Page 14 of One Little Kiss

“Yup,” I say, full of swagger I don’t feel. “Looks like we’re headed in the same direction, sweet Winnie. So,” mentally, I calculate our timing, “we have just over twelve hours left to get to know each other. We’ll alternate hours.”

“Alternate hours to do what, exactly?” She’s skeptical but curious, too.

“Whatever the hell we want. You choose during your hour, and I’ll do whatever you want. When it’s my hour, you do it my way.”

“I’m not sleeping with you, a complete stranger, in an airport.”

“Does that mean you’d sleep with me outside of an airport?” I can’t help myself.

Laugher escapes, even though she attempts to suppress it. “Not happening, Pan.”

I flinch at her words, but recover quickly.

“You don’t like your nickname.”

I shrug, unsure of how to answer.

“How’d you get it?”

“It’s a long story.”

“We have twelve hours,” she says with a smirk.

Gripping the back of my neck, I give it a rough squeeze before placing my hand back on my hip. “Fine. I’ll tell you, but over dinner, because I’m fucking starving. My treat because I think I’ll enjoy watching you eat.”

Why the fuck did I just say that?I sound like a perv. But it’s also one hundred percent true.

“I’ve never been one to shy away from food, obviously.” Her hands sweep over her body, and a low groan escapes. I pray she didn’t hear it, but when her cheeks turn a delicious shade of pink, I know she did, so I go all in.

Taking two steps forward, I lean down into her space—not quite touching, but too close to be polite. Electric awareness shoots between us.

“I love women, Winnie. I always have. But do you know how many have captured my attention enough to give up sleep, the one thing I love even more than women?”

She swallows. Then swallows again but says nothing.

“One. When I saw you, I was talking to my brother, ready to move full steam ahead to a luxurious hotel room. Your nose was scrunched up in concentration and the world literally faded around me. No one captures my attention like this. No one but you, and that scares the shit out of me. But I’m here. I’m all in. Your eyes drew me to you. Your curls that look soft as silk held me captive. Your curves scatter my mind in a hundred different directions, but it’s your sass and strength that have kept me here. So, yes, I would very much like to watch you enjoy a meal with me. My body buzzes with awareness when I’m near you. I won’t lie about finding you so fucking attractive that my brain is having a hard time focusing, but I also won’t act on it unless you want me to. For the next twelve hours, all I want to do is learn everything I can about you.” Licking my lips, I lower my voice. It takes on a gravelly nature that has me wishing I had a glass of water. “Is that okay with you, Winnie?”

My eyes dart back and forth between hers. Our connection is so intense I’m surprised sparks aren’t shooting around us.

“Obviously,” she croaks and tries again. “Obviously, you don’t suffer the same communication barriers as your family.”

A slow, dangerous smile spreads wide across my face. I feel it all the way to the corner of my eyes.

“Baby, I’ll always tell you what I want, and right now, I want to find a place to have dinner before everything closes. Please say you’re in.”

With a look of determination, she returns my smile. That sense of danger. Competition. Finding my equal slaps me across the face as I stare into her sparkling gray depths.

“Your eyes are ridiculously sexy,” I growl, but then step back, worried I’m going to scare her away if I don’t get my shit under control.

Offering my hand, I hold my breath, silently praying she takes it.

“Twelve hours?”

“Twelve hours and then we’ll renegotiate.” I wink, mentally high fiving myself when she slips her hand into mine.

CHAPTER5

WINNIE