Page 44

WHAT ABOUT A KISS?

XANDER

September

Her room is dark, peaceful, and quiet…except for Milo’s soft snoring.

“Go on a date with me,” I say, fighting the urge to reach for her. We’re sitting face-to-face on her bed, but there’s at least six inches of space between us. “Just you and me.”

She lowers her head a fraction. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

My heart squeezes painfully, but I don’t allow myself to get upset. She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no either.

Finally giving in to temptation, I take her hand in mine, gently trailing my fingers over her palm.

“Go on a date with me,” I repeat. “Please.”

“I don’t know.” This time, she zeroes in on my mouth.

Heat builds at the base of my spine, but I ignore the sensation. “I know how important your privacy is to you. I’ll wear a hat, and a hoodie to hide my tattoos. I’ll rent another car. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you comfortable.”

Head tilted, she gives me the smallest of smiles. “Okay. Figure out where and when and let me know.”

“Will do.” I entwine my fingers with hers and soak in her warmth. “It’ll be the best date ever.”

“You’re ridiculously overconfident.” She shakes her head. “But thank you for respecting my privacy. I really want to stay under the radar.”

“I get it. The media hasn’t been fair to you. You’re protecting yourself.”

“If my experience taught me anything,” she says, absently brushing her thumb over my knuckles, “along with all the work I did with Dr. Khan, it’s that negative opinions will always exist, but I can’t let them bother me.

If that’s the energy people want to bring into the world, they’re welcome to it.

But I have to protect my peace and put boundaries in place to keep people from walking all over me. ”

“You’re brilliant, seriously.”

“Now you’re just sucking up.”

With a laugh, I rock back. As I straighten, I catch sight of a picture of her and Kaden stuck to her mirror. “Do you keep in touch with Kaden?” It isn’t my business, but I can’t help it. I need to know everything about her, even the tiniest details.

“Yes. Is that going to be a problem?”

In the future? When she’s with me? “No. I have no right to dictate who you spend your time with.”

She snorts. “Try to be more convincing next time, Mr. Walker.” She shakes her head, smiling. “How’s your dad?”

A flutter of hope blooms in my chest, but I tamp it down.

“I’m afraid to jinx it, but I think he’s getting closer to accepting his diagnosis.

The last time I saw him, he’d actually come out of the bedroom.

The three of us sat in the living room, and he was present.

He talked to Mom and me both, even made some jokes. ”

Her expression brightens. “I’m so glad to hear it. I always loved your parents, so I truly wish them both only the best.”

For a moment, I forget how to breathe. I’m lost in her beautiful eyes, her words about my mom and dad making my heart so full.

“They always loved you too,” I say, voice thick with emotion. “Maybe you?—”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?”

Chuckling, I drop my head back. I take in her room.

This was the guest room before she returned, but she somehow managed to make it look like it’s been hers all along.

The pink desk lamp is just her style, and the stuffed shark on one of her bookshelves is familiar.

I smile to myself. This place feels like home… because home is where she is.

“This room is so you. Everything about it,” I murmur.

“My place in New York was even more me. Jess helped me find it, and by some stroke of luck, my landlord gave me permission to paint.”

“I can only imagine how good it looked.”

Her cheeks go pink, but there’s no hiding her smile. “It needed work, so my landlord and I kinda worked as a team. He purchased new furniture so he could rent it furnished. He had a new tenant lined up before I moved out, and I’m pretty sure they’re paying twice as much as I did.”

“And Jess? Sounds like the two of you hung out.”

“Yeah. Every time she came to town for work, we’d get together. I loved it there.”

“Selfishly, I’m glad you’re back.”

“You sure are.” She giggles, tucking her hair behind her ear.

The move draws my attention to a mark on her wrist. Another tattoo? How didn’t I notice this before?

I straighten and grasp her arm, examining the ink. “A tattoo, huh?”

“Uh-huh. Why are you so surprised?”

“I didn’t think you had any interest, regardless of how much you liked mine.” I can’t help but waggle my brows.

“I didn’t.” She stands up from the bed. “Until I did.”

“I think I spotted another one at the club. Do you have more than one?” I ask.

Hips swaying, she saunters to the door. At the threshold, she peers back at me. “Mm-hmm. Three.”

“Where’s the third?”

“That’s for me to know and for you…to maybe find out.” She winks. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Just water.”

She disappears quickly, leaving me and my hard dick on our own.

I spent three hours with Bella, devouring every detail she shared about school, laughing at her stories until I was almost in tears, teasing her. We flirted a lot, but I was on my best behavior, mostly keeping my hands to myself. Honestly, getting to know her from scratch is wonderful.

My love for her grows more each day.

“Thank you for staying with me.” She stands in front of me in the foyer, smiling. “And thank you for letting me have Milo when you’re away.”

“Of course. I’m grateful you agreed to watch him.”

“Well,” she hedges, taking a step back, “I guess I’ll see you?—”

“What about a kiss?” It isn’t in my nature to play coy. I’m always up for a challenge, and she is a challenge, one I have every intention of conquering.

She rolls her eyes. “Night, Xander.”

With a smirk, I lead Milo onto the porch. Even though she rejected my suggestion, I count today as a win.

Just because she let me be with her.

Now I need to plan the best date for her, and I know exactly where I want to take her.

I’m early, but I can’t help it. I’m itching to see her.

When the door opens, I straighten from where I’ve been leaning against my car.

She turns and locks eyes with me, her lips tipping up. That’s all it takes to send my heart racing.

God, she’s beautiful.

“Hey.” She stops a few steps away from me. “How long have you been here?”

“Who knows?” I shrug, smiling broadly. “You look fabulous.”

Her makeup is light. She’s wearing a long black skirt with white polka dots and a high slit, a white tee, a black leather jacket, and white sneakers.

It’s the perfect mix of casual and elegant, yet so damn sexy at the same time.

It takes willpower, but I successfully avoid staring at her bare leg peeking out from the slit of her skirt.

“Thank you.” She nods at the black Honda HR-V behind me. “And thank you so much for keeping your promise.”

I adjust the bill of my hat then twist it backward. “Always.” I hold out my hand to her. “Let’s hit the road. I have a lot of things planned.”

“Is Milo at home all alone today?” she asks as I pull out of the driveway.

“Nah. I dropped him off with my parents last night. Figured he’d be happier that way.” I take a deep breath and quickly assess her before focusing on the road again. “Audrey and Ryan were there. Their son Mason too. So it was a bit awkward.”

Bella turns in her seat to look at me. “You really don’t talk to her at all?”

“Nope. And I’m fine with it.” I stop at a red light and look at her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t set boundaries with her sooner.

I’m sorry for Audrey’s behavior and my ignorance.

I truly couldn’t believe she’d sabotage a relationship like that.

She’s always meddled, but the shit she pulled was always harmless.

” My throat clogs with emotion. Fuck, it kills me to think about how badly my sister betrayed me.

“But she knew how much I love you, and she set out to hurt you anyway. There’s no forgiving her.

Even if she acknowledged that what she did was wrong, she destroyed any trust I have in her.

I hate that our parents are stuck in the middle, but I can’t forget. ”

“Jess said it’s not about me. According to her, if you had loved Stacey the way you loved me, Audrey would’ve been against her too.

” She licks her lips and glances out the window as the light turns green.

“My therapist helped me stop doubting myself. She helped me understand I wasn’t the bad guy, even though Audrey tried her hardest to paint me as a villain. ”

“Your therapist?”

“Do you really think I could make all these changes on my own?” She chuckles lightly. “Dr. Khan helped me to systemize the mess in my head and figure out how to change my flaws, or at least accept them.”

“Your flaws?” I ask, frowning.

A puff of air escapes her. “I’m far from perfect, and if you don’t see that, I advise you to reconsider.”

“You are perfect for me, Bella. My perfect match.”

“Matches—”

“Burn. Yes. I haven’t forgotten what you said,” I counter softly. “But you won’t change my mind.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s no hiding her grin.

“I have a question for you,” I murmur. “Where should we go first? The Empire State Building? Or one of your favorite coffee shops?”

“Wait…” Her eyes go wide. “You’re taking me to New York?”

“Yup. The Big Apple is waiting for us, and I can’t wait to see your New York. The city you love, the city that was your home for a year, the city that helped you find your true self.” I take her hand and lace my fingers through hers. “I want to see it all.”