She leaned her elbows onto the bar. “Where do you think you’ll go?”
“I don’t know. They’ll be looking for me as soon as Hope disappears.” His plan wasn’t any further along than hers. Ideally, he’d use her plan as the jumping-off point, but since she hadn’t shared it yet, that was difficult.
Her hand slid over his. “I’ll miss you.”
He flipped his palm up, catching her fingers before she could pull them away. “I’ll miss you too. I’ll miss this.” He cupped his other hand over hers, holding her like she was precious.
Which she was.
Blushing, Taryn ducked her head. “You’re just saying that because I’m helping you get free of the corporation.”
Did she really believe that?
“You know that’s not true, right?” When she didn’t say anything, he repeated, “Right?”
Her shoulders lifted in a half-hearted shrug. “I guess.”
He freed one hand from their tangle of fingers. He tucked two fingertips under her chin, gently tilting it up to see her eyes. “I’m serious. I’ll miss you. This.” He gave her hand a squeeze.
His hand slid up to cup her cheek and she leaned into his touch.
Her lips brushed over the heel of his thumb.
“You could come with us.” He blurted out the words before his brain caught up with his body.
Ash expected to feel panic. Instead, peace settled over him. It felt right. Like they belonged together.
Taryn offered him a shy smile, tinged with sadness. She shook her head and her hair shifted around her shoulders. “I wish I could.” Her voice was wistful, the words soft. She straightened and he reluctantly pulled his hand away from her face.
“Why can’t you?” Was that childish whine really his voice?
It had to be. She stiffened and suddenly the softness was gone from her gaze, replaced with annoyance. “Not here.” Though the physical distance between them was only the width of the bar, the emotional distance felt much wider.
“Why not here?”
“I’m working.” Her voice was clipped.
“Pfft. You weren’t worried about working a minute ago when you were kissing my hand.”
“You weren’t being an asshole then.”
She was probably right, but he was in too deep now. Momentum, not logic, carried him forward. “I’m not an asshole. I just want an answer.” He reached across the bar and grabbed her arm.
Taryn gasped, then tugged her arm free. “I told you never to touch me again without permission.”
She stepped back from the bar, out of reach, and nodded to someone over Ash’s shoulder.
Hands gripped his upper arms. Ash tore his gaze from her, his head swiveling right to left. Two bouncers bracketed him. They dragged him away from the bar.
Ash leaned forward, trying to resist their pull. “Wait! Let’s talk about this.”
She shook her head but didn’t look at him. “No.”
“Tomorrow?” He dug his feet in, trying to slow his removal.
“I don’t know.” She sounded tired.
Chapter33
