“Let me take you somewhere.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Are you asking me out?”
I told myself it wasn’t a date. That it was strictly platonic. It wasn’t a date. I was not asking Blair Sterling on a date. Definitely wasn’t happening.
“No, just… an apology for the entire time we’ve known each other.”
She let out the cutest little laugh. Jesus Christ! I wished she’d stop being so fucking adorable. It wasn’t helping matters. “That could take a while.”
I rolled my eyes. “Is that a yes or a no?”
She sighed. “Sure. Pick me up Saturday, around six?”
I smiled. “Sounds perfect. Goodnight, Blair.”
She leaned in to kiss my cheek, and I turned at the last second, causing her delicious lips to make contact with the very edge of mine. She pulled away, but only slightly. Just enough to look into my eyes.
I took a shaky breath and raised my hand to caress the side of her cheek, wishing I could do so much more, but at the same time, nothing at all.
I dropped my hand and gripped the sides of my legs so I didn’t reach up and pull her down for a real kiss. Things were getting out of hand, and I needed to get a hold of myself.
Blair cleared her throat and whispered, “Goodnight. Thank you for taking me home.”
She got out of the car, and I watched her walk away. The way her dresses always hugged every curve of her body, and the way her ass looked when she walked away, caused my mouth to go a little dry.
I breathed deeply before I drove away. Those little, short dresses were going to be the end of me.
Chapter Nineteen
Drea
When I asked Blair out, I didn’t really have a set place in mind.I honestly thought she would say no.
I was laying in bed, reading her first book, Roses and Runes, and it gave me the idea of the perfect place to take her.
I was taking her to Mythos Cafe, a fantasy-themed cafe just outside of Seattle. The cafe had a mixture of soft and neon lighting.
There were hanging lanterns and plants draped across the ceiling, creating an almost magical forest vibe. The menu stayed on brand with themed food and drinks, offering even more to the fantasy experience. The seating areas were each unique and never duplicated, with an organic feel—like they’d been carved from nature.
When we got there, I was worried I went about it all wrong. She still seemed on edge, and I couldn’t blame her. Not only did she have a PTSD episode in a public setting with someone she probably didn’t feel safe around, but she made herself even more vulnerable by making a move, and I shut her down.
I was still upset with myself for saying no when I wanted nothing more than for her to be screaming yes all night long. I couldn’t bring myself to think about anything else other than how she was feeling.
I wouldn’t take advantage of her like that. She was not in the right headspace, and trying to make a move on her was not what she needed. When I took Blair Sterling,I didn’t want there to be any regrets.
The outside of Mythos looked like an ordinary unmarked building. She sat in the car, confused.
“Where are we? The only place I see is a church. Unless you’re asking for forgiveness from someone else, and I don’t think they have enough holy water to wash away your sins.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Oh no, love. There aren’t enough hours in a lifetime to ask for forgiveness for the sins I’ve committed.” Not to mention the deliciously sinful thoughts I’d had about Blair.
No! Shake it off! That’s not ever going to happen, and that’s not why you’re here!
We got out of the car and headed around the wall-sized fence that caged the cafe. I never understood why there were no signs out front indicating the business. I guess it didn’t matter, because when we walked inside, it was nearly packed.
My previous worries disappeared as we walked further into the space and Blair’s eyes lit up brighter than the sun. She was looking around, captivated, taking in the details of every surface.
“Drea, where did you find this place? It’s incredible.” She was still taking in everything when she spoke.
