I shrug. “I was already leaving when you saw me. Aidan has plans to indulge in the free champagne. He told me he doesn’t mind walking home.” I turn her face up to mine. “I’m not letting you go tonight.”
She doesn’t reply, but she doesn’t argue either. At the Swanson Court, she takes my hand and allows me to lead her up to my apartment.
Chapter 21
It’s the first time she has been at my place since that first night. She walks through the living room, looking around while I take off my jacket and toss it on a chair.
“Drink?”
She declines with a small shake of her head.
What is she thinking?
I go to her and take her hands in mine. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She gives me a tender look that warms my insides. “Me too.”
“Come on then.” I lead her up to my bedroom. A part of me still can’t believe she’s here with me, that I can kiss her and touch her. “I’ve imagined you here so many times, it’s hard to believe you actually are.” I touch a finger to her cheek, just to make sure. “I’ve missed you.”
She places her head on my chest. “I’ve missed you too.”
My heart expands. Say you’ll stay. “I can’t stop looking at you. You have no idea how it’s been for me with you across town, so close and yet…so unwilling to have anything to do with me.”
“I wasn’t unwilling,” she says softly. She lifts her eyes to mine, There’s something luminous in their green depths. “I just…I didn’t want things to get irreversibly complicated.”
Irreversibly complicated? I laugh. “It’s too late for that.”
She puts her arms around me, her eyes closed.
Don’t leave me.
“You sure you don’t want anything?”
“Maybe some water?”
I show her the bathroom then go to get the water. Back in the bedroom, I can hear her taking a shower. I consider joining her but my phone rings.
It’s Aidan. “You home?”
“Yes,” I reply. “You?”
“Mhmm.” He pauses. “I forgot to ask earlier if you saw Rachel. She was there with her family.”
“I saw her.”
“And…”
“She’s here.”
“Oookay.” There’
s a smile in his voice. “Then I guess I better get my ass off the phone, huh?”
I chuckle. “You guess right.” I unbutton my shirt, turning to see Rachel standing at the door to the bathroom, wearing one of my t-shirts, which, I have to admit, looks incredibly sexy on her. I pour water into a glass and hand it to her.
“Good night,” I tell Aidan.
“Good night,” he says in a singsong voice. “Have fun.”