Flirting With Destiny(45)

Lauren looked radiant standing in my apartment, like she belonged here, surrounded by nice things. This was the lifestyle meant for Lauren Mitchell and I was the one who could give it to her, if she would only let me. I bit the inside of my mouth to keep from giving in to that idea. Fuck that. That was a pipe dream, a teenage fantasy come to life.

I was feeling a little guilty about luring her here under the pretense of a “friends only” visit, but I couldn’t help myself. I really wanted to just get in her pants so I could end my torturous obsession with her, otherwise, I’d become the crazy stalker in her life. I had to get her out of my mind, and out of my heart for good. One way to do that would be to fuck the shit out of her, or at least that was my first plan.

I glanced down at her hands. She was fidgeting with her engagement ring, twisting it back and forth, probably unaware she was even doing it.

“How exactly did you convince Chip to let you come here with me?”

She looked down, stopped the twisting and then let her hands fall to her sides. “I told him I was coming to check out wedding dresses… with Jules.”

Lauren shrugged and then her eyes fixed on mine and in that moment of silence, I thought I saw a spark in them, a fire. Maybe she’d changed her mind about him. The room suddenly felt very warm and Lauren looked very tempting. She was so beautiful, her hair falling around her shoulders in loose curls, her lips so plump and inviting. When she opened her mouth and darted her tongue out to wet them, my dick twitched. Was she giving me a signal? A visual crashed into my mind of me ripping her clothes off right here, right now. I’d take her in my arms and make her forget all about Chip and that cheap ring he gave her. I knew she was struggling with her feelings and she came here to get some clarity, but maybe she was begging for someone to make the decision for her.

Then again, maybe I should get it over with now, then stick her on a plane and send her packing. Why did she have so much fucking control over my emotions? I was her puppet and she held the strings. My hands balled into nervous fists and then relaxed. Then, before I had the chance to say something stupid, I spun and strode into the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?” I needed it to settle my nerves and think of a way to get my vacillating emotions under control.

“Sure,” she called in to the kitchen then came over to the kitchen island. I poured us both a drink and shoved a glass of wine across the black granite counter toward her and I had a Scotch on the rocks.

“Thanks. White is my favorite. How’d you know?” She leaned forward heavily, resting her elbows on the counter and lifting her glass to touch mine.

I smiled and said, “Um, lucky guess.” I’d figured Lauren was the type to like white wine, like most of my dates. I was such a player. I always kept a couple bottles chilling in the fridge.

I leaned forward too, our glasses meeting in the middle, our gaze bridging over them in a tantalizing stare. Oh, she was good at this, such a tease, tempting me with those eyes, but this was too close for comfort. Her heady perfume filled my nostrils and the tips of her long curls tickled the sparkling surface of the black counter top. It was intoxicating to be this close to the girl of my dreams, but every second she was here alone with me was torture because she wasn’t mine. The silence and seclusion pressed in on me, urging me to take action. No one would know if I kissed her right now. Or fucked her. No one would see. Chip was miles away. She could be my secret love. Could I resist? Should I resist?

I narrowed my eyes and inquired. “Lauren, what are you doing here?”

She didn’t ask for clarification. She knew what I meant. She took a sip of wine, then rolled her eyes to the ceiling and shrugged. “I don’t know, to be honest.”

I pushed further. “Why did you really come to Chicago with me?”

She sighed and stared at the rim of her wine glass and said, “I… I don’t know how to explain it… it’s complicated.”

I straightened and threw back the last swig of my drink, then set the glass on the counter, the ice cubes tinkling as it landed. She wasn’t ready to talk. Hell, we’d practically just walked in the door and I didn’t want to rush her. That was okay. I could wait.

“I have an idea. I think you should go shopping. Spend the rest of the day out while I catch up on work, I’m way behind. I didn’t plan on spending so much time in Granger. I try to make my trips there as short as possible, but this time... let’s just say, I got distracted. Then we can go out for a late dinner and then I’ll take you to the place I like to go on Saturday nights. It’s fun. Would you like that?”