“Do you want me to leave?”
My heart lurched. “No,” I said quickly. He reached out and took my hand. I put my other one on top of his. “I don’t want you to leave. I’m glad you stayed over.”
“I didn’t plan on it, but I’m glad too.” I picked at a loose thread in my robe. “Do you want to tell me what’s bothering you?”
I inhaled deeply and then exhaled slowly. “Kels. I feel like she’d think I betrayed her.”
He jerked his head back and slipped his hand away from mine. “Kelsey? How could you betray her? We’re not together anymore.”
“I know, but….”
“Doyoufeel like you betrayed her?” I shook my head. “Then what’s the problem?” He ran his hand through his hair, looking pissed. “You know we were never serious, right? I don’t know what she told you, but I told her from the beginning that I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend or anything permanent. There was nothing really between us, and then she—”
“She was in love with you,” I said softly.
“I think she was in love with theideaof being in love with me.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m pretty sure she was in love with you.”
He shrugged. “Really? She had a funny way of showing it.”
I looked up at him. “What do you mean by that?”
He put his hands on either side of my face. “Kelsey is over. Let’s enjoy the day without dredging up the past.” He brushed his lips across mine. “I thought we’d drive to Napa Valley and have lunch in St. Helena.”
Joy coursed through me.He wants to spend the day with me.Then my insides twisted and Kels invaded my thoughts again. Was I being a bad friend if I went to Napa with Trace? He was right when he said they weren’t together anymore, and I really liked him. He was different from any man I’d ever been with, and the pull I felt toward him was real. And it was damn strong.
“What do you say? Napa or not?”
“Well… I do have to eat.”
He tugged me to him and kissed me hard. “I ought to spank your ass for that.” He laughed and kissed me again, then pushed me down on the couch and slid his hand inside my robe.
“We’ll never get out of the apartment if you don’t behave,” I whispered against his mouth.
“I’ve got an insatiable hunger.” He bit my neck, then sucked at the skin. I’d be wearing scarves for the next week.
After we fooled around for a while, I went into the bedroom and changed into a jean skirt and knit top. Pulling on a pair of boots, I went back into the living room and saw Trace looking out the bay window.
“I’m ready,” I said as I picked up my phone.
He turned around, his face tight.
“What’s wrong?”
Scrubbing his face with his fist, he shook his head. “Nothing. Does someone in your building own a black Lexus?”
“I don’t know. Why?” I went over to the window, looked out, and gasped. The black car I’d seen the previous night was double-parked across the street. “Is that the car you’re talking about?” I pointed at it.
“Yeah.”
“I saw it parked across from my place last night when I went to close the shutters. It looked like a man was standing next to it watching me. It kind of creeped me out.”
“Fuck,” he said. “Stay here.”
“Where’re you going? Come back, Trace.” My words fell on deaf ears as he dashed out of the apartment and ran down the hall to the stairwell. I closed the door and went back to the window. Trace raced onto the sidewalk and the black car sped off. I watched as Trace ran after it for a bit, then turned around and walked back.
I gathered up my things, took his jacket, and closed the door behind me, meeting Trace on the landing of the first floor.
