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Both vowed they’d take the very best care of them.

I left with the vase and the remaining roses and brought them back here to add a punch of color to the bar.

I thought about taking them home with me tonight, but I knew that all I’d do is stare at them and replay my night with William over and over again in my mind, so I left them inside Turquoise Crown.

“I’m tired,” I say.

It’s not a complete lie. I’ve been dragging my heels all day. Part of it can be attributed to what we did last night, but it’s more than that. I barely slept when I did get home from William’s apartment. I couldn’t stop thinking about everything we did.

His hand darts up to my face, and before I realize what’s happening, he drags the pad of his thumb over the corner of my bottom lip. “Does this hurt?”

He’s referring to the faint bruise that extends just a touch past my lip line. I used a new lipstick color to disguise it from Hildy, Posey, and Malvie. Thankfully, it worked. None of them noticed the bruise or that my bottom lip is slightly swollen.

“Only a little bit,” I confess.

He pats his left shoulder. “I understand.”

I smile because I know I left a mark on his skin when I dug my teeth into him. I’ve never done that with a man before, and it wasn’t intentional. I was completely caught in the moment, and it felt right. It felt good. It all felt so good.

“What about if I buy you dinner instead?” he offers. “There are no expectations for what comes after dinner. We can head our separate ways if you need to sleep.”

I should say no. There is no reason for me to say yes. I need to forget him and his perfect smile, and hands, and his cock. I really need to stop thinking about his cock.

“A quick dinner can’t hurt,” I blurt out even though it can.

It can hurt my heart because it’s cracking open in a way it hasn’t in a long time, and that’s the last thing I need.

“It’s early, but we can grab a bite now,” he suggests. “What are you in the mood for?”

I stare at his face, giving the simple question way too much consideration.

“How do you feel about beef roulade?” he asks.

“I’ve never had it.”

“I know the perfect place for you to try it,” he says.

A short dinner in public can’t hurt. I need to view it as a final farewell to the most amazing man I’ve ever met.

I gesture toward the street. “Lead the way.”

He takes one step closer to me to touch my lip again. “Once you have your first taste, you’ll never stop craving it.”

I have no idea if he’s talking about the food or him, but his finger on my lip is enough to send me back a few steps.

His smile fades as he looks into my eyes. “Last night was incredible, Opal. If I haven’t told you that, I am now.”

I want to parrot those words back, but all I do is stare at him, studying the intensity in his gaze.

“We can hop in a cab.” He gestures toward the corner. “We’ll have a better chance of flagging one down over there.”

I set off in that direction after burying my hands in the front pockets of my jeans. Holding his hand would be a treat in itself, but it would make all of this even more unbearable.

I can’t fall in love again. My heart can’t take the risk, even if the reward could be a future with William.

41

William