Her whole face explodes into a shade of pink that I wanted. It somehow makes her even more beautiful. But she won’t hold my gaze, instead staring at the small space of blue concrete floor between us. “I should go.”
“I know. I should too,” I reply, but I don’t move and I don’t want her to either. Her hair is creating a veil so I can’t see her face, so I reach out and let my fingers graze it in an attempt to brush it back. It feels incredible against my skin, but the contact causes her to step back. There are footsteps coming toward us, and we both look over as some executives march by.
Sadie drops her gaze again to the floor, then leans down and picks up my phone. She seems to freeze for a second, her head looking toward the screen. Then she stands up and shoves it at me. Her shoulders are rigid, her expression tense.
“I have a lot going on right now too. I’m sure you’ve heard my dad is dying,” she tells me as I take the phone from her. “And I am strong and wild just like you think I am. But not wild enough to date a married man and not strong enough to handle additional drama right now. Later, Griffin.”
She pushes past me. I’m so stunned I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. I look down at the phone. The screen still has Lauren’s contact information showing. LaurenSullivan.
She must think I’m still married. That has to be why she’s been so cold. She must think that’s why I bailed on our date. Oh, God. I turn and watch her walking away. Maybe it’s better if she doesn’t know the truth. Telling her I’m divorced will serve no purpose except to open up a door I can’t bring myself to walk through right now. But…I hate lies…even if they seem to be helping a situation, they aren’t. I start to follow her down the hall.
“Sadie,” I call out, but she doesn’t stop walking. I pick up my pace and catch her as she reaches the elevator bank and aggressively punches the button.
I come to a stop in front of her, blocking her way to the elevator even if the doors open. “I’m divorced.”
“That’s what any cheating guy would say.”
I lift up my left hand for proof. “No ring.”
She looks at it and then back at me. She bites her bottom lip as she thinks that over. “Cheaters take their rings off all the time and stick them in their pockets or whatever.”
I lift both arms, holding them out like I’m getting ready for a pat-down. “Check my pockets. Frisk me. You won’t find a ring. I threw it in the ocean the day the divorce was final.”
She blinks. “That’s dramatic.”
“Divorces tend to get the emotions going pretty good.” I give her a quick, playful smile. “But please frisk me anyway. It’ll be the most action I’ve had in a long time.”
She laughs. It’s such a great sound, and it knocks the tension right out of the space between us. The elevator dings, but she doesn’t get on. She just stares at me, smiling, while the doors close behind me. She bites her bottom lip. “I think I’m disappointed you’re not married.”
“Why?”
“Because if you’re not married, then that’s not why you canceled our date,” she confesses, and her cheeks start to turn pink. “The only other reason I can think of is that you just aren’t interested, which is totally your right but…sucks.”
“That’s not true,” I reply and sigh. “You’re the only person I’ve been interested in since my divorce. All I’ve been doing is thinking about you.”
The blush on her apple cheeks deepens. I take a step toward her, take her hand in mine and pull her to the side of the hall, out of view of anyone who might glance this way. I don’t want to be interrupted. “My divorce isn’t new, but it’s still complicated because we have a daughter. The most incredible little girl in the world. And as much as I can’t get you out of my head, and don’t want to, I need to focus on that right now.”
I stop short of telling her the dirty details because I’m still processing them myself. And besides, she is going through a lot with her own family. I don’t need to dump my shit on her too.
She nods slowly. “I understand putting family first more than anyone.”
“I’m sorry,” I say in a low, rough voice still choked with attraction. I just admitted to her that I can’t be with her, but my body is still reacting to her. My pulse is galloping, my blood is getting warmer, and my dick is getting hard. I lick my lips, and her pretty eyes follow my tongue.
“Don’t be,” she replies, but her voice lacks conviction. “It’s best for both of us if we don’t start something we can’t finish.”
“Okay then,” I say and take a step back.
She sighs and takes her own step back from me. “Thanks for being honest.”
“Thanks for being understanding,” I reply.
She starts to walk back to the elevator. I watch her punch the button, but then she slowly turns around to face me again.
She takes a couple hesitant steps toward me, like she’s fighting her own actions. So I close the rest of the space between us. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that even if nothing else can happen, that this should,” she says and then she puts a hand on my shoulder, lifts herself onto her toes, and presses her lips to mine.
Her lips are soft and tentative, like she’s worried I might stop her. She doesn’t need to be. As soon as our mouths connect, I know I need this kiss as much as she does. I reach down and grip her hips, pulling her flush against me. Her body feels so good against mine I groan. Her arms wrap tightly around my neck, and as her lips part, my tongue slides against hers and everything inside me roars to life. Every second of the kiss is passionate, desperate, and perfect—but it’s over in an instant. We both pull back at the same time, and the startled look on my face is echoed in hers. She touches her lips with her fingertips. “I’ve never had a first and last kiss at the very same time.”
