Hayden (A Next Generation Carter Brother #4) - Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,44

I hiss as I try to catch my balance—and fail.

Warm hands engulf me in a firm grip. “I got you.”

Once I’m steady, I push Clayton away. “I’m so pissed at you. Livid. What gave you the right?”

“He was all over you.”

“It was a date,” I yell. “One you set up.”

Disgust pours off him. “He was feeding you, touching you like he had a right. It was a first date. And you were lapping it up.”

“What I do or don’t do isn’t your concern. I wasn’t embarrassing myself.”

“No, he was embarrassing you,” he replies sharply. “He got the waitresses number when you went to the ladies room.”

“Like I give a shit. It’s Reid. He would flirt with his own grandma.”

“You know him?”

“Yes, which is why we were so comfortable with each other.”

Something flashes upon his face, and he rubs the back of his neck. “My God, I don’t understand you at all.”

A pain hits my chest. “Yeah, welcome to my club, you arsehole.”

He reaches for me, the fight leaving his body. “Hayden...”

I slap his hand away. “No, Clayton. You overstepped tonight and made me look like a fool.”

“The guy is a player.”

“Like you and your date could talk. You were all over each other. And her laugh… my God, could she be any more fake?”

I lift my hand, ready to poke him in the chest, but this time he’s quick, grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards him. I lose my balance, falling against him and landing with my hands on his chest.

The wind around us stills, the buzz from one of the streetlamps quietens, and in the mist of the dark night, there’s us.

Just us.

An unforeseeable force pushes us together and sparks shoot between us, searching for a current.

Uncontrolled desire stares back at me, and before I can react, his hands are running along my jaw and up into my hair. He tilts my head up as he leans down—and presses his lips to mine.

My body loosens as I run my hands up his arms, marvelling over his physique, before resting them on his shoulders.

His kiss isn’t innocent. He isn’t teasing. It’s hot and passionate, like he’s dreamed of this moment his whole life.

He’s showing me without words how he feels. So I show him back, pouring my everything into the moment.

I run my hands over his shoulders, down to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart thump against my palm.

Pulling away, he rests his forehead against mine, breathing heavily.

“I’m sorry,” he rasps, his voice wavering.

“Sorry?” I ask, still burning from that kiss.

The sigh he lets slip is full of regret. “I’m your boss. This can’t happen.”

It’s like being doused with ice cold water for the second time tonight. With my hand still on his chest, I push him away.

His lips form a word, but a car door slamming nearby stops him from speaking.

We both turn to find Reid stepping out of his pick-up, a grin on his face as he zips up his jeans. His hair is tousled, his cheeks flushed. If I hadn’t just been rejected after sharing the best kiss of my life, I would yell something dirty, happy he got some.

What shocks me is Cassandra stepping out behind him, wiping her mouth before smoothing her dress out.

At least tonight worked out for someone.

I snort, glaring at Clayton. “You can find your own way home.”

I unlock my car, getting inside and quickly locking it again. It takes him a moment to pull his gaze away from Reid and Cassandra and take notice.

His knuckles tap on the glass, yet I ignore him, unable to face him as I slip out of my shoes and slide into my Uggs.

“Hayden,” he calls, his voice getting louder. “Hayden, wait.”

I start my car, giving him a chance to move. My expression must express just how I’m feeling right now, because he steps back, getting out of the way.

The last thing I see before driving out of the car park is his head bowed as he runs a hand through his hair.

If I wasn’t so confused by the hurt and pain running through my chest, I would have reversed into him. It’s what I would have done had he been anyone else.

I hate that I don’t know what makes him different. Why I feel different when I’m around him. And as hard as I’ve tried not to, I like him. Not in a way where he has potential. He’s the real deal. That kiss was everything my parents had warned me