Page 20 of Slide

His gut clenched.

“Why did you drag me out of there, Adam? What was that?”

He dropped his arms and stepped back, hating it, instantly mourning her warmth, her softness, her spring blossom, honey scent. “I promised Hugh I’d get you home safe, and that’s what I plan to do.”

The moon was full and bright and her lips shone, either from her lip gloss or from licking them, he wasn’t sure, but it was making him insane to taste and lick, suck and nibble that full, succulent, pouty mouth.

Lucy didn’t look away from him. Her gaze cut through him, assessing, taking his measure. Like a boxer sizing up his opponent before a fight. One hit and he’d be out for the count. He knew it. He just hoped like hell she didn’t strike.

Finally, she dropped her hands and crossed her arms, head tilting to the side slightly, hair sliding over her bare shoulder. “Fine. Let’s go, then.”

He waited a second for the punch line, for her next question, but it never came, and she turned on her heel and climbed into the passenger side.

Adam stood there, taking a minute to get his shit together.

He needed to get out of this city, sooner rather than later. Being around Lucy was too much of a temptation. And if he didn’t put some distance between them right fucking now, he’d break, consequences be damned.

Thank fuck he had the excuse he needed. Tomorrow night he was getting his cousin’s car.

A solo road trip and a few days away to clear his head was exactly what he needed.

~ * ~

Lucy sat beside Adam, mind spinning a hundred miles an hour.

The man was a bad liar, at least when he was lying to her. He was all over the place tonight, one minute pushing her away, the next tugging her close.

I won’t lie. I’d love a night between your thighs, but, baby girl, that’s all it would ever be.

She could admit those words had stung as much as they’d excited her. But they weren’t a surprise. And in some messed up way, it was a relief having him cement what she already knew: Adam Grady did not do relationships.

Old Lucy would have taken advantage of that show of weakness and pounced on the opportunity to get what she wanted, but she couldn’t be that girl anymore. She’d hurt other people. She’d hurt herself.

Yeah, and didn’t you do just a great job of showing everyone how much you’d changed tonight?

Adam pulled up outside the garage, right beside the stairs that led to her apartment.

She had to put this to bed—okay, maybe not the best metaphor—for her own good. Turning to him, she took a fortifying breath—the tequila shots still buzzing through her bloodstream helping a whole lot, giving her courage—and touched his forearm, curling her fingers around his warm skin, coarse hairs tickling her palm, just like she had all those years ago. When he’d done exactly what he had tonight outside the restaurant when she’d gotten too close, lashing out, pushing her away—anything to avoid the feelings he had for her. The lust they both felt for each other.

Suddenly, it all became clear. She hadn’t allowed herself to believe it. Had been afraid to believe it, afraid of how it would affect her. How she would ever get over him, stop wanting him, when she knew he wanted her, too.

There was no point denying the truth. But for whatever reason, or reasons—two large, overprotective ones, no doubt—he wouldn’t go there with her.

His nostrils flared. “Lucy…” His voice was rough as hell, gritty.

She leaned in, and she didn’t mean to, but her breasts pressed against his bicep. A shudder moved through his solid frame, and her throat got so tight she was surprised she could still speak. “Thanks for the ride.” She slid her hand around the side of his neck, right over that beautiful feather tattoo, and pressed a kiss to his jaw. A goodbye kiss, to Adam, to silly dreams that would never come true, and to the old Lucy. It was time to grow up. “’Bye, Adam.”

His hand snaked out, halting her when she tried to pull back.

She tried to get free, but he wouldn’t let her, his dark eyes locked on hers. She couldn’t do this anymore. God, how could this hurt so much when they never were, when nothing had ever happened between them? “I better go.” She pulled against his hold again, and this time he released her.

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, of course.”

As she took the stairs up to her place, she didn’t look back. And she knew, felt his heavy gaze on her the whole way.

She’d wanted this man for as long as she could remember, and after tonight, she knew he wanted her, too. But it was never going to happen between them.

And if she wanted to give new Lucy a fighting chance, she had to let the fantasy go.

There was no room in her life for make believe. Not anymore.