she could tell he was feeling it, too.
Then he abruptly released her.
Startled, her eyes flew open, and heat crawled up into her cheeks. Damn. She was sure he wanted to kiss her. He’d taken the opportunity to do it in the past, so what was stopping him now?
“Um, I guess you’re right,” she said, but deliberately avoided looking him in the eye. “I’m going to get changed.”
“Just let me check the bedroom one more time.” He walked down the hallway and made sure the bedroom was secure. She waited by the doorway, then entered when he nodded.
“Ok. I’ll use the other room to get ready and then check back with you in a few minutes,” he said.
She made a non-committal sound and closed the door after him when he left the room.Idiot, she mumbled to herself, butwhat was she supposed to think? She knew he wanted her. He proved it at the gazebo, and again tonight on the boardwalk. So why was he shying away now?
Brushing her teeth and washing her face was a comforting routine. She tried to curb her anger but the emotion still flowed through her. It figured. She thought tonight would be different. A real date that ended with amazing sex with the hottest guy she’d ever seen.
Instead, it had turned into a nightmare.
“Raleigh?”
She jerked her hand and splashed herself at the sound of his voice at the door. “Come in,” she called.
He stumbled a bit and cursed as he entered the room. His bare chest was all she could see, and it took all of her energy not to stare at it. She caught him staring at her as well. She was wearing his t-shirt again and from the look on his face, he liked it. A lot.Take that, Hottie McHot!
Smiling, she turned away as she put her things on the chair. Then she went into the bathroom to clean up her toiletries. She congratulated herself on surviving the bare chest exposure and marshalled her defenses to walk back into the room.
As she entered, he turned from putting his stuff away and they crashed into each other. He grabbed her around the waist.
She braced herself on his chest. Their gazes locked, and all the control she’d congratulated herself on went out the window.
He swooped down and claimed her lips. She opened her mouth willingly under his onslaught. Their tongues danced while their bodies melded together.
His skin was hot under her hands. She longed to feel more of him. He grabbed her ass and pulled her hips against his. She moaned at the exquisite contact. An immediate hardening in his groin was the response. She moaned again. He walked herbackward toward the bed until she fell back, and he came down on top of her. His lips found hers again.
The kiss deepened, and she wrapped her legs around his hips. She wanted him. Wanted this so much. She ran her hands down over his shoulders when he suddenly broke off the kiss.
She opened her eyes, puzzled.
“Raleigh, honey, I want you so bad I can barely stand it, but…”
“But what?”
“Maybe this isn’t the right time.”
