I smile as I ascend the stairs. Because I wouldn’t miss it either. Not for anything. Money. Riches. Fame. Hell, I’d give up the shop if it meant getting to be with her. And that right there is something I never thought I’d say in a million years.
Never say never.
It’s the thought I hold onto for the rest of the night. Because she’s never given me any indication that staying was a possibility. Because barring the text earlier, she’s never outright admitted any true feelings for me.
Because there are a lot of things I never imagined myself doing. Before this. Before her.
Because in the past two weeks, my life has changed exponentially.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Carter
The gentle knock on my door comes precisely at midnight. I put down my book, flick off the light, and cross the room, taking a moment to check that everything is perfect.
Kenna’s eyes go wide when I open the door. Not because I’m naked—what’s the point in that when having her undress me will be half the fun? Her attention sweeps from one side of the room to the other, taking in the dozen or so candles of various shapes and sizes.
“You had all this?” Her eyes narrow. “Just how many times have you done this before?”
“This…”—I motion to the bed— “a few.” I wink at her and continue, “This…”—I nod to the largest grouping of candles on top of my dresser— “never.”
“Never?” Her hands land on her hips. “So you just happened to have all these candles lying around?”
I shrug. “Bought them during my lunch break today.”
“You…” Her head cocks to the side. “Really?”
I pull her through the doorway, shut and lock the door, then press her against the wall and run my tongue down the side of her neck. “Really.”
Her arms pebble with gooseflesh when I push aside the two halves of her robe, brush it off her shoulders, and let it fall to the floor. I doubt the reaction has anything to do with the temperature outside.
She’s wearing the same sexy, satiny, two-piece sleep set she’s worn every night. I could look at her like this for the rest of my life and the sight would never get old. Her hair is swept to one side, cascading down in soft waves over her left breast. Theflicker of the candlelight reflects in her luminous eyes. But the absolute best thing I see right now has nothing to do with her hair, her body, her clothes. It’s the way she’s gazing up at me. The prolonged intense fixation of her stare makes me feel seen. Valued. Revered.
Not in anI want to fuck youkind of way. More in anI love youkind of way.
I’m not sure I trust myself not to say it to her. Because I’m positive it’s the way I feel. Could I let her go without telling her?
A vision assaults me. I’m running after her car as it pulls down the street away from me. I’m shouting, “Kenna, come back. I love you!” as my neighbors watch on, all of them feeling sorry for the pathetic, desperate, lovesick guy I’ve morphed into over the past two weeks.
I’m going to tell her before she leaves. But not now. And definitely not in front of an audience. Not that it will change her mind. I get the idea nothing could do that.
But I want her to know I’ll be here. That this is a safe place. That my feelings for her won’t change just because we’re a thousand miles apart. That if and when she decides to come back, I’ll be waiting.
Yup. I’ve definitely entered pathetic territory.
Instead of dwelling on what tomorrow might bring, I decide to immerse myself in the here and now.
I sweep her into my arms, carry her across the room, and lay her on my bed.
“Nobody has ever done anything like this for me.”
I hover over her. “I’d like to do a lot of things to you tonight that nobody has ever done.”
She smiles and loosens the tie on my sweatpants. “Then we are definitely overdressed.”
I laugh, wholeheartedly agreeing. “Take off my shirt, Kenna.”
Fire burns in her eyes as she happily complies.
