The Billionaire Matchmaker Test (Billionaire Online Dating Service #5) - Elle James Page 0,39

Which raised the question: Can I make her happy?

Was he selfish to think he was the one for her, and that they should make a life together?

Leslie had picked Randy. If she chose to be with Tag, he would always be her second choice. Would that be good enough for her? Would that be enough for him?

He drank another swallow of whiskey and stared into a fireplace he rarely used.

She’d kissed him tonight.

And run.

What did that mean?

Had he scared her off because of his whole-hearted response?

Tag buried his head in his hands.

Had he spooked her?

What happened to his plan to take it slowly? He raised his head and pushed back his shoulders. He had to get back on track, back to the slow, steady advance on her senses. If that meant backing off, so be it. He was in this pursuit for the long haul.

But if, at any time, Leslie showed signs of withdrawal, discomfort and anything else that indicated she wasn’t that into him, he’d step away.

He downed the last of his drink, rose, stripped and stepped into the shower to cool off. Every time he thought of Leslie, he burned with desire. And after their kiss, he knew the fire would continue long into the night.

He had to get his lust under control or risk losing her forever. It would be difficult to keep his feelings to himself, but Leslie Lamb was worth the effort.

Tag showered and went to bed. The cool spray did little to douse the flames burning inside. He lay naked on the sheets, staring up at the high ceilings, wishing he already had her in bed beside him.

If he played his cards right, and made her fall in love with him, his wish would come true.

He groaned, turned on his side and punched his pillow.

Playing his cards right was a big if.

He lay for a long time, thinking about calling her. After she’d run into her house, she probably didn’t want to talk to him. He could log on to his computer and strike up an email conversation with her as his alter-ago Joe. Part of him thought any contact was better than none. What if she fell in love with Joe? Would she be disappointed when she discovered Joe was him?

Tag flopped onto his back again and shoved a hand through his hair, second-guessing his second identity on BODS. What had he been thinking? She might think he’d been leading her on and stop trusting her.

He sat up, reached for the phone and dialed her number.

After five rings, he ended the call without leaving a message.

What would he say? I’m sorry I kissed you back? Oh, hell no. He wasn’t the least bit sorry. For him, the kiss had been everything he’d hoped for and so much more. He’d felt the electricity and the connection from where their lips touched all the way to the tips of his toes. Since he’d realized he loved her, he’d dreamed of kissing her, wondering what it would be like. Would he like it? Would she?

Well, he knew now. He loved it and wanted to do it again and again.

* * *

After hitting the snooze on her alarm clock five times, Leslie finally woke. Sleep hadn’t come easy the night before. Kissing Tag seemed to have shaken everything loose inside her. She hadn’t been able to pull herself together before she’d laid in her bed to sleep.

Not once during that kiss had she thought of Randy. The kiss had been all Tag and her. No one else existed in that moment. God, she wanted to do it all over again.

All night long, she lay alone in her bed, wishing Tag was lying beside her. She hadn’t gone to sleep until well after three in the morning. Thus, the rounds of slamming her hand on the snooze button.

She flung aside the comforter and swung her legs out of the bed, her first thoughts of Tag, wondering how he had slept the night before. Had he stayed awake all night, thinking about kissing her?

Leslie padded to the bathroom in her bare feet and stared into the mirror at the dark circles beneath her eyes. She splashed water on her face, hoping the coolness would help to revive her.

As she walked back through the bedroom, she spied her laptop on the nightstand. She picked it up and carried it into the kitchen. After getting the coffeemaker going, she popped a slice of bread into the toaster and sat at the