“Gotcha,” the girl said with an irrepressible smile. “Toilet break, if he-who-shall-not-be-named asks.”
“Thanks.” Darci turned to Nora, unable to satisfy her friend’s curiosity. “I’m so glad you’re back, but I need to go.”
“Is Grace all right?” Nora asked in concern.
“No—no, she’s fine. Let’s meet at Hannigan’s and we’ll catch up, okay? I’ll call you.”
Darci straightened her cream top over her cinnamon pencil skirt and hurried outside, cell clutched in one hand. The noon sun, warm and bright, almost blinded her. She shielded her eyes and glanced around the busy street for Blaéz’s car.
A warm, callused hand snagged hers. Her heart skipping, she spun around and met his pale eyes. Without a word, Blaéz pulled her along with him, sidestepping several people headed for the library. Of course, the women would stop and stare at him—he was that gorgeous. It did her bruised heart a world of good that he didn’t even notice.
They rounded the corner into a quiet, shadowy lane. Blaéz hauled her to him, taking her mouth in a breathtaking kiss. Stunned out of her mind, it took Darci a moment to react. Then she kissed him back, drowning in his taste. She inhaled his clean, masculine scent. God, she’d missed him, even though it had only been a few hours.
His arm tightened around her waist as he deepened the kiss, his tongue caressing hers with deep strokes. Caught in a maelstrom of desire, Darci gave herself up to his possessive demands…
As the furious tide of passion ebbed, his mouth gentled over hers. Darci broke away and gulped in much-needed air. He rested his brow against hers. Voices and a car honking brought her back to where she was.
“I needed that,” he murmured. “Needed to hold you.”
His words warmed the cold pit in her chest that had formed when he’d walked out. She eased back, but only as far as his banded arm would allow, which wasn’t much considering her nose practically touched his lowered chin when she looked up and met his turbulent gaze. “I was so worried.”
“Don’t be. I’m a selfish bastard—”
“No. You were badly hurt, it’s understandable.”
He brushed her lips with his thumb then followed its path with his tongue. Her breath hitched. “I need to know we’re good.”
Did he think she’d walk away because of what had happened? Leave him when he was in pain? That wasn’t her style. Her heart settled. A smile lifted her mouth. “Yes, we are.” Still, that deep-seated worry wouldn’t leave. She searched his face. “The wound’s healed?”
The hunger in his eyes faded a little. His mouth tightened.
She didn’t push. Whatever this thing was between them was so new. And Blaéz, she was starting to understand, was a very complex man.
“The wound’s healed.” He surprised her with an answer. “I’m sorry about the lamp.”
“Don’t be. Ikea practically gives them away.”
A hint of a smile appeared. One that always made her heart melt.
Her cell beeped. Sighing, she lowered her one hand from his neck and read the text.Damn. “I have to go. Lester’s on the prowl.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
Ah, so protective. But, heck no. Then she’d definitely get fired. “No, it’s fine. Will I see you this evening?”
A short nod.
“Okay.” She spun away.
He grabbed her hand, pulled her back into his arms and just held her. His chest expanded as he inhaled deeply, then his mouth brushed her brow light as butterfly wings before he let her go.
Her heart clipping like a racehorse, she gave him a tremulous smile and hurried up the lane back towards the library.
Chapter 10
Darci glaredat her sister-in-law’s smiling face as laser lights flashed around them, the rock music near deafening in Soho’s Club 59.
She should have known by Grace’s evasive phone call that afternoon, wanting to know if she’d be home that night that something was up. She’d envisioned a quiet evening with them. Instead, they’d dragged her to dinner to celebrate their seventeenth anniversary and met up with Declan’s friend, Alex, at the restaurant.
