A big one.
And even though the night I spent with her was months ago and ended without us so much as kissing, she seems to have an uncanny ability to track me down.
Running into me by chance at the gym—though I put mental quotes around the “by chance” part.
Just so happening to be grabbing a coffee around the corner from my apartment building.
Showing up in the lobby of my office—an office that I’m rarely in because I only just moved back to the Bay Area and mostly work from home.
A home that was infiltrated by a tiny, curvy woman with hair like?—
Bailey settles her hand on my shoulder and steps close, the cloud of her perfume wafting forward and choking me.
Jace’s nose wrinkles but he doesn’t otherwise comment.
“Are you busy tonight after this?” she asks, coming closer still, pressing her body against my side…then infinitesimally parting her legs.
A small, silent message.
But a message nonetheless.
We could go home together…and I could finish the night pretending to have an orgasm.
I brush her hand off, standing in the process because even though I want naked time with Bailey like I want hot slivers shoved under my fingernails, there’s a vulnerability that lingers under the surface of her sex kitten facade.
I don’t want to hurt her.
I’ve hurt too many people, too manywomenin my life.
Silver hair. A white dress.
Lightning flashing. Thunder booming.
Rain pouring from the sky but it was her tears that were sliding down her cheeks.
“What happened to your face?” Bailey asks, coming even closer, her hands settling on my chest, her body flush with mine. “Oh, my God! It looks awful!”
“Thanks,” I say dryly, grasping her wrists and gently setting her away from me. “I have plans tonight.”
“Oh.” Disappointment rippling through her expression. “I didn’t mean to insult?—”
My mouth hitches up. “You didn’t.”
“Good.” She leans closer. “So tomorrow then?”
“Bailey,” I begin.
There’s that disappointment again—and it’s more intense now. “Right. I get it.” A shrug. “Another time maybe.”
“No,” I say as gently as I can. “Not another time either.”
Deep blue eyes on mine, that disappointment growing until it’s replaced with resignation, the vulnerable buried. “Right,” she whispers. “Bye.”
She turns on her heel, hair fanning out behind her?—
Moonlight and shadows and silver strands dancing over my naked skin.
I blink, shove that away, and watch as she hurries from the room, her heels clicking on the winery’s hardwood floor.
