Page 48 of Wild Rush Of Love
“We’re not a holiday fling. I know it might seem that way, with how we met and now I’m here for only a week, but I promise you we’re more than that.”
“How can you be sure?” Reena wanted to believe him. She hadn’t wished for something this much since those horrible days and months after her parents had died.
“Because spending time with you is worth any separation or distance traveled.” He leaned in closer. “I’ll work my schedule so I have four days off every second week instead of two a week. I’ll drive down or fly. Whatever is faster.”
“That sounds like a lot of effort for only a couple of days.”
“I’d do it for a couple of minutes.” He gripped the back of her head and pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re worth it, Reena. What we have is worth it. I can’t go back without knowing you want this as much as I do. I need you with me on this.”
She swallowed. Her throat tight with fear and hope and desperation so thick, she could taste it.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rush waitedfor Reena’s reply. The seconds she took searching his eyes squeezed his chest and constricted his throat.
He had no idea what he’d do if she didn’t agree to continue seeing him. If she decided it was too much trouble…
He’d quit his job and move here. Money wasn’t an issue. Time was.
Except it would all be pointless if she didn’twantto be with him. His insides coiled, spiraling tighter and tighter until he couldn’t suck in a deep enough breath.
She’d taken too long. He couldn’t stand another minute of silence. “Don’t answer now. We’ve got three days.”
He closed his eyes and pressed his mouth to hers to stop any reply she might make.
He’d convince her. He would. He had to. He couldn’t accept anything less.
She cupped his cheek and spoke against his lips. “I don’t want this to end but I don’t see how we can make it work. We live in different places.”
Rush pressed his mouth to hers harder. He didn’t want to hear any of that. Not now. Right now, he wanted to spend time with Reena. Jerking away, he held her gaze with his. “Let’s not worry about it now. We’ve got the afternoon free and there’s still places I haven’t seen that you promised to take me.”
Pulling some cash from his wallet, he left more than enough to cover their meals and a decent tip, and got to his feet, tugging Reena up with him.
“Come on. I want to visit the Natty Boh shop.”
“Really? It’s kind of a joke around here,” Reena said as she trailed behind him out of Sunday’s.
“I know. Which is why I want to go there.” He grinned over his shoulder. “What do you think Mr. Collins would say if I turned up tomorrow wearing a Natty Boh shirt?”
Reena laughed, as he’d hoped she would. “He’d probably break a pint of Guinness over your head. No. Wait. He’d never waste arealbeer like that.”
As they stepped out onto the street, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and tucked her against his side. She was smiling again and the creases in her forehead had vanished. He’d take that. For now. He’d worry about leaving when the time came.
Between now and Saturday morning, Rush planned to spend every second of his time in Baltimore within seeing distance of this woman. He’d do everything in his power to prove to her what they had was worth fighting for.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rush satat the bar nursing a beer and watching Reena move between the pub and Sunday’s. She smiled at customers, laughed at something her fellow waitress said, and looked like she was happy. But he could see the strain around her eyes, the look of sorrow in them whenever they turned his way.
They were down to a day and a half. After Reena’s early finish yesterday, they’d hit downtown Baltimore and wandered for hours with no particular destination in mind. It had been a balmy evening and they had strolled hand in hand, talking and laughing, sometimes not saying a word.
They’d eventually found a pub—not as good as Pat’s—with a beer garden to have a meal and a drink.
Then they’d gone home and had some of the hottest sex of his life. Every time with Reena was hot but there had been an edge of violence, a frantic urgency to their fucking Rush had never experienced before. He knew it stemmed from the increasing tension over his departure.
As he lay there listening to Reena’s breathing even out, knowing she’d fallen into an exhausted slumber, that same oblivion had eluded him. He’d stared up at the dark ceiling and mapped out the rest of their time together.
He didn’t like the way it made him feel as though he was manipulating her but he had to have a plan. Had to be sure every second until he left Baltimore was used to his advantage.
