“Mmm-hmm.” He sounded utterly disinterested and resumed his maddening nibble at her ear. “Come to me when you’re done?”
“Sim.” She paused to swallow down emotion. “We need to talk.”
“We’ll talk, too.”
Exasperated, yet unable to pose the slightest argument over it, Vectra rested her forehead to Qasim’s chest.
He propped her chin up with the curve of his fist. “You okay?”
“Things are spinning,” she said on a breath. “I was okay with sex,” she latched on in a bewildered tone.
His responding smile was adorable in its intensity. He’d set her completely off kilter and it thrilled him.
“I’m okay with sex, too, babe.” He shook his head. “You’ve made it impossible for me to accept only that, though.”
Great, she thought.
He wanted more and there she was about to overstep into matters that were none of her business. Not to mention the fact that she’d be putting the man who saved his life in a bad light. This wasn’t going to be fun, but perhaps it was necessary and for more reasons than one.
Overstepping had once shown her the true colors of a man she thought she’d known all too well. Her conscience called her reasoning unfair. She knew it was without having to be told.
Forcing a smile, she smoothed the lapels of his jacket. The shirt beneath it called for no tie and settled her attention to the base of his throat for a time.
“I need to go home to the vineyard tonight.” She met his gaze with hers. “Will you come there?”
Something changed in his eyes, and he lowered his head a fraction. “Understand that if I come there, I stay the night.”
“Understood.” She knew he’d probably not stay long past her accusing his old friend of being a thief.
Invading the rest of her personal space, Qasim brushed his mouth across the corner of hers. “I love you,” he said.
He was gone before her shock over the admission took hold.
Chapter 15
Vectra was pleased to find the main house vacated when she returned from the showing well after midnight. Qasim had not arrived, so she used the time to change out of the gorgeous gown and into her standard lounge attire of sleep pants and a cotton halter tee.
Deciding that the impending conversation called for something more sobering than wine, she took time to prepare a pot of coffee with slices of banana cake to accompany it. While the coffee brewed, Vectra thought about Will Lloyd. Not surprisingly, though, her thoughts kept drifting to Qasim’s parting words.
He loved her? Did he mean that, or was it just a flip tack-on he’d decided to use instead of goodbye? The pot beeped, and she smiled, going to see to the fresh brew.
She’d known Qasim long enough to know that the man didn’t do flip. He’d left the gallery without waiting for her to reciprocate the confession, and she’d wanted to. She’d very much wanted to. But was she supposed to squeeze that in before or after they talked about Will?
The doorbell saved her from having to come up with an answer to that one.
Vectra left off preparing the coffee tray and sprinted toward the front of the house. She pulled open the door to a glowering Qasim.
“Does vineyard living mean you don’t have to ask who’s at the door?”
Taking no offense to the question, Vectra grabbed his jacket sleeve and pulled him inside. “It doesn’t mean that, but sometimes it means you have the luxury of pretty good security.” She pushed the door closed and gave a wave. “Come on in. I just made some coffee.”
He caught the hem of her tee before she got too far. “It’ll keep.”
“We need to talk.”
Qasim crowded her suddenly. Drawing her close, he tipped back her chin to deliberately probe her eyes with his. “I love you, Vectra, I meant that.”
“How—” Her breath caught, yet she fought to speak through it. “How can you be sure? We haven’t been seeing each other that long.”
“We’ve known each other over two years. If you think I enjoyed being your friend because I was in business with your dad, you’re very mistaken.”
“You did stop enjoying it after a while,” she pointed out.
Qasim acknowledged the fact with a smile. “I’ve never been any good at lying to myself. I said it so you’d know where I was coming from. You’re it for me.”
“Sim.” His name was hushed on her lips, and she gave a start over the tears that suddenly blurred her eyes.
He grinned. “Is it that bad?”
Vectra gave a watery laugh. “It’s not bad at all. But I’m no expert at this, and I’m terrified I’ll mess it up. My last serious involvement didn’t turn out so well, you know?”