Page 30 of Married at Midnight

Sex and no commitments. Was she capable of that?

She swallowed roughly, considering her options as Connor finished his song. The crowd clapped and cheered enthusiastically as he took a bow. When he was done, he made his way back to her.

Decision time.

Did she clap for him, as everyone else did, or should she greet him with all the emotion his song had evoked? Her sensual self won the battle. She stood as he drew close, as his eyes connected with hers. Reaching up with both hands, she framed his face, moved into him, and kissed him with all the passion he’d stirred.

Over the pounding of her heart in her ears, she could hear the crowd cheering, but with the next heartbeat all noise faded away. If he wanted to pretend, she was his willing partner.

A thrill flashed sharp and bright through her. The kiss grew hungrier, more demanding, until she remembered where they were. With regret, she forced herself to pull away.

Ellie struggled to rein in her hunger. She drew a sharp breath, gathering her wits and her voice. “That was quite a song. Thank you.”

Satisfaction flared in his eyes. “If that is to be my reward, maybe I should go sign up for another slot?”

“Or you should finish your meal so we can go home.”

“That is the best idea you’ve had all day,” he said with triumph in his voice. They both sat down and returned to their meals. Ellie ate without tasting a thing. The world around them had returned to normal. Another singer took the stage and sang a lively song that had the audience cheering once again.

But for Ellie, everything had changed because she could no longer back away. She wanted him for however long or short their time together might be. It wasn’t wise. She knew she’d be hurt. But there suddenly didn’t seem to be a force within her powerful enough to counter her desire.

As the crowd’s enthusiasm for the performers grew, so did Ellie’s desire to leave. They were headed back to the car when Connor’s cell phone chimed again.

He looked at the screen. “It’s Viola.”

Ellie groaned, knowing there would be yet another demand imposed on them.

He answered as he stopped walking. “Hello, Grandmother. How are you?”

Ellie turned away and inhaled the rain-scented air, grateful for the moment to recover her composure. Passion still lingered in her blood, but distance from Connor helped the more rational, logical side of her brain kick in. The fact that Viola had called meant she and Connor would be off on another fool’s errand before the night was through. What would it be this time?

She had her answer a few minutes later.

Connor ended his call and returned his cell phone to his pocket. “Viola has asked that we bring her a picture of the two of us that is not one of our wedding photos.”

“You gave her one of those?”

He nodded. “One without an Elvis.”

“She wants another picture tonight?”

He released a ragged sigh. “Yep. She wants something by her bedside to help her remember why she has to keep fighting.”

“It’s seven thirty at night. Where are we going to get a photo taken?”

Connor drummed his fingers on his chin a moment before his face lit up. “I know exactly where. It’s a short trip from here. Come on.” He held out his hand.

“Are we going to do this every time she calls?” Ellie asked, taking his hand, trying not to focus on the feel of his skin against her own.

“Until she’s out of the hospital and recovering, yes.”

Ellie could feel the echo of her desire in Connor’s touch. This evening would have had a very different end had Viola not interrupted. Ellie still wasn’t certain if she was happy about that or not. “Then we’d better go get that picture.”

A few minutes later they pulled into the Uwajimaya parking lot. The Asian specialty store took up an entire city block and had been one of the key retailers in Chinatown since the end of World War II. The scent of roasting chestnuts and peanuts filled the air with a seasonal warmth as the two entered the busy store. Uwajimaya’s downtown location wasn’t just one store, but many smaller stores and restaurants joined under one roof. “How are we going to get a picture taken here?”

“There’s a photo booth in the corner near the bookstore,” Connor explained, making his way through the crowd of shoppers. “Have you ever been in a photo booth before?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “Have you?”

He shook his head. “There was never anyone I wanted to take pictures with . . . until now.” At the photo booth, Connor added the necessary change, then pulled her inside and onto his lap. “Smile.”

Ellie tried to concentrate on the task at hand and not on the width of the shoulders behind her, or the intimate way her bottom fit against his most male part. A wave of tempting warmth slid over her as the camera snapped pictures in rapid succession.

When the snapping stopped, he didn’t set her away from him. He turned her around and placed a soft, gentle kiss on her lips—nothing like the kiss they’d shared at the restaurant, but it still kindled that flame. “We need to find a frame, then take the picture to Viola at the hospital.”

She could only nod.

“I’ll make everything up to you tomorrow,” he said.

She raised a brow. “Is that a threat, Mr. Grayson, or a promise?”

His pupils dilated as a smile tugged at his lips. “Guess you’ll find out tomorrow.”