Page 68 of Miss Understanding

After slipping on my shoes, I fished out my keys and jumped at the sound of his voice.

“Where are you going?”

I turned to see him standing there. Oh, man, did he look hot in his jeans and black T-shirt with bare feet. His hair still looked damp from the shower. “I need to get home. I have a lot to get done today. I didn’t mean to sleep for so long.”

He seemed to consider my words for a moment before replying. “You want something to eat or drink before you go?”

“No. I’m good. I did find a toothbrush under your sink upstairs. Hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind.” His intense stare gave nothing away.

Awkward. Only made weirder by the fact I really did need to go. “Um. Can you open the garage for me?”

My words put him into motion.

“So, I guess I’ll see you on Monday,” I said.

Did I kiss him goodbye? Did I give him a hug? Shake his hand? Hell if I knew how this was done.

“Yeah, Monday,” he responded, holding the door open for me.

My reminder about the office made him do the little jaw thing he did when he was stressed or irritated.

Sensing this was about to dissolve into more awkwardness the longer I stood there, I gave him a thanks for the sex wave and went out the door to my car.

He stood by the entrance and hit the garage door opener button, still frowning.

He watched while my hands fumbled with my phone in the charger. It was almost dead. Next, I hit the GPS so I could find the fastest route from here to my apartment. Eighteen minutes. Not bad. I’d just put the car in reverse when the knock startled me. He was at my window.

I hit the button to open it, wondering if he was about to lecture me on his expectations regarding Monday’s in-the-office behavior, but he shocked me by moving to take my lips. He absolutely possessed my mouth, flicking his tongue against mine. Then he suddenly pulled away. “Brakes, Kendall.”

Huh? I was mildly disoriented when I realized the car was moving backwards. Oops. I put it back in park, giving him an embarrassed grin. “I didn’t realize.”

But he was back, kissing me. Jesus. I was about to unbuckle and skip all responsibilities for the day. My willpower was completely obliterated by this man. But he ended it before I could contemplate further poor choices.

“Strawberry lip gloss,” he muttered, putting his forehead against mine.

“What?”

“Strawberry lip gloss is my kryptonite. Drive safe.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Liam

Once Kendall backed out of my driveway, I pressed the button to close the garage door. The taste of strawberry gloss lingered on my lips.

Although I’d been tempted to wake her when I’d gotten up, I’d let her sleep, knowing she needed it. Then I’d gone downstairs to try figuring out how to talk to her this morning. She probably thought we’d spend the day together. How would I let her down easy? Despite the temptation to spend more time in bed with her, I had work to do. This was the reason I didn’t want a relationship. Because of the demands on my time.

But never one to do what I expected, she was ready to leave when she came downstairs. I’d forgotten what a busy girl she was. She probably had a lot to do after having been gone last week. No doubt she’d be seeing her family tomorrow since she’d missed seeing them last weekend.

What a contrast to my weekend plans, which included work, work, and more work. Jesus, only fifteen minutes after she left, I was sitting here in my living room feeling—was it lonely?

When other women stayed the night, I was anxious for them to go the next morning, but when Kendall had been in a hurry to leave, I’d felt oddly disappointed. Then I’d kissed her because I couldn’t help myself. It turns out strawberry lip gloss wasn’t merely an incredible smell but actually tasted like strawberries. I was a goner. Especially if she wore it to the office.

The thought of Monday left me anxious. My leg tapped involuntarily just from my thinking about it. How would she act? What would the dynamic be between us? Could she sustain the professional line? But the bigger question was how would I react? I was already wishing she was back in my bed, under me.

By midnight, although I had more billable hours left in me, I was too distracted to log any more time. I found myself up until two thirty, when I texted her.