“Well, you said you wanted a new relationship, and I do, too. Only… a new relationship is difficult because we are pretty comfortable around oneanother.”
“I’m not seeing theproblem.”
“How could you miss it? We’re in danger of burning ourselvesout.”
He shook his head before she stopped talking. “That’s not going to happen,Maia.”
“If we move too fast and don’t build a foundation, it will. I’ve seen it happen with my mom over and over again. She goes on one date and suddenly has a boyfriend—one she usually helped support, by theway.”
“You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to mooch offyou.”
“I know you’re not after me for my money, London. But I don’t want to be mymom.”
“Is that why no one knows your lastname?”
The silence stretched between them like a crazy-house mirror reflection. London held perfectly still, unable to see his nextmove.
“I was better off withoutit.”
“I’m not going to argue with you, Maia. But you could have turned around everyone’s idea of what the Esposito name stood for; I never looked at you and saw yourmom.”
“That’s probably for the best; because you kissed me, and if you pictured my mom, that would be weird,” shejoked.
London laughed with relief. “Yeah, I kissed you. Every chance I got.”Not every chance, his mind argued with him. Thankfully Maia didn’t echo his thoughts by saying them outloud.
“Yeah, you did,” she saiddreamily.
He did a fist pump.That’s what I’m talking about.Dreamy Maia was one of hisfavorites.
“Which is another reason we should stay apart for a few days betweendates.”
He groaned. “You’re killing me,beautiful.”
A commotion happened on the other end. “They’ve come for me. I need to gosing.”
“Sing? Withwho?”
“Franz. We’re performing with the Chicago SymphonyOrchestra.”
“You’ll bestunning.”
She sighedhappily.
His thoughts went to her leg. “Are you standing allnight?”
“No, we’ve made arrangements for stools and I’m offstage for several numbers.” There was rustling. “London, I’m sorry. I really have togo.”
“It’s all good. I’ll talk to you soon.” They hung up and London stared at his phone. He couldn’t disagree with Maia more. They’d be fine going zero to sixty. They were meant to be together. He knew their connection was meant to last with every fiber of hisbeing.
His phone rang and he answered without looking at the caller ID. “Miss mealready?”
“Not as much as you’d think,” came a gruffreply.
“Who is this?” Londondemanded.
“This is Officer Bullon. Is this LondonWilder?”
London’s heart sank to his knees. “This ishe.”
