Avery readjusted his hand around Macy’s waist, making sure it didn’t slip too low. His klutziness had worked to his advantage. He now had a valid reason to hold on to her without worry of a reprimand.
He wasn’t shy or awkward with women, but with Macy, he needed to be careful. Sure, she was tough on the outside, but she couldn’t hide her soft core. That part of her was wounded. That’s the part he wanted to protect.
“I’ll get you some ice for your ankle as soon as we get to the hotel. Then you’ll need to elevate your foot.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine in the morning. Stop worrying. I’m tougher than I look. Besides, how do you know so much about taking care of sprains?”
“College football. I had my share of sprains, tears, and broken bones. That’s when I realized I wasn’t meant to be a football player.”
“You wanted to play professionally?”
“Of course. Me and one of my best buddies had our national football careers all planned. He pursued the dream. I decided to study something a lot less physical.”
“You know a NFL player, personally?” She nodded. “My brother would be impressed.”
“Well, he doesn’t play anymore. Now he’s a coach, sidelined by a torn patella. Does that mean I’m not cool now?”
“To my brother, probably. But he changes his opinion daily.”
He helped her up the hotel stairs and into the lobby.
“I’m fine, Avery. I can walk from here.” She put some weight on her foot. Her limp wasn’t as pronounced, but she still winced.
He remained right beside her, just in case, wanting to be the hero for her. She was tough and certainly did a good job of taking care of herself, but he needed to be more than just some guy to her. Now and then a hint of insecurity flickered in her eyes. Sure, she tried to mask it, but he’d seen it the very first time he saw her. Maybe that was the moment the attraction started. Too bad his Y chromosome was in an overactive macho mood that night.
Linked together, they made their way to her hotel room. He’d never walked slower or enjoyed it more.
She pressed her weight against him and removed her room key card from her purse to unlock the door.
He helped her to the bed.
“I’ll get some ice.”
“No, no. I’m just going to go to bed. Ice isn’t necessary.” She waved him away without meeting his eyes.
He lifted the ice bucket in the air. “Be right back.”
“Avery, come back here.”
She called to him, but he was already out the door. No way was he going to go back inside and allow her to talk him out of this chance to do something nice for her. He located the ice machine in the alcove at the end of the hall. With the full bucket, he rushed back to her room. The door was still slightly open, so he stepped inside without knocking.
“It’s starting to swell.” She looked down at her ankle, her brow knitted together.
“This should take care of that.” He tied a knot in the bag and held it at the base of her leg. “Are you in pain?”
“No. But we’ve got a lot of walking to do tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry. If you don’t think you can walk through the airport, we’ll get you home.”
Her face relaxed, and she leaned closer to him. “Who is we?”
“I. I will make sure you get home, even if I have to charter a plane. This is my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. Stop saying that. Sometimes stuff happens, especially to me. And I can’t allow you to do that.”
“I wasn’t asking your permission. I just need to do what I can to make this right.”
She leaned back against the headboard. The fight in her seemed to ease out of her body. Her shoulders relaxed and so did the tension around her mouth. When she let her defenses down, she was a different person. Warm. Approachable.
His hand started to go numb. He adjusted the ice bag without letting go. Tonight, was one of those rare opportunities that he could get close to her without hearing an objection. She might have a slight injury, but he was having fun.
“Are you in pain?” he asked.
“No.” Her lashes fluttered. “My leg is frozen though.”
He removed the bag. “The bag has been on for twenty minutes. Maybe we should let it thaw for a moment, then reapply the ice.” He positioned himself beside her against the headboard.
“You’re very nice.” She touched his leg.
The gesture was innocent, but his libido took a wild leap off the cliff. Was he finally making some progress with her?
“If you need to get back to your room, I’ll understand. I can put the ice back on in a few minutes.” She lifted her hand off his knee but the intimacy connecting them continued.
“I’m good right here.”
“You know if word got back to the office that you were in my room this late at night all kinds of rumors would be started.”
“You don’t seem to be the kind of person who cares too much what people say behind your back.”
“Then I’m putting on the performance of a life time. It’s all a façade. Around Roxy, I feel like I’m always tiptoeing. Before I utter a word to her, I examine it ten different ways. The last few weeks has been a constant knot of trouble that is threatening to become permanent,” she paused. “I need my job. I’ve worked hard to be recognized. I don’t have the luxury of leaving because the atmosphere isn’t to my liking. Not right now, anyway.”
“I thought you were happy at English.” He shifted his body to get a better look at her face.
“I’m talking too much. You don’t want or need to hear my problems.”
“We’re sharing stories. Please keep talking.”
“I’m happy enough at English. The money is good. But I don’t think it’s a job I want to do forever. I can’t be myself there.” She eased a little lower on the bed. The two of them were quiet for several moments. Reasons to stay were growing thin. In a moment she would tell him it was time for him to leave.
“I’d better get outta here,” he said. “You’re tired. We had a long day. Put the ice back on for a few more minutes when you can tolerate the cold again.”
“You know, you’re very different than I first imagined. Don’t get me wrong, you have a stuffy side, but mostly you’re easy to talk to.”
He scratched his head. “Thanks, I think.”
“Today is one of the best days I’ve had in a very long time. “
“How can that be? You twisted your ankle.”
“That’s nothing.” She flipped her hand at the swollen ankle. “Watney signed the contract, Albabo signed their contract. These two accomplishments are a huge confirmation for me. I think I proved to you I know what I’m doing. In the last year, this day is up there. One of my best.” She stared at him, holding his eyes. He was close enough to kiss her, but there was a veil between them.
The lack of noise in the room made it impossible to ignore the sound of his breathing. In the hours they’d spent together, they’d crossed from co-workers into that magical moment just before they took the next step. That’s the story that played in his head. That’s the story he wanted to hear.
The electricity in the air connected the two of them, even more than the gentle hand that had been on his thigh.
“Can you stay a little longer?”
The second she said the words, she knew there was no way to retreat from the comment. Nor did she want to. Today was one of those days she’d watched unfold on those romantic movies she watched late at night. But she was still safe, on home plate. She hadn’t crossed the line or done anything embarrassing like trying to kiss him or admitting she liked him.
For a few moments, she wanted to live in the world where she was the heroine and liked by everyone. Where everyone wanted the best for her and rooted for her with sincerity. Where some handsome guy happened along and decided he couldn’t live without her and he was willing to tell the world how he felt. Where Roxy was thrilled with her work and promoted her, where her mother and brother were doing fine and didn’t rely on her so much. Sure, that kind of stuff only happened in make-believe, but didn’t every woman want a piece of that dream?
Even before he reached for her, she knew he would. With his hand on her cheek, he turned her head a fraction of an inch to brush her lips. The gesture was light, but her body heated several degrees. He’d touched her face. The reaction of her heart pointed at the significance of his action. The last time she came this close to being bubbly and overjoyed was in high school when she was foolish enough to think she and her boyfriend had a forever love. That was a long time ago, but with Avery, the feeling was one hundred times more intense. His tongue slipped into her mouth, and her soul opened, allowing him in. If this was foolish, then, for now, she was going to be witless.
Just for now.
Just for tonight.
Just this once.
He deepened the kiss. Pulling Macy down on top of him and enclosing his arms around her.
She leaned her body into his and fought off all the reasons why she should jump up and walk him to the door. How could something that felt so good, be wrong. Hadn’t her horoscope said for her to take this chance to let him know?
The palm of his hand cupped the back of her neck. There was nothing rushed about his action. Everything he did seemed measured and aimed at pleasing her. When was the last time someone did something solely for her? It was too long ago to remember.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” His voice was low and husky.
She pulled away a fraction and stared down at him. “You’re right. We probably shouldn’t be doing this.’
“I’ve been hoping for this for weeks…”
“But that doesn’t make it okay. Besides, I can’t forget…”
The big smile that took over his face was infectious. “Yes, we all know that I’m not as cool as I think I am. Now you know my kryptonite, when it comes to you, I’m a klutz.”
“A relationship is not something I want right now.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I have high expectations of the man I want in my life. I know what I want is impossible to get, so for now, I’m just going to stay on the sidelines.” She spun around and sat up.
He pulled up to sit beside her and lifted his chin as if he was preparing for a blow. “Tell me what you want from a man.”
She looked down at her hands. This wasn’t the first time someone had asked her this question, and she was used to receiving snickers aimed at her reply. She didn’t want to hear them from him.
“You’ll laugh at me.”
“I promise I won’t.” He made a poor attempt at crossing his heart. “I mean it. If I tell you what I want from a woman, then will you share?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay.” He rubbed his hands together. “I want a woman who sees me. Not the things I have, or the family I come from, but one who wants to know my heart. I want someone decisive and feisty, a woman with her own opinion and not afraid to share it. Honesty and a sense of humor are important, too,” he paused. “I’ve never articulated that before. It sounds like a lot of wants. Maybe that’s why I’m still single.”
“No, it’s not a lot. I get it.” She sighed. “I want a man who is honest, loyal, and patient. A man who will put me first, at least half of the time. A man with a sense of humor and one who isn’t afraid to show his feelings for me.” She waited a moment. “Go ahead and laugh and tell me I’m not realistic. I already know that’s why I’m alone.”
“I don’t think that unreasonable. Isn’t that what everyone wants?”
“Maybe, but then they end up settling for so much less. I’m not willing to do that. I’m a child of divorce. I’ve seen how marriage can wreck your life.”
“I’ve been in relationships. Bad relationships, so I agree with you. But…”
She held up her hand. “No. There are no buts. I want what I want, and I know it’s not reasonable, and since no one can live up to my expectations, I’m not in a relationship.”
Her words had stripped the air from the room. She should have expected his reaction. Every time she told someone what she wanted, they looked at her as if she’d just stepped off a spaceship.
“Can I tell you a secret about me?” She had one more confession that was sure to send him into orbit.
“There’s another one? Okay, what is it?”
She paused for a long moment. “Do you believe in horoscopes?”
He sat up higher on the bed. “You mean like the stars and the planets align? Stuff like that?”
She nodded.
He scratched his temple. “I can’t say that I do.”
“Why not?”
“First of all because I’m a realist, and second of all the stars and the planet have nothing to do with what goes on day to day. We control our own destiny.”
“My horoscope said we’d kiss today.” She used the most matter-of-fact tone she could muster.
“Kiss, huh? I thought we’d do a lot more than that. What would you say if I told you when I climbed out of bed this morning I was determined I was going to kiss you.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I read my horoscope every day, but I’ll be the first to admit there is no science behind them. But growing up, I needed something to hold on to, to believe in and this became my thing. Now reading them has become a habit and sometimes there is a little truth in the horoscope”
“I get that. For a while, I carried a rabbit’s foot.”
“In high school?”
“Kindergarten.”
She studied his face, trying to interpret his words and his body language. The moment hit her full on, moving faster than she could keep up. The more time they spent together, the more she liked him. He might not be Mr. Perfect, but he was checking off so many boxes.
“My ankle is better, at least now it’s numb.” She eased away from him and stood up, stretching her arms over her head, hoping he’d think she was sleepy.
“I’d better be going then.” He pushed off the bed. “I really enjoyed your company tonight. This trip turned out much better than I could have imagined. I know more about Macy Rollins and I hope you know more about me. He tilted his head as if he was going to say something more, but instead he picked up his briefcase and exited the room.
She flopped on the bed, her heart beating just as fast now as it did when he kissed her. She wanted to reach for him. Kiss him again. But, she’d done the right thing. Her heart may not have believed it, but her head did.