Bachelor Swap - Lacey Black Page 0,68

end of my time here. I want to kiss her forever.

“Okay, I better go, or I’ll be late.”

“Go. I’ll see you at five,” I reply, taking a step back and slowly dropping my hands. I miss touching her already.

I walk her to the front door, making sure I have the key in my pocket. Taking her hand in mine, I lead her to the elevator and escort her down to the first floor. We ignore anyone milling around the lobby floor or those coming and going from the gym as we pass. We make our way to the parking garage, to where her car waits. Kyla unlocks her driver’s door, but before she gets in, I spin her around and press her back against the car.

“One more kiss to get me through the day?” I whisper, slipping my hands into her downed hair.

“Yes, please,” she replies, eagerly.

I claim her mouth in a hard kiss, full of passion and desire. If I’m going to be away from her for the next nine hours, I want her to think about me as much as I’ll be thinking of her. I pull away, only when I know she’s good and breathless, when her lips are swollen and tender.

“Wow,” she whispers, gripping the sleeves of my T-shirt.

“Have a good morning, sweetheart. Call if you need any help.” I pull back, giving her room to slip inside her vehicle.

“I will, thank you,” she replies, sliding easily into the seat and buckling her safety belt. “See you tonight,” she adds, reaching for her door.

“Be safe.” I help shut the door, closing her off before I can pull her out of the car and kiss her again.

It isn’t until she’s out of the lot and out of sight that I finally head back inside, my hands shoved in my pockets. A few building tenants wave as I pass, but I try to keep my eyes cast downward to avoid conversation. Fortunately, the elevator is empty when it arrives and whisks me up to my floor just a few seconds later.

Now what?

I guess I can pack a little. I’m taking an overnight bag over to Kyla’s when I pick her up for tonight’s event, and the rest will be left at my brother’s and ready to go tomorrow.

If I actually go.

I’m hoping our talk goes well, and I don’t actually have to get on my flight tomorrow. It’s not like I’ll have the money to go home to Montana and fix the mess I have with my finances. Not if my brother holds true to his threat of not paying me a single dime if I break the contract I signed. I have no reason to believe he won’t cut me off without a single cent. Tomorrow, I won’t have the finances I need to keep my ranch, but at least I’ll have Kyla.

And that’s all that matters.

***

Security inputs the code, and the elevator takes me to the penthouse. I pull on the tie at my neck, wishing I didn’t have to wear it, but recognizing it as a key element to the tuxedo I’m wearing. I’m nervous, mostly because I’ve never attended anything like this. This high society, big money scene has always been Matthew’s thing, not mine. Yet, the thought of walking proudly beside Kyla as she celebrates her hard work boosts my spirits and trumps my nervousness.

When the door opens, I step inside. The lights are low and soft music plays through speakers I don’t even see. I head into the living area, peeking into the kitchen to see if she’s there. When I don’t see her, I call out her name. “Kyla?”

“I’ll be down in a minute,” she hollers from somewhere above me, most likely her bedroom.

Anticipation races through my veins, and I step farther into the room so I can get a better view of her when she makes her descent. She hasn’t mentioned anything about her dress, so I have no idea what to expect. I decide to take in the gorgeous view of the river from her penthouse while I wait, anything to try to calm my racing heart.

Movement catches out of the corner of my eye, and when I look up, I swear I stop breathing. There, coming down the steps in a vision of red, is Kyla. Her hair is pinned up in an elegant style that is so fitting and timeless on her. Yet all I want to do is rip out those pins, drive my hands into