A Simple Wish About love - Karice Bolton Page 0,43
Scott. He was my beautiful gift from that fiasco.”
Slade brushed a piece of damp hair from Erika’s face. “Then it wasn’t a fiasco, was it?”
“You know what I mean. I’ve got a good thing going. I have a son who loves me, a job that I have fun at, and a place to live where I rarely want anything. I don’t want to make a mistake and regret doing something that takes away any of those.”
Slade nodded and glanced out the window. The hotel had a view of Puget Sound.
It was very romantic last night, but now this morning, Erika just felt worried.
“I made a mistake last night. I got carried away with my emotions.” Erika shook her head, and Slade took a deep breath.
“Erika, I’ll respect your wishes. I promise you that. If you just want to keep video chatting until we’re ninety years old, so be it. But I will never regret last night, and I certainly will never look at it as if it were a mistake.”
Erika’s heart thumped in her chest. She felt like a coward. She was so afraid of her heart being broken again that she’d rather chase away a good friendship than risk it.
“I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t a mistake. You’re not a mistake. I’m just messed up.”
His lip curled slightly. “I can see why you don’t regularly date.”
Erika chuckled and blew out a deep breath. “Okay, I get it. I’m messed up.”
“I bet I’m more messed up.” Slade flashed a wry grin.
“Is this a competition?” She put both hands on her hips. “Because I’m pretty sure I could take you down.”
He winked at her. “Why don’t you turn on the television and come up with which scenario you’d rather have? Will we be walking the pier as two best friends or as a couple who’d just had mind-blowing sex the night before? It’s your call. I’ll play either role.”
Erika pretended to scowl at him as he wandered into the bathroom.
How could he be so cavalier about everything? This was life-changing stuff.
There was no doubt about it. Slade was a good listener, a great friend, and even better in bed.
But where could this really go? She had a child and a life she wouldn’t give up for anything.
Even Slade.
And he lived in Colorado with a thriving business and no hassles of family.
Erika heard the shower turn on as she plopped on the couch and thought about last night.
He was so tender and loving.
It had been so long since she’d been touched by a man that she forgot how amazing it could be.
She let out a sigh and vowed not to let a night of good sex dictate her entire future.
There was too much at stake.
Chapter Seventeen
When Erika dropped Slade off at the airport, he didn’t really know where they stood.
They’d kissed.
They’d talked about video chatting tonight.
But he had no idea whether it was as friends or whatever last night could have made it. He’d never kissed a friend like that, but hey! First time for everything.
They’d gone to the pier, held each other’s hands, shared an ice cream cone and curly fries, and even shared several more incredible kisses.
Yet, Erika got skittish when he brought up their relationship status.
He understood she’d been hurt, but he couldn’t understand if she’d resigned herself to a life without men forever or just while Scott was growing up.
He treasured their friendship and certainly didn’t want to push her out of his life by trying to rush her into something.
But he was pretty certain what he was feeling for her was more than friendship.
After last night, a lot more than friendship.
He sat on the couch in his house and turned on the television. He didn’t bother going into the office, but he did finally research Miranda Cherry after hearing her song at the airport. It was catchy, and there was no doubt why teenage boys everywhere worshiped her.
Slade let out a deep sigh and rubbed his neck as he stared at the news.
Depressing.
Slade flipped the channels until he found a bunch of women drinking on a yacht while bitching each other out. There was something captivating about it. From what he could tell, the brunette was upset with the blonde for telling the brunette’s husband that she’d flirted with someone at a bar. A redhead stood up from the end of the table and threw a drink on them both. He realized he’d just gotten sucked into reality television.
About thirty minutes later, his phone buzzed.