Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye - Jacquelyn Middleton Page 0,39
blush. “Aw, thanks.”
“Your designs are brilliant. What more proof of your creativity and resourcefulness do they need? I bet this Vogue sprog doesn’t get a look in.”
“If only.” She let out a heavy breath. “A position like this has come up twice, and twice it went to someone else. I was promised the next one, but…”
“Well, that’s bollocks, but I have a feeling your luck is about to change.”
Glancing at him, a warm smile lifted the corners of Leia’s mouth. “Like yours? Look at you, Scott Moir, ice dancer extraordinaire! I knew you’d get the hang of it. Ready to let go?”
She wants her hand back. Dammit. “But don’t ice dancers, you know…hold hands all the time?”
“Not all the time, but they do have to skate as close together as possible and in unison.” She squeezed his hand. “Look, if you feel unsteady—”
“No, it’s not that…” Actually, it’s exactly that. I like holding your hand. Christ, needy much, Tarq? He gulped and looked straight ahead. Don’t be a wuss. “Okay, let’s give it a go.”
Leia released his hand and scrutinized his strokes. The choppy strides and wavy arms of earlier were long gone. “See? You’re a natural! We could go all night.”
We could definitely go all night, no skates required. Tarquin shot her a slow smile that grew with each glide. I mean it, Leia. Just say the word. He grinned at the thought of an intimate soak for two in his large tub, followed by deep massages and even deeper kisses, her hands exploring, skimming down his abs and curling around him tight… He gasped, his pulse hammering in his chest and a scorching heat hardening in his jeans. Someone is eager. He smoothed his free hand down his long coat, keeping his predicament secret. I can’t come on too strong. I can’t fuck this up. He pushed harder, faster, sweeping around a corner with Leia matching his speed. Coming out of the turn, his skates dug in, and his left blade clipped the back of his right boot. “Jesus!” He stumbled, knocking Leia off-kilter.
“Shit!” Her sharp retort shot a burst of warm breath into the chilly breeze. Stabbing a toe pick into the ice, she swerved and cut him off. Knees clashing, blades tangling, Leia clutched his coat and shoved his shoulders back, halting his plunge. “You okay?” She swallowed a gulp of frosty air.
Tarquin pulled her in, her rapid puffs of breath skating across his cheek. Bloody hell! “You saved me.” He chuckled, his chest rising and falling, the scent of her perfume making him deliriously dizzy. “You sure you’re not a Jedi?”
A burst of awkward laughter split her smile. She loosened her death grip on his coat and stepped back, pulling off her mitts.
Shit. Nice one. She hates Star Wars and you blurt out a film-related compliment? Idiot. Tarquin followed her lead, straightening up and releasing her from his bear hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
But Leia leaned in again, plucking a piece of fluff from his shoulder. “Well, I told you I wouldn’t let you fall, didn’t I?” Her soft gaze felt warm and playfully confident.
Wait—what? She’s not annoyed? Tarquin’s heart pounded in his chest, the giddy ache for her conspiring into a single purpose. I’m dying to kiss you. He swallowed thickly, refusing to let the moment fizzle—unless Leia wasn’t keen—but her shallow breaths and her fixed stare, curious and wanting, hinted otherwise. “Leia…?” His raspy question hung between them as he tilted his head and dragged his eyes down to her pout…beckoning, waiting.
“CAREFUL!” A booming command cut through the air as someone rammed between them, a human bowling ball knocking Tarquin straight onto his ass.
“Oh, shi—” Leia held her balance and bent down. “Are you okay?”
Without a whine or tears, a spritely little girl dusted ice from her coat. “He’s rubbish!” Blonde braids swinging, she stuck out her tongue and sprung back onto her blades, rejoining her mother, who mouthed “Sorry” through her horrified wince.
Leia snorted, fighting back laughter.
Hit and run over by a six-year-old, for fuck’s sake! Can we talk emasculating? Tarquin groaned and sat up, holding his ribs. I surf huge waves, crawl through caves, and kite ski down mountains, all without a scratch—and here I get bowled over by a hostile Cindy Lou Who in front of the woman I’m trying to impress. Bloody figures. Waving off Leia’s help, he slowly returned to his feet, the blisters inside his socks searing and tingly. This is such a boner-killer—for her