Chapter Eleven
Ray stood hesitantly at the door of Amy’s room, his hand poised to knock.
You were going to walk away, he reminded himself.
It will just get more difficult the longer this goes on.
True, but he didn’t have to be such an asshole about it.
He recalled the hurt, confused look on Amy’s face when he’d left the bar. The least he could do was apologize.
He rapped at her door and held his breath for a full five seconds before he heard footsteps.
Amy opened the door. “I know. I’m running a little late. I’ll be down in five minutes, Em—” Her eyes widened. “Ray.”
Immediately she ducked behind the door but not before Ray caught a glimpse of cleavage between the lacy cups of a black bra and tantalizing creamy skin above a black slip at her waist.
He raised his gaze to eye level. “Hey.”
“Just a minute.” The door closed, and, when it swung open again, she wore a robe of some silky material that caressed her body in all the right places. “I thought you were ‘wiped.’”
The faint scent of her cologne reminded him of gardenias. “I am, but may I come in a minute?”
She stepped aside, letting him in.
Ray looked for a place to sit, but the one chair was across the room, and the only other option was the bed. He stood just inside the doorway. “I know you’re getting ready to go out so I won’t keep you, but I couldn’t let you leave without apologizing for the way I acted.”
She folded her arms and stared at him for a full minute. “What the heck is wrong with you?”
Ray took a step backward.
“Maybe I’m young and naive, but I thought we had something. Or the beginnings of something.”
“I felt that way too. That first time I saw you on the terrace was like getting struck by a lightning bolt.” And his body still hummed from the aftershocks. He ventured a step closer. “Even though we only met a few days ago, it seems like I’ve known you a lot longer.”
She nodded but didn’t unfold her arms.
“Amy, I …” He searched for words, but his brain failed him. This walking-away thing was more difficult than he’d thought. His palms itched to touch her, but he held them back. “I wish we could make this work, but we’re too different. If we keep this up, someone will get hurt.”
“That sounds like guy-speak for ‘I’m not attracted to you.’”
Ray dropped his jaw. “Are you kidding? I haven’t slept for days thinking about you.” With each word his pulse beat a little faster. “But I don’t want anyone to get hurt when we walk away at the end of the week. So I thought it would be better if I walked away now.”
Her eyes flashed. “Did you even consider asking me what I thought?”
Hope filled his chest. But … “I’m trying to make this easier for you, Amy.”
“For me? Or for yourself?” She blinked back tears. “You want to end this now? Go.” She walked to the door and paused with her hand on the knob.
So there it was. The End. Finale. Over and done.
Ray tried to walk to the door, but his feet wouldn’t move.
The air in the room had become so stifling he could barely breathe.
“I can’t. I can’t walk away from you now.
” He stared into her vulnerable blue eyes and heard himself whisper, “Maybe not ever.”
She met his gaze, and Ray almost drowned in her eyes.
Stop this. He cleared his throat. “I should let you get dressed. You don’t want to be late for the party.”
“No. I don’t.” But Amy remained where she was, unmoving.
“Well, good night.” He stood rooted in place.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” Her voice was low, sweet, and lord help him hurt.
They stared silently at each other another minute. Finally Ray groaned, pulled her into his arms, and softly muttered, “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” she mumbled into his shoulder.
“This is nice.” Gently, he kissed the top of her head. “Very nice.”
Her head bobbed in his shoulder.
For the longest time they stood perfectly still, simply taking in the silence of the moment, the warmth of the embrace.
Somehow finding the strength to pull away, her arms still draped loosely around his waist, her gaze lifted to meet his.
The fire in his eyes locked onto hers. His hands hadn’t moved, resting casually on her hips.
She told herself to move away, break his hold on her, instead, she stood frozen in place as his head dipped and his lips pressed down on hers. Had a single kiss ever been so sweet and hot at the same time? Her arms moved up curling around him.
He pulled her closer, his hold on her tighter.
If the world came to an end this very second, she’d happily stay wrapped in his arms for eternity. Kissing him forever wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
In the distance, a sharp trill of a cell phone rang out. Her mind processed the sound but her arms refused to let go, her lips refused to pull away. And then, in a flash, reality struck her. “Oh, my God.” She sprang from his arms. “The bachelorette party. Emily is waiting for me.”
Tugging the belt of her robe tighter, she dashed to the dresser and caught the phone on the next ring. “Emily, I’m so sorry. I …I” her gaze darted over to where Ray stood staring at her. “Lost track of time. You go on ahead, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Ray hadn’t moved as she disconnected the call.
“I have to dress.” Turning frantically, her mind desperately shifting gears from the best kiss she’d ever had to how inappropriate it would be to show up in her bathrobe. She scanned the room. “Where’s my dress?”
Ray’s brows lifted high. “In the closet?”
“Sorry.” She shook her head, hurrying to the other side of the room, she flung the door open and yanked out the dress. “I’ll be right back.”
Still standing, rooted to the floor, Ray nodded.
A moment later, her hair brushed, her lipstick on, her dress straight, she emerged from the bathroom. Hopping on one foot, she slipped on one shoe. A few steps closer to the front door, she stood up straight, grabbed her purse, and stepped into her other shoe. “Okay. How do I look?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Are your shoes supposed to match?”
She looked down. “Oh, hell.”
Grabbing her by the wrist as she ran past him to the closet, he spun her into his arms and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Relax. You’re only a few minutes late. It’s not like we did anything…
I mean…” Closing his eyes and sucking in a deep breath, he blew it out slowly and let his gaze once again meet hers. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She found the matching shoe and took a quick look in the full-length mirror.
Ray stood, holding the door open for her. “Ready?”
Sucking in a calming breath, she nodded. “Ready as I’m going to be.”
His fingers found hers, hurrying to the elevator, she raised her gaze heavenward. She most definitely did not want to lose this man.