He ran a hand through his tousled mane. “Can we go and have a nice dinner?”
“You want me to forget that you just dragged me down a hallway and mauled my face?”
“It would be great if you could, yeah, at least for the moment.”
“Okay. I can forget the kiss.” I paused. “But not the way you stuck your tongue down my throat.”
Tate groaned.
“You’re gonna pretend like you didn’t want that?” I asked.
He gritted his teeth. “You’re not getting it. I wanted it more than you couldeverimagine. The problem is that I want a hell of a lot more right now. So I need to come up for air, give my dick a damn chance to calm down.”
“Okay. Whatever you want. I told you I wouldn’t be initiating anything anymore. And I’m sticking to it. You going off the deep end and kissing me won’t change that.”
“Good.” He sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry I practically attacked you just now. The way you reacted when I touched your face, it made me...reallywant to kiss you. So, I did. And I don’t regret it.”
“I don’t either.” I sighed. “I wish you’d do it again.”
He turned and began walking back toward the restaurant. I followed.
When we returned to the dining area, the woman he’d been speaking with earlier was still there, as if she’d been waiting for him. My stomach sank.
She came right up to us. “Where did you go?” she asked.
He looked at me. “I needed to get her.”
She turned to me. “And who is this?”
“She’s my travel companion,” Tate said matter-of-factly.
“Oh...” She blinked. “You said you came alone. I just assum—”
“I did come here alone,” he interjected. “But then she and I met. You never gave me a chance to elaborate.”
“I see.” She looked me up and down. “Okay. Well, it’s…nice to meet you. I’m Langley.”
It was time.
“I’m Blair,” I answered.
Tate turned to me, his eyes widening. “Blair?”
Grinning, I repeated, “Blair.”
His mouth curved into a smile as our gazes locked. We entered our own world while Langley stood there and watched.
“Well…you two have a good night, then,” she said awkwardly.
“Take care, Langley,” Tate said, never taking his eyes off me.
After she walked away, he rubbed my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Blair. That’s really your name?”
I nodded. “You earned it.”
“I did?”
“When you told her I was your travel companion and didn’t try to act like you didn’t know me.”
