Page 361 of One More Kiss

“I wouldn’t keep calling and texting and showing up if you’d just hear me out,” the guy snaps in her face. “I love you, Laney. It was one mistake. One stupid mistake. All I want is another chance.”

Delaney opens her mouth to say something when I slide in beside her, blocking some of his access to her. “Hey, babe. Sorry I’m late.”

I lean in and kiss her cheek, inhaling her soft, sexy perfume. I have no idea what the hell I’m doing, but it’s too late for second-guessing now. Delaney instantly stiffens against me, her blue eyes wide until they lock on mine. It takes her a moment to recognize me, annoyance and confusion splashed across her startled features, but once she does, her entire demeanor changes and she relaxes ever so slightly.

“Silas.” She licks her lips, her cheeks flushing. I do my best to give her the “go with it” look. After a long beat, she whispers, “I was starting to worry.”

“Got hung up with a patient. Life in the emergency room. You know how it can be for me. You look so beautiful though.” I give her a long once-over, my gaze lingering on her lips and then her pretty blue eyes. “Are you ready to go, or do you want to stay and have another drink here first?”

“You’re with him?” Jason shoots out, attempting to shove me out of the way so he can get to her, only I stand firm, not budging an inch. “Since when are you seeing someone else? We broke up only a few months ago.”

My head swivels around and I pin him with my “you seriously do not want to fuck with me, asshole” glare. I’ve been working in the emergency room for four years since I started my residency. I’ve done and seen it all and nothing scares or intimidates me at this point.

Certainly not this guy.

Not to mention, I have a few inches and about fifteen pounds of muscle on him. Something I’m making abundantly clear as I squint down at him.

“I’m sorry, who are you?”

Fire burns a trail up his face, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits. “Her boyfriend.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” Delaney corrects, placing her hand on my arm and even though I know it’s just for show and a way to get rid of this guy, her touch sends a new rush of adrenaline humming through my blood. “As he said, we broke up a few months ago. Cheating exes seems to be a thing of mine.”

That’s a dig at me. Or rather my idiot brother. So I tell her the truth. “They’re morons. All of them. Their loss is most certainly my gain.”

I don’t know if it’s the two drinks I had on an empty stomach or if it’s seeing her again after over a year and her being single or the fact that I might have always been a touch in love with her. I know this won’t go anywhere. I know this is me helping her out in a moment of need and that once this guy properly fucks off, she’ll likely say thanks and I’ll never see her again.

Nothing could ever happen beyond this moment. This pretend relationship I’m imposing on her.

Which is maybe why I lean in, eyes locked with hers, and kiss the corner of her mouth. Why my hand somehow finds its way to her silky hair—hair I’ve always wanted to touch and feel. Why when she gasps and the grip she has on my forearm tightens, I shift my mouth ever so slightly to the left and take advantage.

My lips fuse with hers, my tongue infiltrating her mouth, searching, seeking, and finding hers only to massage and caress it. Her other hand flies up, gripping my hair at the back of my head, but she doesn’t pull away. She doesn’t tell me to stop or slap my face. Instead, she kisses me back.

She. Kisses. Me. Back.

Her lips meld and conform to mine, allowing me to lead as I tilt my head and slide my lips against hers while our tongues continue to play. She tastes sweet like her martinis and feels so good, so right in my arms. It’s as if my body is saying, yes!Just fucking, yes!This is exactly what you’ve been missing. What you’ve been desperately waiting for. This girl. Her.

Only that’s not true. I can never have my brother’s ex-girlfriend.

Not to mention, I gave up on the notion of love forever ago. Having had met a woman I thought was so utterly perfect for me, only to find out she was someone else entirely. I gave her my heart. Married her. We made a child.

And then I realized her true nature and everything I thought I had evaporated with the exception of my perfect son. My incredible job. The only two constants I have. The things I hold most firmly on to.

A hand tears at my shirt, yanking me sharply back, cutting off what was easily the best kiss I’ve ever had. With the wrong girl, but we won’t overanalyze that. This is all playing a part, isn’t it? A ruse. I’m an actor in this moment, so it’s not as if I’m betraying anyone.

That is until the guy screams, “What the fuck? Laney, what are you doing with him? We were so perfect together.”

And now I tense because I remember Liam lamenting something similar about her to me. “I was drunk. The girl came onto me. I wasn’t thinking. Things were getting so serious between Delaney and me. But I fucked up. I loved her and I was just scared over it. I didn’t know how to handle something that felt so real.”

It’s like ice water in my veins and I step back, my gaze falling over to this guy’s chest as I breathe hard.

Oblivious to my inner battle, Delaney continues to grip my arm as she says, “Jason, it’s over. One hundred percent, no chance of us ever getting back together over. I need you to leave me alone. I need you to stop calling and texting me. I need you to stop showing up at my store or following me when I go out. I need you to stay away from me.”

While my brother was a massive, stupid, insecure dick, this guy is stalking her. And all that ice water in my veins instantly turns to burning molten lava.

I turn on him. “I will tell you this one time and one time only. Delaney is with me. That means she’s mine and not yours. If you continue to call or text or follow her, I will be forced to intervene. And I’m not talking about kicking your ass, which we both know I’m fully capable of. There are infinite ways to kill a man and a doctor can make most of them look like an accident. Guess what I am?” I pause here, giving him a meaningful look. “You seem like a smart guy, Jason. Take the hint before this turns into a restraining order from her or something much worse from me.”

With that, I take Delaney’s hand in mine and pull her toward the exit. I don’t glance over my shoulder to see Ben or Jason or even her friend who had been standing there like a deer in headlights watching the entire encounter. I want Delaney in my car. I want to know she’s safe. And I can’t help but want her with me for just a bit longer. Even if I know this moment of splendor with her is about to come to a crashing end.

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