I wasseenwith this man, and that choked me up.
“Come on, baby.” I glanced to see him holding his hand out.
With a thick throat, I placed mine in his, and he helped me off the couch.
As I pulled my hand from his, I went to walk off, but an arm slid around my waist, and I felt his lips on the back of my neck.
“Last thing I’m gonna say before we hit dinner. Need you to remember you’re the only one I’m involved with. I’d never answer a call like that to anyone other than a friend because I only want you in my bed and warming my heart like the way you are.”
“Stop,” I pleaded.
Suddenly I felt unable to hear any more nice and sweet words from him.
“You got it, baby.” He pressed his lips to my shoulder before he stepped around me and took my hand, leading me to the door. “We should get to the dining room early, anyway. I ain’t missing out on any of that good food.” He rubbed at his stomach and then opened the door.
I removed my hand from his, but I couldn’t look at him afterward.
I didn’t want to see the disappointment.
Maybe I needed to tell him I couldn’t be anything he wanted.
Stepping out of the room, I stopped. “Link, I….” How was I supposed to say it? “You…. I can’t….” I would never be enough for him.
He deserved better.
Someone who could share and show their attraction and attention to someone they cared for in public.
Someone who wasn’t me.
Link tapped his foot against mine twice, and when I brought my gaze up to his, he grinned. “Baby, you be you, and I’ll come along for the ride, no matter. Don’t stress, yeah? I’ll take it all as it comes. In public, you lead. I’ll be the best boyfriend?—”
“You’re not my boyfriend,” I said, but I didn’t have the heat behind my words this time.
I was tired of lying to myself, no matter how much it scared me.
Link grinned and tipped his chin at me. “Behind closed doors, I am.”
My jaw clenched. “How could you settle for that? You deserve?—”
“Hey, I ain’t settling. You’re worth everything.”
I closed my eyes and turned my face away. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“All good, baby. One day you’ll see.”
I sighed. “See what?”
“See that we’re gonna have the best life together.”
Dear God, this man.
Shaking my head, I turned and started for the dining room. Link stepped up beside me and followed with a spring in his step.
He didn’t care I walked in silence, and I liked that he didn’t bother making small talk.
It was like he just enjoyed being close.
You idiot, he’s proved that since he got here.
