A roguish grin spreads across his face. “That’s a striking design. Feels familiar somehow… I wonder where I’ve seen it before?”
“Don’t assume it’s for you.”
He raises his hands in mock innocence. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good. Because it’s not.”
“Laura,” he begins again, his expression serious once again. “I made mistakes. I lied to you, manipulated you, and then walked out on you. I’ll be ashamed of that behavior for the rest of my life.”
“And you should be.”
“But what I felt for you was never a lie.”
I turn away, refusing to meet his gaze.
“Those feelings didn’t go away,” he continues. “They’re still there, stronger than ever. I’m in love with you, Laura. I’m crazy about you.”
Believing him is just as tempting as it is scary.
“We did it backwards a month ago, sweet cheeks,” he says. “Let’s start over and do it right this time.”
“Meaning?”
“I’ll take you out like a normal person. We’ll date. You’ll visit Mount Evor to see where I’m from and if you like it there. You’ll meet my parents. I’ll meet yours—properly. No lies this time.”
I squint at him without saying anything.
He speaks quickly, like he’s afraid I’ll stop him. “In a few weeks, I’ll propose. If you feel the same way about me as I do about you, we’ll get engaged and move in together. And then, Laura, only then will we get married.”
My throat tightens.
He steps closer, his eyes fixed on me.
I find myself unable to look away.
“Tell me you’ve moved on,” he says. “Tell me you’re happy with Mike, and I’ll go. But if there’s any part of you?—”
“Don’t.”
“I need to know, Laura.”
Suddenly, my workshop feels too small, too hot. I want to keep punishing him—God knows he deserves it!—but it’s increasingly harder to deny how much I crave his touch, his kiss.
As if sensing the change in me, he moves closer. His hand brushes against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. He searches my face and, before I can overthink it, he leans in. His hand slides to the small of my back. His lips find mine. The explosive cocktail of urgency and tenderness in his kiss takes my breath away.
As our kiss deepens, Antoine cradles my face. I let myself melt into him, gripping the front of his shirt. My gesture isn’t erotic—I just need to hold on to something steady to counteract all the lightheadedness. His lips feel both familiar and new. His deft tongue makes my taste buds tingle as it reacquaints itself with my mouth, leaving me wanting more of him… especially the hardened part that’s prodding my stomach.
When he finally pulls away, just enough to rest his forehead against mine, our breaths mingle, uneven and warm.
“What if your feelings,” I murmur, “are just lust masquerading as something more?”
“It’s a valid concern.”
“So?”
“I’ve been in lust before, many times,” he says. “It’s never lasted this long or survived a separation.”
“Hmm.”
