A Simple Wish About love - Karice Bolton Page 0,39
a way.”
“Oh. You’d better be careful of that, then. Fool you once, shame on somebody and all that.”
He smiled. “I think I’ll be fine.”
“If you need any pointers mid-date, you can always text me. I can try to guide you through the process,” she joked.
Slade’s eyes stayed on Erika’s, and her tummy twisted into knots.
She was falling for Slade Tenison. There was no doubt about it.
She looked forward to his funny texts, his quick phone calls, and their borderline sexy video chats.
“I think I’m doing okay so far.” Slade licked his bottom lip, and Erika’s gaze followed his tongue all too closely.
“What did you say?” Erika asked, bringing her gaze back to his.
“I said I think our date is going pretty well so far.”
Erika’s belly did a somersault, so she reached for another piece of bread.
“You broke the rules.”
“How so?” Slade’s expression was mischievous.
“You talked about being the fixer.”
His eyes remained locked on Erika’s as her emotions crashed wildly inside. She’d wanted to be his date so badly it hurt. But there was too much at stake, like her emotions.
The last time—and the only time—she gave her heart to a man, he tore it to pieces, and it took years to only partially mend it.
But as she stared at Slade, she knew she didn’t want any other woman to have him, either.
How was that fair?
“Was that a complete deal-breaker?” he asked, smiling wryly.
She let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. It wasn’t good.”
Erika brought her gaze up to his and grinned. “Where do we go from here?”
Chapter Fifteen
Slade didn’t know what came over him. He’d planned to string Erika along a little bit longer, get her to fall for him a little bit harder, so he knew she couldn’t resist him.
But seeing her sitting at the table, her eyes storming with emotion the more he spoke about the mystery date she’d asked about, he couldn’t do it to her. He couldn’t string her along one more second.
He didn’t want to play games. He didn’t want to pretend that their relationship could stay confined to friendship for the rest of their lives.
It didn’t help that Erika looked so damn sexy in a pair of tight jeans and a low-cut neckline. He’d tried hard not to let his gaze drop to her breasts at the restaurant, and honestly, if someone had asked what color shirt she was wearing, he wouldn’t be able to tell them. He could only remember the curves of her body.
“I have a confession,” Erika whispered.
Slade watched the sexy way her lips puckered as she talked. He could picture the flick of her tongue as she spoke, and it about did him in. He wanted to kiss her so badly he was about to go insane.
“What’s that?” His eyes remained on hers, and the heat between them was only rising.
“I wished that I was your date,” she revealed. “I wished very, very hard.”
He smiled. “So, wishes do come true?”
“This one did.” She smiled and kept her mouth parted as her tongue slowly glided along her bottom lip.
“You’re totally killing me over here,” he said, his voice lowering.
She blushed and sucked on her bottom lip. “Do you wanna get out of here?”
It was like a dream come true. She was talking about wishes, and he was dreaming of fantasies.
“More than you know.” He mentally calculated the tab and pulled out excess cash, tucking it under his plate.
Erika chuckled and shook her head. “At least you’re still decent in the throes of ignited passion.”
Slade laughed and stood as Erika tossed her napkin on the chair. He slid his hand around hers and pointed at the table when he caught the server’s eyes.
By the time they reached outside, Slade was burning up. Erika glanced at him, and all he could see was the vulnerability they’d both shared with each other thrumming through her gaze.
“My hotel is just a block away.”
She squeezed his hand and a nervous laugh escaped her lips, and that was when he remembered to slow down.
Every moment with Erika was something he needed to cherish because he honestly didn’t know if she’d see him again. She wasn’t into relationships. She’d sent that message loud and clear, multiple times.
As they walked up the hill to the hotel, Slade stopped her on the sidewalk. “Erika, if you don’t want to—”
Without letting him finish his sentence, she stood on the tips of her toes and brushed her lips against his. Every cell in his body ignited with desire as she kissed