A Prior Engagement (22 page)

During their kiss, he had a thousand things running through his mind, but at the forefront was that she had shared a secret of hers. “You feel vulnerable because it’s a new feeling for you?”

“Exactly.” She smiled because he got her.

“This,” he said, waving his hand between them, “is all new for me.”

She rested her head onto his shoulder, and whispered, “I like you, too.” She wanted to tell him she loved him and her heart will be forever missing once they part, but she settled with
I like you, too
. They left the diner as a couple ‘in like,’ instead of a couple of friends.

With less than an hour left before their train back to Manhattan, they headed to the station and waited on a bench and people watched.

They both slept on the train back to Manhattan and awoke when their arrival was announced. Drowsy, they made their way off and out to the taxi stand. They held hands, neither wanting to break the connection, but knowing it was time to part.

“So?” William asked more like a question.

She let out a little yawn. “So . . . I’m not ready to leave yet.”

William’s heart almost leapt out of his chest with her simple declaration that she wanted to spend more time with him even after spending fifteen hours together. Broke, he offered what he could. “I can make you a bowl of high-sodium, fattening noodles.”

His smile was endearing and she knew he was teasing, but how could she ever refuse? Feeling shy and a little silly, she tilted her head, leaning it against his shoulder. “That sounds delicious.”

Rubbing her back, he laughed. “I know this great place. C’mon, beautiful.”

As soon as he walked into his apartment, he turned on the small lamp in the corner and dug out two shirts and two flannel sleep pants from his dresser. He watched her all perfect, a little mussed from the adventure—her clothes wrinkled and a bit dirty—and wondered who he had to thank for bringing her into his life.

Handing her a set of clothes, he offered the use of the bathroom first. Right before the door closed, she poked her head out and asked, “Do you mind if I take a shower?”

“Not at all,” he replied, too fast. An image of her naked was already racing through his mind.

While she showered, he changed his clothes, getting more comfortable. At one point, he thought he heard a soft moan from the bathroom that shot right to his pelvis. Desperate, he tried to quiet the crazy thoughts bouncing around his head in case she felt the need to make another amazing sound again. But instead, the water cut off and he ran and jumped on the bed, trying to look casual and hoping she didn’t hear the loud springs screeching in protest as he landed with a thud.

As William sat with his back against the wall, he ran his hands through his hair pulling and tugging at the roots.
I’ve got to get control of myself.
He imagined getting slapped across the face to shake him out of the state he frenzied himself into when he heard the door open. Evie walked out in his T-shirt, and what appeared to be nothing else. The shirt hit mid-thigh on her and William gulped loudly, not sounding casual at all. “Do you mind if I use your hairbrush?”

“No,” he answered, three octaves too high for a twenty-two-year-old man, but was quick to lower his voice, even if unnaturally. “No.” Once again, he tried to sound older than a twelve-year-old prepubescent boy hoping to see a naked girl for the first time.

She continued smiling, but narrowed her eyes in confusion.

He was unraveling before her eyes and he worried she would start worrying for her safety if he didn’t rein in the crazy.

“Thanks.” She turned on her heel, feeling awkward, and went back into the bathroom. Evie returned two minutes later with the flannel pants on and William released a huge sigh of relief.

She furrowed her brow still confused when he offered her noodles. She didn’t see that he had much of a setup for making her homemade pasta. Following him to the hotpot, she watched as he started making dinner. “You’re a very confident cook,” she said matter of fact.

“Um, adding hot water to a Styrofoam bowl full of dehydrated noodles and veggies isn’t cooking.”

“It’s more than I can do. I’m impressed.”

“Well,” he said, waggling his eyebrows, “wait until this oven gets fixed. I’ll make you a real meal then.”

“I look forward to it. Though I’ll happily admit, I’m looking forward to this meal just as much.”

After eating, they settled down and started on their final report. They found they had worked well as a team during this entire project and it wasn’t lost on either of them that they worked well as a couple, too.

A small yawn betrayed Evie as she looked at the clock to discover it was past midnight.

“Guess it’s pretty late, huh?” he asked, scooting down from the desk next to her on the floor and making his boldest move yet. “I’d like you to stay tonight.”

Evie only hesitated a few seconds before asking, “You wouldn’t mind?”

“I would love for you to stay with me.” He shut down his computer and she turned hers off. She pushed her stuff closer to the wall and out of the way as he straightened his small corner desk.

She wanted to stay. She wanted to stay with him as long as she could and was willing to take the risk. “I can sleep on the floor.”

“No, no.” He shook his head. “I would never make you sleep on the floor. You can have the bed.” He moved to the bed and dug a bag out from under the metal frame. “I have an extra blanket and pillow down here—”

Her instant reaction surprised both of them. “No! Please. William, I . . .” Calming, she said, “We can share.”

He stopped and looked up to her, unsure of what he should do. He knew what he really wanted to do, but could he be that close and just sleep instead? He was willing to take the chance to find out. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, very sure.”

“Okay, would you like to brush your teeth with me? I have a spare toothbrush you can have.”

“Yes, I really need to. The major downside about surprise sleepovers is you aren’t prepared.”

Evie had realized in the shower that she was wearing her ring. It had been early when she dressed that morning and it was next to the small diamond studs she put on. At four-thirty in the morning, her brain wasn’t awake and she slipped it on not thinking about her day ahead.

Her heart ached looking at it and she wondered if she should tell William tonight. She felt he might be, no, she knew he would be upset, but also knew he would give her a chance to explain everything. He was that kind of person and hoped he would see how much she cared for him. After today, she couldn’t imagine a life with Tom. This life was too good. She would end her engagement no matter the consequences the next time she saw Tom. William was worth any repercussion. She took the ring off and tucked it into the inside pocket of her purse.

Following William into the bathroom, she watched as he pulled a new toothbrush from his small cabinet. As they brushed their teeth together, the intimacy of the act was felt inside her heart.

Ready for bed, she stood in the main room while he flipped the covers back. “You first, so you don’t fall off the edge.”

William switched the light off and eased under the sheet and blanket.

They lay there, their breath intermingling in the darkness, facing each other in the dark until their eyes adjusted.

She could feel the bed dip even more, causing her to fall forward a bit until William’s body stopped her. His hand rubbed her shoulder and his lips found her mouth, and he kissed her in appreciation.

With a heavy heart, Evie hated ruining this for herself, but especially hated ruining this for him. “William?” she whispered between them, her words not having to travel far.

“Thank you for staying,” he said, stroking the hair off her face. There was enough moonlight to see her pretty features in the dim light. “We don’t have to do anything. I just . . . I just want to hold you in the quiet of the night.”

After those words, she couldn’t do this to him, not now, but promised herself she would tell him everything in the morning. She didn’t want their bubble to burst and news of dreaded and abusive fiancés would most definitely burst it. She rolled over. “Spoon me.” It was a quiet request shared between them.

As soon as she turned, William moved closer to her until his chest was against her back and wrapped his arm around her waist. His face rested with her hair on the same pillow, allowing him to breathe her in. Evie’s breathing changed pace, which made his speed up racing to catch up.

Turning around quick, she found his lips with hers. She didn’t care about anything in the world except what she was feeling right then, and how he made her feel.

He kissed her, remembering all the times he dreamed of her being there and now it was real. She moved even closer and he adjusted his hand on her lower back, supporting her closeness. They stopped kissing to both take a breath before she took to kissing his jaw, his chin, and briefly inhaling all that was William. She had wanted to do this for so long that lust was sure to win out if she wasn’t careful.

He leaned over her until she was on her back, kissing her mouth and enjoying the connection. They swam in the kiss as it became needier. But even with William losing his focus, he stopped to take another breath and a moment of clarity hit him. His eyes dilated, taking her beauty in. She took heavy, but shallow breaths as he rubbed his hand along her cheek and said, “I can’t kiss you anymore tonight.” Then he added, “I won’t be able to stop myself if I do. I find you so sexy and you being this close while wearing my clothes, well, I’ll just say that I want to be sensitive to your needs when we do . . . when we’re together for the first time, but I can’t promise that right now.” He watched her mouth turn up in a smile that reached her eyes and sparkled with understanding. Leaning down, he kissed her on the lips, lingering a moment longer on her forehead. “Sweet dreams, beautiful.”

He flopped onto his back in the tiny bed with his shoulder half hanging off.

She reached over and kissed him on the cheek. “I still want you to spoon me.” With a quick roll away from him, she awaited his touch. He didn’t disappoint and rolled onto his side, tucking his knees behind hers, resting his chest against her back, and snuggling into her with his arm around her waist.

Chapter 19

Evie woke before William and stiffened at the feel of his hand underneath her shirt, resting dangerously close, but just below her left breast. She smiled, not minding it there at all. She giggled, enjoying how comfortable she felt in his arms—safe and sexy—for the first time in her life. She attempted a turn, but the large warm body resting against her and the dead weight of his arm kept her in place. “William,” she whispered in amusement. “William?”

He stirred, causing his nose to disappear into her hair, which hung over her shoulder. His hand grazed the bottom of her breast and his eyes popped open, alert and very aware of where his hand was located. She laughed and he smiled at the beautiful sound, smell, and sight of the woman next to him.

“Are we pretending your hand is not under my shirt?” she teased.

His hand was still, but his voice was lighthearted. “Technically, it’s my shirt.”

“Well, in that case, did you know your hand is under your shirt touching my boob?”

He played the innocent. “What?”

“Your hand is touching my boob,” she repeated for his comprehension.

“I just wanted to hear you say boob again.” He laughed, and she spun around to face him while smirking.

“Boob! Boob! Boob!” She laughed at the silliness of the word.

His hand was still under her shirt, but now on her back. He caressed her shoulder blades and spine and explored, rubbing lightly up and down. “Good morning,” he said, still smiling.

“Good morning, Mr. Ryder,” she replied, appreciating the heat of his hand on her skin. “I need to use the bathroom.”

He was reluctant, but withdrew his hand, and she immediately felt its absence from her body, the cold setting in as William slid out of bed allowing her to slip out. He lay down, covering himself back up and she kissed his nose. As she walked to the bathroom feeling sassy, she said, “And don’t think I didn’t notice you copped a feel when I rolled over, Mr. Ryder.”

He burst out laughing, knowing he was that bad. He was officially fourteen again.