13. Guy
GUY
This doesn’t feel right. I’m driving Nicole back to her hotel, and she’s been quiet the whole way. I reach across the console and wrap my hand around hers. “Hey. What are you thinking?”
Her eyes are wide when she looks at me. “I’m not going to be all clingy or anything.”
My forehead creases wondering where the hell that came from.
Before I can say anything, she pulls her hand from mine and turns toward the passenger window.
“I mean, I just don’t want you to worry.
I’m not going to be clingy or expect anything after last night.
It was fun, and we had a good time, but I have no illusions about what it really was and—”
She stops talking when I pull onto the shoulder and put my truck into park. I turn to face her, but she keeps staring through the windshield. “What are you doing?”
I squeeze the steering wheel. “Setting things straight.”
She lifts one shoulder. “What does that even mean?”
My jaw tightens. “You said you have no illusions about what last night was, so tell me what you think it was.”
She swallows hard. “I mean, it was two people enjoying each other. That’s it.”
There’s no hiding the hurt in my voice. “That’s all it was to you? Us enjoying each other?”
She waves a hand between us. “No. That’s not what I mean. I just don’t want you worrying, that’s all.”
I reach over and put my hand on her thigh. “Worrying about what exactly?”
She opens her mouth and then snaps it shut. Her eyes widen before she finally says, “You know what I’m trying to say. I don’t want you thinking I’m going to turn into some stage five clinger because we slept together. Like I got some action and now I expect something from you.”
A growl escapes me before I can stop it.
“Okay, let me be clear about something. Last night was one of the best nights of my life. And then this morning waking up with you beside me and all I had to do was crawl down your body to taste you, well, it was definitely the best morning of my life.” I blow out a breath because just thinking about her in my bed makes my jeans uncomfortable.
I shift in my seat. “I want more, Nicole. The last thing I’m worried about is you getting clingy.
Hell, if anything I’m worried I’m going to drop you off and you’re going to decide you don’t want me. ”
Her mouth drops open. “That’s not going to happen.”
I squeeze her thigh. “Good. Then I’m going to talk to your dad today.”
Her eyes widen. “What? No, you’re not. We agreed we were keeping this between us.”
I pull back. “I thought you didn’t want to be anyone’s secret.”
She shrugs. “This is different.”
I’m so confused. “Even after last night you still want to hide this?”
She nods. “Yes. Especially after last night. Look, Guy, it was amazing, but now is not the time to bring anyone else into this.”
My forehead creases. “I don’t understand.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not ready to tell the world I’m sleeping with Guy Brody.”
I speak slowly, trying to keep myself calm when every instinct inside me wants to claim her in front of everyone. “I wasn’t planning on flying a banner over Jasper announcing we’re fucking. I thought we could start by telling people we’re dating.”
She doesn’t even consider it. “No. Not happening.”
“But—”
“Do you remember what they wrote about me after we walked out of that bar together? Because I do.” She pulls in a breath and lets it out slowly. “I don’t want to deal with that right now.”
I stare at her, and she keeps going. “You want to hook up every now and then? Fine. I’m good with that. But that’s all I can offer right now.”
For a second, I don’t know what to say. Hook up.
She’s making this sound like some kind of booty call when nothing about what happened between us felt casual to me.
I lean back in my seat and look through the windshield.
If I open my mouth right now, I’m probably going to say too much, and she already looks like she’s ready to run.
I put the truck into drive and pull back onto the road.
We only make it a few blocks before Nicole speaks. “Guy, I hope you understand. I’m trying to build a life here. I’m applying for teaching jobs, and it’s not going to look good if I’m plastered all over the tabloids as Guy Brody’s latest hookup.”
Fuck. She still doesn’t get it. She isn’t my latest hookup.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and I don’t know how to make her understand that without completely freaking her out.
I want to tell her there isn’t going to be another woman after her, but she’s not ready to hear that - not yet, anyway.
Instead, I grip the steering wheel and nod. “I get it.”
I don’t, but I get why she’s scared. We are quiet the rest of the way into Jasper. When we reach the Regency, I park and reach for my door, but Nicole stops me. “No, it’s okay. I’m fine from here.”
I grit my teeth. “Nicole, I’m not the kind of man who does what I did with you last night and then doesn’t walk you to your door the next morning.”
She puts her hand on my forearm. “I know that, but I also know if you walk me through that hotel, it’ll probably be online by this afternoon.” She blows out a breath. “You have a game to concentrate on.”
My eyebrows lift. “Are you coming?” I shake my head before she can answer. “Of course you are. Your dad is pitching tonight.”
She bites her lip and nods. I can practically see all the thoughts running through her head. I reach for her and brush my thumb over her bottom lip. “So I’ll see you later?”
I hate how much I need the reassurance. She nods and looks at my mouth. Before she can reach for the door, I lean toward her. “What about kissing? Am I allowed to kiss you right now?”
She lets out a slow breath before nodding.
That’s all I need. I cup her cheek and press my lips to hers.
The kiss is explosive from the first touch.
I tilt her head and deepen it, pouring everything I can’t say into it.
If she won’t let me tell the world she’s mine, then I’m damn sure going to make sure she knows how I feel.
When I finally pull back, we’re both breathing hard.
Her eyes stay closed for a second before she opens them. “Guy…”
I brush my thumb across her swollen bottom lip. “I’ll keep this between us for now.”
Relief flashes across her face. “But don’t confuse a secret with something casual, Nicole.”
Her eyes widen. I hold her gaze. “You can call this whatever you need to call it while you figure things out, but I know what it is to me.”
“What is it?”
I lean forward and kiss her forehead. “More.”
She stares at me, and for once she doesn’t argue.
I open my door and walk around the truck before she can stop me. When I pull open her door, she gives me a look. “I thought we agreed you weren’t walking me inside.”
“I’m not.”
I take her hand and help her down, then pull her into my arms right there beside the truck. Her arms wrap around my waist. “I’ll see you tonight,” I tell her.
She nods against my chest. “Tonight.”
I kiss the top of her head and force myself to let her go.
She walks toward the hotel, and I stay exactly where I am until she disappears through the doors.
Then I look down at her white hair tie still wrapped around my wrist. She wants this to be a secret. Fine. But casual? Not a fucking chance.