He’d caused her to reconsider everything she’d thought would be true today. And she wasn’t sure how to revise her expectations because he’d left them open-ended. Living with a “maybe” where Justin was concerned was dangerous. She needed concretes, absolutes, not maybes and what-ifs. She could manage this...this...fling if she kept it in perspective. Because while his invitations certainly changed the rules they’d established, the outcome was pre-determined and non-negotiable.
She wouldn’t allow him to derail her goals, professional or personal, no matter how long she’d wanted just what he offered right now. She’d worked too hard, made too many sacrifices to let it fall apart now because of a man...no matter how much she might want said man. With autonomy would come more opportunity, but as long as she was in Seattle? She’d always be Cindy Cooper’s daughter, the runt who couldn’t get out of the woman’s way fast enough. Grace refused to live in that emotionally putrid place anymore.
She wouldn’t allow one night with Justin to potentially change everything she thought about her career, her future, herself.
Feeling her stiffen in his embrace, he broke the kiss and, still cradling her jaw in those large, capable hands, rested his forehead against hers. “Stop overthinking things.”
“Stop reading my face.”
“Stop projecting every thought you’re having.”
She rolled her forehead back and forth against his.
“Seriously, Grace. Stop borrowing tomorrow’s trouble. Today has plenty of its own.”
“Stop sounding like a fortune cookie.” She paused and rolled her eyes up to meet his stare. “Unless you’ve got the winning lottery numbers printed on your body. Then, by all means, proceed.”
He grinned, the tiny crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes apparent this close. “You can check it out if you want.”
“Cute. We’ve got to get out of here in the next half hour.”
“Let’s hurry and get breakfast.”
“Sure.” She waited. He didn’t move. “You have to let go of my face first.”
Quick and hard, he took her mouth, backing her up against the wall as he kissed her.
When he shifted and let his lips trail down her neck to nip her collarbone, she shivered. “You have a real thing for walls.”
“Not until you, I didn’t.”
The hummingbirds in her belly took up acrobatic maneuvers, successfully avoiding her pride’s attempts to squash them. She couldn’t help it if he kept saying all the right things. Every woman wanted to know she was wanted.
Wanted.
The idea she could be part of something bigger than just herself, that she could spend the next two weeks with someone, with him, was the greatest temptation she’d faced in, well, ever. She’d spent a lifetime alone, craving the things her friends took for granted—parents, extended family, the dreaded Christmas sweater, conflict between Aunt Jane and Uncle John. College had alleviated some of that when she’d met her three closest friends, but there was still a longing for family she didn’t dare look at too closely. It would simply remind her that her past hadn’t taught her anything about what it was to love or be loved. That was a reminder she neither wanted nor needed.
With Justin, she could have a short window of belonging. Granted, it wouldn’t be forever, but it would be for now, and that was far more than she’d thought to get out of a one-night stand. She’d just have to make sure she kept things lighthearted so no one got hurt when she said goodbye. What could possibly happen in two weeks that would change the ultimate ending?