After observing me for a few moments, maybe to see if I was just kidding—sadly I wasn’t—he turned back to his buddies. “I’m heading out. I’ll catch up with you guys next week.”
There were some fist bumps and a few “laters.”
“You ready?”
“Ready?”
“To go?”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to leave too. I can find my way out just fine.”
“You sure? ’Cause the last time I saw you exiting a building you were in handcuffs.”
“Such a funny guy.” I grinned.
“Such a beautiful smile.”
That’snotwhat I expected him to say. His face didn’t hold one bit of regret. How could he say that to me without thinking ofher? I wanted his attention, but with him standing in front of me, giving it so freely, I felt nothing but guilt. It wasn’t a kiss or anything physical, it was a compliment, but that compliment in that moment felt as intimate as his lips on mine or his hand grazing my breast. Not that I thought about his hand on my breast… Who was I kidding? Of course I thought about his hand on my breast.
I need to do the right thing.
“Okay, I’ll let you escort me from the building.” That wasn’t the right thing.
Cage chuckled. “Sounds so formal, but all right, let’s go.” He nodded toward the door.
It was formal. It had to be formal.
No touching.
No flirting.
No kissing.
No grazing my breasts.
He pressed his hand to the small of my back, and just like that, he broke rule number one. We made it to the lower level before anyone stopped him for an autograph and picture. I kept walking like we weren’t together.
He tugged at my ponytail as I exited the building. “You didn’t have to run off on me.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t. This isn’t my running leg, it’s my sexy leg. I mean?—”
“Your sexy leg, huh?”
“No. I didn’t mean it that way, like I think I’m sexy. It’s just the one that looks more like an actual leg, not that you can tell with my jeans and boots covering it. It’s the leg that makes me feel sexy. Gah!” I shook my head and tried to keep a few steps ahead of him so he wouldn’t see my flushed face.
“That sounds bad too. The leg doesn’t actually do anything to make me feel sexy, like vibrate or something weird like that. Not that I’m suggesting vibrating things make me feel good.”
“They don’t?” He chuckled.
I unlocked my door and turned before getting inside. “I’m so embarrassed.” Slapping my hands over my face, I tipped my chin down.
“I think you’re refreshing.”
A few creepers began to inch their way closer to my vehicle, pens and camera phones in hand. I tugged down on the bill of my hat. Cage opened my door and I climbed in the driver’s seat. He blocked their view of me with his large frame then ducked his head inside.
“Give me your number, Lake.”
Why did he have to destroy the perfect image I had of him? The man of my dreams was not a cheater.
