Page 32 of Seduction

“Guys and shopping don’t usually go together.”

He just smirks, taking a drink of his beer. “Just be ready when I get here.”

“Sure thing, Dr. Emerson. Don’t blame me when you get bored.”

“I’ll consider myself warned.”

I wriggle my hips again, kicking off my heels as I try to get comfortable. The damn man has aroused me to no end and left me hanging.

“Need me to help you down?” He smirks, knowing that isnotmy problem.

“I need your help with something else, but you say I’m not ready.”

He sets his beer down, losing the smirk. In the few seconds he stares at me, he doesn’t say a word, but his eyes compel me to pay attention.

“This is not just about sex, Ellen. I need you to seeme.”

“I do,” I reply, even though I’m not sure what he means.

“I need you to be ready mentally and emotionally. I’m not trying to replace Eddie. I could never do that. But I’m not going to be the thing you regret because youthoughtyou were ready. Understand?”

Dropping my gaze, I nod, finally realizing his need to go slowly. My loneliness pushed me to a place where I wasn’t thinking clearly, or at least thinking things all the way through. What if it wasn’t Einstein? What if it was a bunch of other guys who would have left the next morning without a backward glance? How would that have affected me? Oh, God… how would that have affected Mikey?

I look back to Einstein, grateful he didn’t dismiss me after that night at the wedding reception. More importantly, I’m glad I didn’t dismiss him.

“I’m gonna go,” he says.

He helps me down, keeping his hands on my waist after my feet hit the floor. Placing his finger under my chin, he tips my face up to his.

“You don’t have to worry. Either way, I’ll take care of you.”

Either way—whether we take the next step or not. Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back. I’ll never know what I did to deserve this kind of devotion, or even how he realized it’s what I needed when I didn’t.

“Thank you.”

He takes my hand, leading me to the door. Before he opens it, he turns to me, cupping my cheek. I close my eyes, leaning in to his palm. A gentle kiss on my forehead, and then his touch is gone.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I watch him drive away before I close and lock the door.

Tomorrow.

For the first time in a long time, I’m looking forward to the prospect of another day. Not one where I just go through the motions, but one where I actuallylive.

CHAPTER 6

***Einstein***

Mind-blowing. That’s what that kiss was. I barely slept all night thinking about it. About her. I still can’t believe it. All this time, all the women… and she’s been under my nose all along.

Now more than ever, I need to tread carefully. That includes talking to her father and brother. Those are conversations we need to have face-to-face, so I’ll wait until Gage is back from his honeymoon.

I pull into the clubhouse compound, intent on getting one item off my list—Chopper. I find him in the kitchen making breakfast.

“Morning, Chopper.”

“Morning, son.” He glances over at me with a grin. “Want some breakfast?”