‘I don’t hate it. It’s more of a love-hate relationship. This place holds a lot of bittersweet memories for me.’
‘Are you talking about your dad?’
‘Amongst other things.’
‘I can understand that,’ he nods. ‘L.A. was like that for me, after Alex died.’
‘Exactly. So, what’s the point in even liking you when there’s no future in it?’
‘You like me?’
‘You know I do.’
‘For the record, I like you too. Althoughlikeseems inadequate.’
My eyebrows arched. ‘You’re not going to tell me you believe in love at first sight, are you?’
‘I take it you don’t?’
‘I don’t.’
‘Seems cynical.’
‘It’s not cynicism, it’s realism,’ I argued. ‘Do I believe in attraction at first sight? Sure.’
‘Lust.’
‘No, not necessarily. I mean, are there people you meet that you immediately fantasize about jumping into bed with? Sure. But it’s not always about sex. Sometimes it’s more of an innate feeling. A sense of, “Oh, there you are.” Like you’ve been waiting for them without knowing. But you can’t love someone when you don’t know the first thing about them.’
He stared at me, and when he stared at me like that, I felt like I could melt into a puddle at his feet. ‘What?’
‘Nothing. It’s just… I’ve never met anyone like you.’
I couldn’t help it, I groaned quietly. ‘You’re not going to say I’m different to any woman you’ve ever met, are you?’
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘I’m not going to say that you’re unlike any woman I’ve ever met, or that you’re different. Because that’s obvious. Every person on this planet is different. Unique. Special. I’ve met many amazing women. Beautiful women. Intelligent. All equally special. The quiet, bookworm, introverted women; the soft, girly and feminine women; the tomboys; the athletes; the extroverts; the party women; the career women; and the domestic goddesses… I mean, I could go on and on because every single woman is unique and it’s all beautiful.They’reall beautiful.’ He leaned forward earnestly, and I wanted him to touch me. Ached for it. ‘So, no, you’re not different to anyone I’ve ever met before, Taylor. I’ve met gorgeous, rebellious, witty women before. But I’ve never metyou.’
I swallowed hard. ‘Oh,’ I said. Because I didn’t know what else to say.
‘It’syouwho makes my heart skip a beat when you smile at me,’ he said. ‘And it’s you who makes me want things I haven’t wanted before, or ever.’
‘Don’t.’
‘What?’
‘Want what I can’t give.’
He reached out then, gently taking my chin in between his thumb and fingers. ‘You said it yourself,’ he said softly. ‘We don’t control how we feel. And frankly, I’m sick of fighting it.’
Then he kissed me.
26
JACK
She seemed stunned, for a second, and I worried that I’d done the wrong thing. That shedidn’twant this as much as I did, even though I was sure her eyes had been telling me she did. But then she kissed me back and any worries I’d had disappeared. We kissed gently, at first. Soft. Our lips exploring each other’s, our noses mildly clashing as we figured out which way the other was going, her teeth sharp against my tongue. Then she moaned, and I felt the vibration of it pass from her mouth to my own, and that was it. My hands were in her beautiful long hair, cupping fistfuls, tenderly pulling her towards me as I probed her mouth with mine, feeling her welcome it, feeling her lean into it just as much as I was.
‘Wait,’ she said, her voice husky as she pulled away.
