Chapter 32
STEPHANIE
“No.” He shakes his head for a moment. “I mean . . . yes.” His eyes look pained, and his voice gets softer. “I’ll do whatever I need to earn your trust back. Let me show you that I’ve changed—I’m the man I was when we met.”
“I don’t know, Chase.” What don’t I know? Why would I even say that? My mind is still so twisted that I can’t find the right words, even after all this time.
“Is there someone else on the scene?”
Chase digs for details I don’t think he deserves. “It’s not that?—”
Suddenly, Mallory walks around the corner.
His entire body looks tense, and his green polo and dark pants pull and tug against the power of his long, purposeful strides.
“There’s my girl. I’ve been looking all over for you!
” He walks straight for me—not breaking his stride or our eye contact.
“Don’t make me worry like that, sweetie. ”
My girl? Sweetie? What’s he playing at?
Then he steps between Chase and me and wraps his strong arms around my waist, hauling me against his body. Before I can react, his soft mouth brushes mine.
It’s so faint that I almost wonder if I imagined it—until I taste the mint on his breath, and my heart starts sprinting.
Mallory’s lips are warm and inviting. His arms are strong and steady—one hand slides up my spine and tangles in my hair, and the other reaches up to cup my face, his thumb gently caressing my cheek.
My lips part in surprise, and then my body betrays me by leaning into him.
In that moment, everything ignites like a match thrown on kerosene.
One second I was breathing air, but now I’m only breathing him. His lips begin to devour mine, and he holds me tighter against him, like he’s trying to mold our bodies into one.
My arm snakes up his chest and around his neck, trying to bring him even closer, but there is no more space. My other hand lifts to his jawline, where I finally touch the bristle of his beard. It’s coarse, and the nerve endings on my fingertips practically salivate with the rippling sensation.
This is nothing like I thought being kissed by Cooper Mallory would be. It’s equal parts softness and spark, hunger and heat—like he’s daring me to want more and promising that I won’t regret it.
I’ll accept that dare, because I do want more!
My hand around his neck finds the ends of his dark curls, and I let my fingers gently scrape against his scalp. Mallory lets out a low growl and deepens the kiss while backing me against my car.
For all the chocolate metaphors I’ve used to describe this man, this is better than anything I’ve ever tasted.
I’m lost in the moment—not caring how or why I got here—when I hear . . . noises?
Voices?
Names?
My name?
It can’t be Mallory; his lips are far too occupied doing . . . what they’re doing . . . to speak.
The voice gets louder, and my mind pulls out of its fog to clearly hear Chase saying my name.
Chase.
That’s right! He’s in the parking lot watching this.
I reluctantly break the kiss, and Mallory takes a tentative step away, breathing heavily. I search Mallory’s face, then shift my attention to Chase, who’s staring at us.
No, glaring at us.
I return my attention to Mallory, who looks at me with an undecipherable expression before turning to Chase. “Sorry about that, buddy.”
I can’t stop staring at Mallory—my focus locked on his mouth. My lips were on those lips. I lick my lips, wondering if his taste is still there. He catches me watching him and tilts his head toward mine, expression still hard to read.
Mallory takes a beat before casually looking back to Chase again. “I haven’t seen her in so long that I didn’t even notice you there.” He pulls me closer against his side, slowly sliding his hand across my lower back and resting it on the curve at the top of my hip.
“You saw her yesterday.” Chase’s voice is unimpressed; he’s definitely thrown by this.
You and me both, buddy.
You. And. Me. Both.
Mallory leans over and kisses the top of my head as his hand gently squeezes my hip.
“One day without my Steph seems like a long time.” My Steph?
It’s all very seductive, like we’re lovers and not what we actually are: a woman who’s recently realized that she doesn’t hate him, and a man who has graciously forgiven her for treating him like dirt since the day they met.
“So you two are?—”
“Yep.” Mallory doesn’t even let Chase finish his sentence.
“—together.” Chase’s last word dies out as he studies me, a question written all over his face. Despite what he saw a few seconds ago and Mallory’s words, he searches my face for confirmation.
For what might be the hundredth time this morning, I’m not sure what to say. Too many things have happened, and my emotions are bouncing around like they are trying to escape but can’t find the door. My feet root into the pavement, and my insides begin to shake.
Mallory must sense my emotional distress, because he pulls me into him and wraps me in his arms. My cheek presses against his solid chest, and I close my eyes, trying to even out my breathing.
He leans down, his breath gently brushing my ear. “Are you okay?” he whispers, his voice too low for Chase to catch.
I lift my head to look up at him. “Did you buy me shoes?” Despite the fact that my body is still buzzing from our kiss, this is the first thing I need to know.
His head kicks back in surprise. Then, after a beat, a crooked smile appears on his face, complete with a single, deep dimple. “Not what I was expecting you to say.”
I fist my hands into his shirt. “Did you buy me those shoes?”
“I did.” His smile falters. “Do you like them?”
“Why did you do it?”
His confusion deepens. “You were sad last night when you lost your other shoes.” His delicious brown eyes search mine, hunting for clues.
“Did I do something wrong?” When I stay silent, he reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I’m sorry if it upset you—that wasn’t what I was going for. ”
“What were you going for?” My heart beats like a kick drum.
His focus drops, pausing on my lips just long enough to make them tingle, before he responds. “I thought it would make you happy. But I can return them if you want me to.”
I stare up at him. Would he really? My fists relax their grip, but I don’t let go. “Those cost over a thousand dollars! That’s a ridiculous amount of money to spend buying me shoes. You can’t do that!” I sound like I’m scolding a small child.
He smiles down at me and runs a soothing hand up and down my back. “I promise you, I can.”
I catch movement in my peripheral and look over to see Chase, looking uncomfortable, hands shoved in his pockets.
I close my eyes and let my head drop onto Mallory’s chest, remembering that shoes aren’t my only problem this morning.
I gather all my courage and face Chase. “I’m sorry our conversation got interrupted. ”
“No worries.” He gives a half-hearted attempt at a smile. “I got all the answers I needed. I’ll see you inside.” He nods curtly at Mallory. “Nice to see you again, mate.” Then he walks into the building.
When Chase is out of sight, my nerves go on high alert. Mallory and I are alone in the parking garage, and I don’t know how to act after that bone-shaking kiss.
Good morning. Have you done anything interesting today?
Hi. What did you eat for breakfast?
Want to go into a dark corner and make out? Because your lips are divine!
Given the fact that these are the only three conversation starters I can currently think of—and none of them strong contenders—I stay silent.
Mallory steps back but keeps a hold of my arms. “Are you mad?”
Mad? No.
Rattled? Shook? Dazed? Unraveled? All of the above.
What’s he feeling right now? Can he kiss me like that and feel nothing?
I mean, it was for show, right? For Chase’s benefit?
But if so, he didn’t have to do such a thorough job of it!
I’ve never considered that he might feel the same gravitational pull toward me that I’ve always felt toward him.
But that kiss! I mentally add to the growing list of things I need answers to.
Also, I’m mortified at how hungrily I responded to him! I was about to climb the man like a tree trunk had I not heard Chase saying my name.
“Stephanie . . .” His soft but resolute voice breaks me out of my inner thoughts. Reluctantly, I look up at him.