Page 76 of Everything She Wanted

As his lips touch mine, my stomach sinks. “Let’s go get some chole bhature.” For all his faults, the man knows what I like.

“I’d love that.”

He goes to get ready, leaving me standing there, thinking of last night and feeling cheap in five-thousand-dollar shoes.

24. Over It

I’m putting a lid on my extra-sweet matcha latte on Tuesday morning when someone comes up too close beside me. I’m still raging and exhausted from the weekend and now I’m irritated. Why can’t this person just fucking wait two seconds?

“Nisha,” Nick says, his voice deep and low.

I drop my shoulders and inhale deeply without turning to look at him.

“I have to get back to the office,” I say curtly.

“Please. I just need two minutes.”

I’m not falling for him or whatever this isn’t anymore.

“No, just no.” I turn to him finally, looking him directly in the eyes. He has the good sense to look away.

“Please,” he whispers.

His eyes are soft and his forehead is creased with worry. A small part of me wants to hear what he has to say. Maybe he’ll tell me what I so desperately want to hear from him, but then what? I can’t just ride off into the sunset with him.

“Two minutes,” I spit out. We sit down at a nearby table.

“I know I said I would keep it professional because of work and other considerations...” He trails off. “I’m trying, but it’s so hard, Nisha.”

I shake my head.

“I’m sorry it’s so hard for you,” I say not bothering to keep the sarcasm from my voice.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” He brings his hand to his forehead and then places it on the table in between us.

“Listen, on Saturday I was drunk and behaved like a complete idiot. I want to apologize.” He glances away, but only briefly. “It’s just that when I saw you, I couldn’t stay away.” He takes a sip of his steaming hot coffee and winces. “You’re smart and amazing and so insanely attractive.”

I eat up his words like a starving woman, but he’s not saying what I want him to.

“And unavailable, unless...”

My heart jumps out of my chest.

“Unless what?”

“Unless, you want to be, for me.”

He scans my face for my reaction, but I don a cool mask. I don’t know exactly what he’s asking me but he’s definitely not confessing his love and devotion.

I don’t know why that kills me so much.

“Available for what, Nick?” I lean back into the booth, my eyes assessing him in a new way. If he’s messing with me, I’m going to mess with him too.

There’s no one nearby, so I move to join him on his side of the booth. I bring my hand to his knee and then move my fingers slowly up the inseam of his pants. He stops me just before I reach too high.

“You didn’t answer me,” I whisper as I lean into him.

His blue eyes hold my gaze as he bites his lip, and his thumb caresses my wrist.