She chuckles. “I wanted to apologize to you.” She pulls out of the hug and sits up. “I’m sorry for answering Jackie’s summons. When I woke yesterday, Fran and I had made the decision to stay and enjoy the day, but then Jackie was so upset.” Val lets out a growl of frustration. “Now that I see how I’m always at her beck and call, I want to change. I don’t want to live my life for my sister at the detriment to those close to me.”
Does that mean I’m a person that’s close to her? I want to pump my fist in the air, but the sadness in Val’s voice has me tamping my own joy to let her process the hurt.
“Your kindness, which is why you went to speak to her, is one of the things I l-like so much about you.” My neck heats. Did she hear that almost slip? It’s too early to say those three words, but for a moment, my heart felt them. The same sensation was there when I listened to her text this morning, and the same feelings were there when she walked into my hotel room.
Now every fiber of my being is alive with the emotion as we hold each other.
“There’s something else I regret.”
“What is it?”
“The ending of our date.”
Wait. I thought the date went perfectly well. Does she think differently?
At my confused look, Val continues. “We didn’t have a goodnight kiss.”
My lips curve in an automatic smile. Did she truly come all this way for a kiss? I cover my mouth, trying to keep my grin in check, but my cheeks are bulging.
“Jabari...” Val pushes me as a giggle flies free.
She sounds lighthearted and happy. If it’s possible I make her as happy as she makes me, then God is real. There’s no way I could’ve found a woman like her on my own.
“I’d be happy to give you a good-night kiss.”
Her breath catches, and my blood runs hot in answer.
“Oh good,” she says breathlessly.
“There’s just one problem.”
“What?”
I try not to show any emotion on my face. “It’s not nighttime.”
“Oh my word.” She falls back against the couch, laughing hysterically. “I thought you were serious for a moment.”
“I actually am.”
Her laughter dries up quickly. “Well, it’s nighttime somewhere.”
“Then until it’s nighttime in Jersey, why don’t we go out on another date?”
She says nothing, and judging by the heat hitting my face, she’s glaring at me. “Fine.”
I stand up and hold out a hand. Her touch is tentative, probably disappointed at me. But I really hope she humors me and lets me take her out so I can walk her up to her hotel room later tonight and kiss her goodnight ... in the hallway where both of our reputations will be much safer. Because the way I feel about Val Elliott, I need some safeguards in place when I kiss her for the first time.
34
Val
Jabari’s taking me out on a date.
I want to protest and tell him to kiss me senseless already, but I won’t. I’m not surewhyI’m not, but something tells me to go along with his scheme.
He grabs his wallet, then leads me into the hallway. We’re silent the whole time we walk into the elevator, descend to the lobby floor, and exit the hotel.
“Mr. Elliott, should I call for your driver?” the doorman asks.
