“I don’t blame her. Hey, would it be okay if Trevor stays with me again tonight? It makes me feel safer when he’s nearby, and I like his company.”
Considering what she’d been through, this didn’t surprise him. “He’s yours any time you want. I can bring him over shortly.” The big baby wouldn’t mind being roused from bed if it meant he got to cuddle with Megan.
“Yes, please.”
He shifted on the spot, wondering if it would be rude to invite himself in. Hovering in the hallway made him uncomfortable. If Kat found him here, she’d be onto him in a flash.
“How was your cupcakes and cocktails thing?”
She beamed. “It was great. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and guess what?” She didn’t give him the chance to speak. “Faith asked me to be her business partner and sell cupcakes at her store. Can you believe that?”
What he couldn’t believe was how breathtakingly beautiful she was when her cheeks were flushed with excitement. She was the most exquisite thing he’d ever seen. Better than any expensive piece of artwork on display in the homes of the Silicon Valley millionaires he’d been friends with.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he told her. “You shouldn’t be either. People like to be around you, and your baking is some of the best I’ve ever tasted.”
She dipped her head, a veil of dark blonde hair falling over her face. “You don’t have to flatter me.”
His brows drew together. The woman had no concept of how appealing she was to others. “I’m just being honest.”
She tilted her head, bringing her hot cocoa eyes into the light. “Really?”
He sighed. Reassuring others wasn’t his style. “Would I say it if it wasn’t true?”
She stared at him for a moment as though trying to read his expression, then she stretched onto her toes and kissed him right on the mouth. Her lips were soft and lingered on his, and she smelled of sugar and pineapple. His mind reeled. He hadn’t expected this. What should he do?
Kiss her back?
Disengage?
He wanted to slip his tongue inside her mouth and taste her, but it might not be that kind of kiss. Maybe it was just a kiss of gratitude.
In the end, he was saved from making a decision when Pixie yelped and Megan drew back, averting her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I shouldn’t have done that; it was totally inappropriate.” She refused to look up. “I—just—you’re such a great guy, and I…” She trailed off miserably.
Tione was spinning out. He wasn’t equipped to deal with a situation like this, but it was clear she felt embarrassed and she had no reason to. If he was some other guy, and they were in a different situation, he’d be jumping for joy.
“Hey, it’s okay.” He swallowed and searched for something soothing to say. He thought of Shane. Shane was a sensitive guy. What would he say in this position? “It’s perfectly reasonable that you’d feel something for me after everything you’ve been through,” he said, wondering if he sounded like as much of a douche as he felt. “But you’re in a vulnerable place, and I don’t want to take advantage of that.”
“Oh, my God.” She buried her face in her hands and groaned. “This is so humiliating. I can’t believe I kissed you.”
“It’s okay,” he repeated, wishing he could take back this entire conversation and start over. “I didn’t mind.”
Didn’t mind? He’d happily have devoured her if he thought he could live with himself afterward. If he thought he deserved her, and that he wouldn’t fail her. But he would. If she let him close to her, he would fail her.
She dropped her hands and her eyes were bright with tears, effectively sucker punching him in the gut. He wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her, but considering he’d been the one responsible for her pain, he doubted she’d want that.
“You wouldn’t have been taking advantage of me if you’d kissed me back,” she said, her tone firm. “I made the first move, and I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.” She pressed her lips together and he opened his mouth to talk, but she shushed him. “I really am sorry. I would never have done it, except that I thought you might feel the same way, even if the timing sucks.” She shrugged. “I like you, Tee.”
With his free hand, he grabbed hers and held it tightly so she couldn’t escape into her room. His brain had finally stopped glitching, and words spilled from his mouth so fast he didn’t have time to mull them over or moderate them.
“I like you, too.”
So damn trite. Such a poor representation of how the mere sight of her made his heart do an extra beat.
“You didn’t read me wrong. God, you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met, and you’re so fucking beautiful, but you’ve just come out of a traumatic relationship, and I’m not the kind of guy you need right now, and even if I was, I don’t want to rush you into anything you’re not ready for.”
By the time he finished, he was panting, and her eyes were wide, her lips parted. Breath eased between them. One of the tears that had been gathering in her eyes trailed down her cheek.
“Don’t cry,” he begged.