Taking the reins by a strong hold, I straighten my back. “Maybe another time.”
I stop breathing as he rounds the corner approaching me. He’s so close I can smell him, but far enough I can’t feel the heat of his body. “It’ll be my apology for something I’m sure I’m supposed to feel sorry about but don’t.”
The arrogance in his tone only solidifies my thoughts—he knows he’s sexy.
I choke on a laugh. “Wow.”
He inches closer, bending to put his mouth closer to my ear. Tingles tickle along my back, my body wanting to feel his hands again even if it’s a damn handshake. “All I’m asking for is a meal, Kenlyn.”
The way my name sounds from his mouth washes over me like hot, melted chocolate. Not only does he know he’s sexy, he uses it as a superpower.
“I, uh. I’m…” I clear my throat. See? Smart girl is stumbling over herself to fight off the intensity of his sexy hot powers. “Some other time.” I manage.
His gaze pierces me. “I’ll hold you to it.”
“Okay.” I’m breathless and hating I’m affected.
I’m saved by Lucia as she hooks her arm through mine and pulls me out of the exit. “When you said gorgeous stranger, you failed to mention he was drop dead, magnificently stunning.” She sighs, leaning into me as we stroll down the sidewalk. “I’ve never been the jealous type, but right now I resent the hell out of you. He kissed you? What I’d do to get his mouth on mine.”
“I’m sure you’ll need to take a number and get in line.”
“Seems you’ve got the next number.”
I arch a brow. “With replacements behind me. I’m not his type and we both know it. He deserves b—”
“Shut up,” her voice raises an octave as she interrupts me. “You don’t know his type and there’s no way he can get any better than you.”
My best friend, while sometime strangle-able, is fiercely loyal.
Chapter Four
Maybe I’m finally losing my mind and leaping off the proverbial ledge my therapist warned me about all those years ago. Supposedly, suppressing my emotions can result in a dramatic consequence or some shit like that. This could be a possibility since I’m standing in front of the building I followed Kenlyn to the day she caught her boyfriend cheating on her, wanting to see her. Again.
This is completely out of my character. I don’t pursue.
There’s no need when women are at my fingertips.
Little did I know that kiss would cause more problems than I could anticipate. All I wanted to do was give that guy a taste of his own medicine. Let him witness his girlfriend being kissed by someone else. Instead, I’m plagued with a constant rerun of the moment my world quaked and was knocked off its axis. I’m haunted by pale amber eyes, light caramel brown hair, high cheek bones, and full lips with a cupid’s bow.
For the first time in my existence, my breath was stolen by a kiss.
When she walked away without giving me her name or number, I figured I’d shove the memory somewhere in the creases of my mind and forget about her. I was wrong. She’s implanted her fine ass into my thoughts and just when I believed I was getting them under control, there she was standing in front of me looking every bit of affected as I was.
And then she turned me down.
I’m not a man who takes rejection lightly, especially seeing and knowing she wants me just as much as I want her. Her body says the words her mouth doesn’t.
When I woke up at the ass crack of dawn after four hours of sleep, I had no clue what time she went to work or if this is even her place of employment, but I needed to try.
My watch says it’s ten minutes to nine, meaning I’ve stood here for two hours. I’m living off high hopes and dreams that I’m right although my optimism is vanishing the longer time ticks on. Maybe this is where her friend or family works?
Suddenly, the universe throws me a bone. My pulse spikes. She and Lucia walk side by side toward me with their attention on each other. Her ponytail sits high on the back of her head, swaying with her steps as strands spring down and frame her face. She’s laughing with eyes that sparkle until the moment they land on me. Then all of it diminishes—her laugh, the smile, the sparkle.
“Hey.” I approach her.
She shoots a baffled glance to Lucia before her face screws up, her brows drawing together. “How’d you know where I work?”
I can’t fight the smirk her question unleashes. “I followed you.”
“You followed me?”
“Yeah. The day we met. I followed you to make sure you got where you were going safely,” I explain.
The anger on her face eases…but only slightly.
“I came to claim the lunch you owe me.”
Her mouth parts. Her eyes narrowing as her head tilts. “I’m busy today.”
“Then dinner?”
“I’m not interested.”
“You’re hard on the ego,” I chuckle and then try a different angle. “Am I too substandard for you?”
She physically flinches. “I never said that.”
I arch a brow, challenging her words. She may have not said it, but the rejection opposite of what her body says tells me something differently.
Exasperation rides out with her sigh. “I just got out of a six-month relationship. I’m not—”
“Yeah, but you said you didn’t love him.” Lucia comes to bat for me. “It’s not like you have anything to get over.”
If looks killed, Kenlyn just threw Lucia off the Brooklyn Bridge with her hands bound behind her back and cinder blocks tied to each leg.
“I didn’t ask you to marry me. I’m only asking to share a meal,” I add.
Something flickers across her face before she steels it away. Apprehension fills her gaze and she plasters on a fake smile. “Thanks. But I have things to do.”
She rushes past me and enters the building, leaving me staring at her backside and forcing me to forfeit my argument.
Lucia shoots me an apologetic look. “I tried.” She shrugs and then disappears behind the same door Kenlyn did.
Well, if this isn’t new and a fresh breath of air…
With nothing but time on my hands until I need to be at the shop, I do something I haven’t done in a while—take a run through Central Park. This place used to be my salvation, somewhere I could clear my mind. And today, Kenlyn takes center stage. I want her, there’s no denying it. I know she felt everything I did in that kiss. It was evident in her eyes. My body reacted with shit I’ve never dealt with and I can’t shake the tightness in my chest.
My therapist is probably sitting in his leather chair smiling like a Cheshire cat mouthing “I told you” over and over.
My feet pound the paved walkway as I top a small hill that overlooks a meadow of green grass. Even in the morning hours, people flock here. Some working, some exercising, some doing the same as me and clearing their minds. Two women sit on a park bench with a man standing in front of them. He says something that makes them laugh and he does the universal “Call Me” sign and strides off.
An idea forms and my grin explodes. Sometimes genius ideas strike when I least expect it. This may blow up in my face, but it’s worth a try. Now I just need to be patient—a word that’s not particularly in my vocabulary.