As quickly as I realize that it’s a pretty good
strategy, I realize that he actually wants me to kiss him.
Like put his mouth on mine? Is he serious?
Crap, I didn’t expect to actually be kissing him. The
rocks in my stomach turn into fluttering butterflies as I
watch him turn to face me, stepping in close.
Oh God, he is going to do it. He’s serious.
I’m looking up into burning eyes that are alight with
mischief. His tongue drifts over his lips.
Oh. My. God.
I can see just past his shoulder, she’s facing us,
watching. He reaches out and tucks my hair behind my ear.
One large hand is pushed into my hair. Bending, he touches
gentle, full lips to mine. He smells like my favorite
cologne; the scent wraps itself around me, as I feel him pull
my bottom lip between his, a gentle nip of playful teeth.
My stomach flips and falls into my feet as I stand there,
feeling his tongue flicker over my lips, darting gently in
between and tickling mine. His hand tightens in my hair; I
find myself grabbing hold of his T-shirt for balance.
It isn’t supposed to feel like this, is it?
I hear what sounds like a sigh come out of him. He
isn’t pulling away, neither am I. My mind is telling me , pull
away. Stop kissing him. You aren’t supposed to be kissing
him back like this. You’re his friend, not one of his women
that he dates for a couple of weeks before moving on to the
next waiting female.
His kiss starts to deepen; our mouths part in mutual
contact seemingly lost in this moment in a public hotel
lobby. I feel him push his velvet tongue into my mouth,
when I hear my name. It sounds like it’s far away, calling
me from a dream.
Clint slowly pulls his mouth away from mine,
looking down on me while surprise spreads across his face.
Then a slow smile. I hear my name again as I lick my lips,
they taste like him.
What in the actual hell just happened?
“Adrienne, are you deaf?” I am still watching him
for a second before I feel someone grab me and turn me.
My sister. She’s dressed to kill in a charcoal pants
suit and teal-colored blouse. Her mahogany hair is
highlighted and cut off at her shoulders in layers that fall
perfectly, framing her face. As beautiful as ever, she smiles
at me like it hasn’t been two years since I heard from her.
Honey colored eyes, with too much eyeliner on I might
add, drift to Clint and she smiles flirtatiously at him.
“Hi, Ashley. I’m surprised you could pull yourself
away to be here.” I say, my voice sounding bored.
“When did this happen?” she says, waving her hand
between the two of us.
“About eight months ago.”
“You sure grew up, didn’t you?” She giggles at
him.
I stop myself from rolling my eyes. She isn’t
actually doing anything, so I have to remind myself not to
be a bitch to her. I seem to have a problem with this, since
every time I see her, all I can think about is the fact that she
seemed to make it her life’s work to steal my boyfriends
until she got married when she turned twenty one.
“That tends to happen. Good to see you, it’s been a
while,” Clint says, putting his cap on backwards.
“Damn, maybe I’ll have to come visit more often.
You’ve been holding out on me, sis.” She reaches out and
pinches my arm.
“Shit, Ashley,” I say, rubbing my arm. I kick at her,
missing. “Watch your damn nails. Aren’t you married?
God, put your eyes back in your head.”
“Calm down. Can’t I give you a compliment?
Anyway, Mom told me that the whole family is coming,
she wanted me here too. I made time. She also mentioned
the fact that you were bringing your boyfriend; I couldn’t
miss the chance to meet him. She didn’t mention that it’s
Clint. Jake and I split up. We’re getting a divorce. I guess
Mom didn’t tell you.”
Yeah, I bet you just couldn’t wait to see who I’m
bringing. I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying it
out loud.
Wait, did she say divorce? Dang. She’s only been
married for around four years.
“I’m going to go check us in,” Clint says and walks
off toward the check in desk.
“Sorry, Ashley. When did that happen?”
“Not long ago. It is what it is, I’m over it. I’m more
interested in that hunk of man over there that you managed
to catch. I can’t believe Mom never told me.”
“She didn’t know. Maybe if you called more than
once every few years you would know what is going on
down here.”
Is it wrong that I want to poke her eyes out for
looking at him like he’s dessert and she needs a spoon? My
sister watches him at the desk until I pinch her on the arm
in the same spot she pinched me, producing a yelp from
her.
“What? I’m just looking. Get a grip,” she says,
rubbing her arm.
“Stop it. You’re eye-fucking him and you know it,”
I hiss in a low whisper.
Her honey-colored eyes move from him to me.
“Well, this was fun. I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” She
bites at me sarcastically, prancing off rolling her suitcase
behind her.
She nods and waves cheerfully at Clint, then gets on
an elevator.
Our elevator ride up is silent. I keep looking over to
see if he is watching me, and he keeps giving me these
sideways looks, but he doesn’t say anything. Now that my
sister isn’t in my face, all I keep thinking about is that kiss
he gave me.
Kissing him should not have felt like that. I
expected something awkward, uncomfortable and clumsy.
That was none of those things. It lit me up and I wonder
just how long it would have gone on if Ashley hadn’t come
in.
Wow, thank God she did.
Just before the door opens on our floor, our eyes
meet and his face breaks open in a sudden grin.
“This is our floor, hot lips.” He smiles, grabs the
bags and shoves me playfully off the elevator.
I can’t help but smile, but I roll my eyes for effect. I
don’t want to seem too interested; that’s the last thing I
need.
But damn, can he kiss.
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