Page 10 of Had To Be You

“Uh-huh.”

I should shut her up with a kiss. I feel her gaze trail down my chest. It gets me harder. Without thinking and without warning I move towards her, backing her up towards the brick wall of the restaurant. I cage her in, pressing her up against the cold stone with my hip and placing my hands on either side of her head. I lean in, feeling the heat of my body burn into hers. A slow burn that will quickly turn into a full-blown fucking inferno if we let it.

I run the tips of my fingers down the edge of her jaw and she stills. A shock lights through my body. Does she feel it too? Needing to touch her again, I gently tilt her chin up, giving me access to the soft skin of her throat. Her chest rises and falls and her lips part. I press my lips to one side of her neck then pull back. She gives me a look that tells me she doesn’t want me to stop.

I smile and the corners of her lips tip up. Her eyes under her long thick eyelashes are glazed over. She’s beautiful like this and I wonder what she would look like underneath me, screaming my name.

“Are you going to go out with him? With Lo-gan?” I ask her, my voice so deep I barely recognize it myself.

“Are you going to give me a reason not to?”

The question catches me off guard. It takes a few seconds to work its way through my brain. I’m not sure where to go with it. Am I willing to cross lines with Ellie? Because once I do, there’s no turning back. I should pump the breaks. I’m not looking for a relationship and she’s an all-in kind of girl. Logic tells me a one-night stand is a horrible idea.

But the chemistry between us is so damn hard to resist. I know I shouldn’t break my golden rule – to never fall for a woman. The rule that keeps me focused on my career and keeps my judgement crystal clear. But I’ve never met a woman this difficult to walk away from. My body is telling me exactly what it wants. Her. Now.

My throat goes dry. I hesitate for a second too long. Her bright blue goddess eyes suddenly blink and when they open, that blurry look in them is gone.

“That’s what I thought,” she bites out, then pushes past me, her heels clicking on the pavement like a woman scorned.

Seconds later, she’s gone.

Chapter Six

Ellie

“Double shot vanilla latte for Ellie.”

I look up from my chair by the window and wonder how many times the barista has called my name. I am out of it this morning, exhausted thanks to a lack of sleep last night. I need this coffee like I need air to breathe.

“That’s me. Thank you very much,” I say, grabbing the cup from the bar. I take my seat again, sipping the vanilla bliss. I need a jolt to my system to get me going.

I tossed and turned all night, suffering from the worst case of pent-up sexual tension. I went back and forth between trying to remember how good it felt to have Liam’s body so close to mine, to trying to forget it entirely. The former won out. I like the way Liam makes me feel way too much, which is why I needed to leave. I saw the look in his eyes when I asked him for a reason not to date Logan. His hesitation was all the answer I needed, so I left before he had the chance to crush me. I’m sick of his games.

Giving up on sleep, I got dressed and left my apartment at 8 a.m., hoping the three-mile walk to Dream Bean Café would help shake the memory of last night from my mind. The sun was already warm as I walked the sycamore-lined streets of Reed Point, past the shops and cafés of First Street to the boardwalk along the beach. I stopped when I got to White Harbor beach and sat on one of the many empty benches lining the boardwalk.

It was still early enough to be quiet at the beach, just a handful of people out jogging or walking. Looking out across the sand, my thoughts drifted back to my parents. It always happens when I visit White Harbor; the three of us spent so many summers here when I was a kid. I miss them more than usual these days. With Olivia in Cape May and my parents who knows where, sometimes I just feel all alone. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and tilt my face to the sun, feeling the warmth of its glow on my skin.

Twenty minutes later, I’m sitting in my usual window seat at Dream Bean trying again to drown out thoughts of Liam. Being around Liam feels like being on a roller coaster. Thrilling, exciting and slightly nauseating. I can’t help but wonder if things could ever just be easy between us. I know deep down the answer is no, which is why I need to stay away. Falling for Liam Bennett would be way too easy, but he’s made it pretty clear he’s not looking for a relationship. And if I’m being totally honest, it’s not something I could give him anyways. I’m still carrying around too much baggage of my own. An entire cargo plane of baggage from six years ago. Either way, I’m tired of the constant up and downs with him, and I need to put an end to this. My phone vibrates on the table, knocking me from my thoughts. Olivia.

Olivia: You disappeared last night. My friend Logan was asking about you… Did I miss something? You have some explaining to do! Call me when you’re up ;)

Logan. He seemed like a nice enough guy, and maybe he’s exactly the kind of distraction I need. It was eleven thirty when I left the rehearsal dinner last night. I called an Uber and slipped out without saying goodbye to anyone. There was no way I was hanging around after almost sticking my tongue down Liam’s throat… twice.

I tap the screen to respond and am still trying to decide how much to tell her when I hear that low voice that sends shivers over my skin. I immediately look to the door.

Liam. What are the chances?

He’s in the middle of a phone call when he walks in wearing faded jeans and a gray T-shirt that hugs his abs. I love the way he looks in his suits - nobody wears a suit like Liam Bennett - but I’m liking this casual look too. A lot. His hair is tousled like he’s spent all morning running his hand through it and the stubble on his face is scruffier this morning than it was last night. I hate that I’m so attracted to him.

After ending his call, he greets the barista and I watch her blush as she takes his order. Of course she does. Just look at him. She obviously thinks Liam is hot. What woman with two eyes and a pulse wouldn’t? He shouldn’t be allowed out of the house looking like that. Or in the suit he was wearing last night. I can only imagine what he would look like in joggers. Jesus, I bet it’s more than any woman could handle.

Liam reaches for his wallet from his back pocket. His eyes sweep the room but he hasn’t seen me yet and I briefly consider rolling onto the floor and army crawling towards the door.

Too late. He turns and his eyes meet mine as he pays for his order. I look away, hoping maybe he’ll just take his order and leave. It’s not my lucky day. I look up again to find him strutting towards my table, coffee cup in hand.

“Hey.” A small smile crosses his lips as he reaches the table I’m sitting at.

“Hey.” Breathe, Ellie, breathe. I’m still feeling the sting of last night’s rejection and am completely humiliated.

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