Why does he make me feel this way?
He steps closer to me with a smile so big it reaches his eyes.
“You have a lot going on. Are you having dinner with someone?” he asks.
“Yes…” I hesitate. “I’m here with my contractor, the one you met at the coffeehouse.”
His smile fades from his face and turns serious. What is that all about?
“Having a nice dinner?”
“I am. Blake and I are celebrating the completion of the spa. I’m waiting for a couple of things, and we will be ready for our grand opening. Oh, you’re coming, right? It’s in two weeks—soft opening Friday and then the grand opening Saturday.”
“I will absolutely be there.”
Watching his facial expression change when I mention Blake’s name, I search for answers in his eyes. He gives away nothing.
“Blake, huh?”
“Just friends. He’s my contractor.”
As he stands in front of me, staring, he steps a little closer. It’s enough for me to glance up at him. Prickles run down my back, and heat sets into my body. I want to run my fingers over his beard and down his neck.
When I think he might kiss me, he leans down to my ear. I feel his breath on my neck as he says, “I’ll see you Sunday.” And kisses right under my ear. The moment he lifts his mouth off of me, my hand rushes to my neck, savoring it, as heat pulses through me.
He turns on his heel and walks back to the dining area. Leaving me wondering what the hell just happened?
TWELVE
Dane
Iyank my chair from the table and sit. My chest is tight, my heart is beating faster than when I work out, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins is magnifying all of it. With Kendall’s red hair flowing around her face, that green dress that brings out her eyes—she’s mesmerizing. And all I wanted to do was grab her by the neck and kiss her on those luscious, pink lips of hers that are stained red.
There’s no reason for what I’m feeling. I barely know her, but she’s here with Blake. She says they are friends. I left her with a little something to carry her through the dinner, thinking about me while she’s having dinner with him.
Gram stares at him and finally says, “You look upset.”
“It’s nothing.”
I’m not telling Gram. She always encourages me to open up and express my feelings. Nobody’s got time for that. Kendall says they’re just friends, but that doesn’t stop me from being upset. I can’t even explain why. When I touched her, there were sparks under my fingers, and I didn’t want to walk away. The need to be around her is like nothing I’ve ever felt—to be in her presence,to protect her, care for her. My entire body felt electrified. Every nerve ending was hyperaware of her. I didn’t want to break the connection. Standing there with her, it was like nothing else mattered.
“Well, honey, that sure doesn’t look like nothing. You flung yourself in that chair like it up and insulted you.”
“Gram, just a lot on my mind.”
She knows something isn’t right with me. Let’s see if she pushes any further. There are times when she lets things go, but I’m not sure if this is one of them. Usually, when I’m resistant to talking, she has a way of coaxing it out of me. I really don’t want to get into this here. I want to leave and blow off some steam at the gym.
“Okay, let’s talk about it.”
Guess she’s pushing it. Thinking fast on my feet, I start a conversation that has nothing to do with Kendall.
“Father is up to his old tricks. Logan and I wonder when he’ll retire. Then we realize he’ll die in his office before he retires.”
“Work has always been where your dad excelled.”
“A couple more years, Logan and I will take it over, and then we will be able to make decisions about the firm.”
“You and Logan have done well for yourselves. It’s nice to see you boys working together.”
