“I think the last time I saw you before Saturday night was at a Christmas party.”
Kiera searched her memory. “You’re right. You were with Melanie Franklin.”
“We broke up three years ago.”
“I remember. It was all over the magazines. Every article said some ex-boyfriend of hers came between you two.”
Gray stabbed the potato on his plate. “Not even close. She wanted to get married; I didn’t.”
“That makes more sense. I don’t think any female would pick another guy over you.” Heat climbed up the back of her neck. She shouldn’t have said that. She was without a doubt losing her mind.
Gray laughed. “Strange things do happen. Like my brother getting married.”
Kiera rolled her eyes. “Let’s change the subject. Your ego doesn’t need any more boosting today.”
“Ouch. That hurt, but if you insist…” Gray reached for his fork again “Since you don’t want to talk about me, let’s talk about you.” Gray stabbed another potato his full attention on her.
They spent the rest of lunch catching up and reliving childhood memories, most of which Gray hadn’t thought of in years. The more they talked, the more he realized just how much he’d missed being able to sit down and have an enjoyable lunch with a friend. More and more, it seemed he either spent his time alone or with business associates.
“When will those cupcakes be ready?” Gray pulled into a spot behind Kiera’s building a few hours later.
“Depends. When are you going back to New York City?”
“I’m planning to leave on Friday.”
“Then they’ll be ready on Saturday.”
“Thanks a lot. Some friend you are.”
Kiera smiled at him, then reached for her door handle. “I’m kidding. If you really want cupcakes, I’ll bake some for you. I can drop them off at Trent’s apartment on my way to work one night.”
He almost took her hand in his, but, at the last moment, he stopped himself and squeezed her leg instead. “I was joking, but thank you.” Gray dropped his hand into his lap. Time to get them both out of the car before he made an ass of himself and did something he’d regret later. “Come on. I’ll walk you up.”
Keep your eyes on her bun. Gray repeated the sentence as he followed Kiera upstairs. Unfortunately, his brain kept interpreting the word bun for bum, and his eyes kept dropping to that very attractive part of her body. Jeans had obviously been created with a butt like hers in mind.
“Thanks again for lunch today
. It was a lot of fun, but I wish you let me pay for half,” Kiera said as she unlocked her apartment door.
It had been fun, and he wished the afternoon wasn’t about to end. “You can pay next time.”
“Sure. The next time you’re in town, give me a call.”
Judging by her tone, Kiera didn’t expect to see him again anytime soon. He guessed he deserved that kind of response.
“I’d invite you in, but I really need to get ready for work.”
“Don’t worry about it. I understand. I should get back to Trent’s place anyway. Derek is coming by tonight.”
Kiera pushed her apartment door open. “Tell him I said hello.” She took a step forward but didn’t continue inside. Instead, she leaned toward him and placed a sisterly kiss on his cheek. “It was great catching up today. Have a safe trip home.”
The desire to back Kiera into her apartment and kiss her like she’d never been kissed before overtook him. He stepped toward her, just one kiss, and then he’d go.
Down the hall a door opened, and he froze. “Have a nice night.”
It took most of his will power, but Gray made it downstairs and outside without doing anything stupid. Despite the small victory, he couldn’t shake the image of laying Kiera down on the closest flat surface, removing all her clothes and kissing every inch of her.
How could someone he’d rarely thought about in years now hold all his attention? Not to mention, what the thought of her was doing to his body. Gray suspected tonight was going to be one hell of a long night.