One Wild Wedding Night_ Runaway - Leslie Kelly [16]
They’d had amazing chemistry and they’d laughed and she’d seen a lightness in his smile when they were together that hadn’t been there at first. Despite having what most people would consider everything, she knew from some of the things he’d shared with her during the night that his life was not an easy one. And was, in fact, lonely.
Somehow, deep inside, she almost felt that he needed her.
“Forget it,” she mumbled. “He needs you like he needs one of those ten-dollar scratch-off tickets.”
Bringing her curled hands close to her face, she blew on them, trying to stay warm. Another lovely day in Chi-Town. Man, she might have to break down and get that coat.
Keeping her head down as she walked, she almost didn’t see the big, dark car pulled directly in front of the crosswalk until she almost walked right into it. “Hey, loser, ever heard of stopping for pedestrians?” she yelled before thinking better of it. That was when she noticed the length of the car. It was a limo. “Oh, perfect.” Yet another reminder of the crazy night before and the way it had ended.
About to stride around behind it, she shifted to the left, but was stopped when the back door opened. And that was when her heart just stopped.
“Kincaid?” she whispered.
“Hello, Leah.”
She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, not sure what this meant. Coincidences this big just didn’t happen. Not outside of fiction. “What a surprise.”
“No surprise. I was on my way to try to find you at your club when I spotted you.”
He’d been seeking her out…and had been prepared to do it at Leather and Lace? “Why?”
Slone stepped out from behind the door, pushing it shut behind him. “I wanted to see you, to apologize.”
“For what?”
“For being such an ass about you staying for lunch. Honestly, I dread those things and was really hoping you’d liven it up.” With a sheepish shrug he added, “And get the women in my family to realize I can choose my own women.”
She snorted. “Oh, right. I’m sure they’re feeling real good right about now, you choosing to bring a stripper home and all.”
“Not that I would give a damn, but the truth is, they’re not snobs. My mother was a waitress, we weren’t raised to feel entitled to anything. Working your way through school is damned hard and you’re doing the best you can. Nobody can think worse of you for that.”
He sounded like he meant it. And the look in his eyes underscored the sentiment. “Okay…apology accepted.” Knowing she owed him one, too, she added, “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right up front what my job was.”
“Considering I’d already mistaken you for a hooker, I think I can understand why you didn’t.” Reaching for her hands, which were still clasped in front of her face, he wrapped them in his own. “You need some new gloves.”
She shrugged.
He pulled her closer. “And a new coat.”
“I know.” She stiffened, wondering if he was going to offer to replace them, as he had last night with her gown.
“But until you can afford them,” he added, his tone quiet and gentle, “feel free to use me to keep you warm.”
Leah tilted her head back, looking into his handsome face. The man wasn’t just flirting—making a come-on about getting naked to stay warm. He was doing so much more. Accepting who she was, conceding her right to be independent.
And actually blocking the cold Chicago wind with his back to protect her in the warm shelter of his embrace.
Nobody had ever protected her. Not her father who’d bailed when she was ten. Certainly not her drunk mother or her scumbag stepfather. Nobody.
Tears rose to her eyes again. “I appreciate that offer.”
“Good.”
Lifting a leather-gloved hand to her cheek, he cupped it, then leaned down to brush a sweet, soft kiss across her lips. “Leah?”
“Yes?”
“Does that mean you’ll go out with me sometime?”
Go out…on a date. Pretty hilarious given the wild sensual games they’d played in his bed last night. Yet absolutely right for this new phase they were entering.
She sensed this phase could be very important indeed. One that could lead to much