“Not at all. Gives me an excuse to see you outside work.”
“Looking for reasons for that?”
“Perhaps.” He slid me a look before backing out of his spot and getting on the road. “Starting to wonder more and more about you, Gilly.”
“Like what?”
He got onto Main Street and tapped his fingers against the wheel like he didn’t have a care in the world. “What makes you laugh, are you always so nice to everyone, that sorta thing.”
“I laugh at dumb movies and great jokes,andI’m usually nice to everyone. There are always exceptions.”
“Like former hookups who acted like an ass for a few weeks?”
I snapped my gaze to him, but he stared straight ahead, hands on ten and two on the wheel. “That’s oneveryspecific example, yes.”
He sighed and turned onto the road that led to the literacy center, and I swore tension fell off him when he said, “I’m doing this all wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”
“Doing what wrong?”
He cracked his knuckles with one hand before glancing at me with torment in his eyes. “We need to talk and I owe you an explanation, but all I can think about is kissing you. Even now, when you look confused and probably a little annoyed with me, your pink lips are driving me crazy.”
My body hummed at his comment, and I flipped my hair over one shoulder, needing to busy my hands with something. It validated my own thoughts of that night, kissing him, but his words were also like a bucket of cold water. He did owe me an explanation. “Then I guess don’t look at my mouth when we’re in the center.”
“I’ll do my best,” he teased, and the tension disappeared. He pulled into the parking lot, and we got out, his gaze landing on me with a small smile. “After this. We’ll talk.”
“And you’ll explain why you were a total ass to me the past few weeks?”
“Yes, Gilly, I will.” He nodded toward the double doors. “As soon as we’re done, I’ll tell you how I thought you were a con artist.”
“Wait,what?”
“Come on, we’ll be late, and we can’t have that.” He grinned as I tried to have him explain his comment, but he just walked in the door.
Thank God working with kids was distracting becausewhat the helldid he mean?
The sun startedto set when we walked out of the center, and as soon as we got out of the building, Christopher took my hand in his and intertwined our fingers. “Ready to grab some food?”
“No, and I refuse to go anywhere until you explain thatveryinsane comment.” I yanked my hand out of his, and he laughed. The dang man laughed. “Is this funny to you? I’d like to get to the bottom of it right now.”
“I know, but you’re cute when you’re annoyed.”
“I’m annoyed because I keep thinking about you, but I shouldn’t. I should wait to hear your explanation, but my body doesn’t seem to get the memo.”
There, I said it. It was the truth, and I refused to feel stupid for saying it.
He movedfast. One second we were a foot apart in front of the passenger door, the next, Christopher had one hand on my neck, the other digging into my hip as he pressed me against the car. “Damnit, why are you making this so hard?”
“Making what hard?” I said, my pulse pounding at our position. He just had to bend down an inch to connect our mouths. We could kiss now, talk later. I was sure of it.
My heart pounded against my ribs so hard it hurt. His minty breath hit my face, and my legs trembled when he dragged a thumb over my bottom lip. Ineededhim to kiss me, and I gripped his waist, telling him without words to do it.Close the distance.
His chest moved faster under my hand, and as he bent down, a car door slammed, making him jump back a foot. His eyes went wide, his face tight, and he wiped a hand over it. “Shit,” he said, letting out a groan, making me feel all sorts of stupid.
He wanted to kiss me. I felt it, yet he stared at me like this wasmy fault.
He shook his head, wet his bottom lip, and walked over and opened the door for me. “Sorry, let’s uh…talk.”
I got in and waited for him to walk to his side of the car, and he slid in with a twisted expression on his face.
