Page 7 of Crossing the Line

A Walk to Remember

Paisley Grove

Ipick my chin up off the floor, swallow the extra moisture pouring into my mouth, and breathlessly say, “Um, yeah.”

For some reason, I feel as if I owe him an explanation. My mind lists all the reasons why I’m leaving way before the party’s over, but I’m too tongue-tied to say any of them.

Giving an enticing smirk, Hercules asks, “Can I join you?”

He steps into the car before I’m able to answer. Then, eyebrows raised, he raises the tip of his finger and lets it hover over the L button. He’s waiting.

“Sure,” I reply in a nervous, high-pitched voice.

His strong finger smashes the button. I’m reeling on the inside and hoping that it doesn’t show on the outside as we drop down to the first floor. Silence hangs between us like forbidden fruit dangling from branches. I think he, too, is wondering who’s going to say something first.

I so badly want to ask him about Lauren, but that would sound too antagonizing. Plus, what would I say? It’s clear they’re a couple. So instead, I ask, “Getting some fresh air?”

His appealing smirk hasn’t gone anywhere. “Is that what we’re doing?”

Huh?My eyebrows flash up. “I’m going home. But…” Out of curiosity, I tilt my head. “Are you insinuating that you’re going to follow me to wherever I go?”

“Yes, I am.”

There was no pause in his response. And now it’s time to inquire about Lauren. “But I’m sure you’re not leaving without your date.”

Amusement shows in his glistening eyes as they skip around my face. “Was that a question?”

Great. He’s flirting.

I cock an eyebrow. My heart feels like it’s in my throat. “That was a statement.”

Hercules shoves his hands into the pockets of his black dress pants. They fit him so well that I have to avoid peeking at his package when he says, “Lauren will be fine.”

“But she’s your date.”

He shrugs indifferently. “It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated about it?”

Smiling at the down-counting numbers, Hercules nods. “Ah… I remember that about you.”

I frown, confused. “Remember what?”

“You’re direct, PG. I’ve always liked it. When you talk, you never leave a guy guessing. But first, I gotta get you to talk.”

I ponder his observation about me as the elevator comes to a stop and then opens.

Not once losing the charm in his smile, Hercules shoots out an arm and points his head toward the lobby. “Ladies first.”

* * *

We stand in the lobby,facing each other. Maybe he’s just as confused as I am about how to proceed. There’s a lot of foot traffic. Two couples have gone up to the Glacier Sky Room on the fifty-fourth floor where Lake and Mason are throwing their party, and now others are waiting. Despite Thursday being a horrible night to throw a party, Lauren was right. Lake and Mason’s soiree is well attended. Lake said that tonight was the only night the room was available within the next two months, and she didn’t want to hold the party anywhere except the Glacier Sky Room.

Leaning forward and then tilting his head—one sexy gesture—Hercules asks, “So, where do you live?”

“Not that far away,” I say breathlessly.Damn. I answered too quickly.His nearness has spiraled me into sensory overload. I’ve lost control of my emotions and reason.

“Really? Me neither.”