Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I pull out my phone, but I don’t break our embrace as I hold it up to snap a photo of us without her knowing. Then I say, “Look.”
She does, and the brightest grin comes over her face.
I snap another photo, and my heart does a dance.
“I want that,” she says, pulling out her phone. “Give me your number.”
My lips curve, and she smacks my chest playfully. “I know, but maybe we can just keep in touch. Maybe we can link up if we’re ever in the same place.”
“Maybe fate will be kind to us again,” I say as she types in her number and sends herself the photo.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” she says, handing me back my phone.
I cup her jaw and hit the button for the elevator to start once more, breaking our gazes. “I’m gonna act as if I hadn’t asked for a picture so you’d want it and then give me your number.”
“I’m gonna act as if it’s easy to walk away from you.”
Her words hit me hard as the door opens, but neither of us moves. I gaze into those unique eyes and pray I never forget them. If the day comes and I do, hopefully we can find a way to see each other again.
“Tennessee! What the hell!”
She looks away first at the sound of her name, and I follow her gaze to two very angry-looking girls. “We’ve been calling and looking for you for hours. Your momma is about to call the police!”
She doesn’t react or even answer them. She just looks back up at me. “Thank you.”
I bring in my brows. “Surely you aren’t thanking me for what we did. It was a team effort, baby doll.”
She grins. “No, you made me forget about those two. Thanks for that,” she laughs as we step off the elevator. We walk past the girls, both of them watching her with anger and surprise, to the front doors of the hotel. She puts her hand on mine where it rests on her bag, and we thread our fingers together as our gazes meet.
Her lips tip up a bit. “You’re gonna have to run to your flight.”
I shrug. “Even though I got a lot of cardio last night, I’m good to do more.”
A smile fills her features, and I return it as I step closer, taking her hip in my other hand. I bring our clasped hands to my lips, kissing her knuckles as I get lost in those eyes. She pulls her hand from mine and wraps her arms around my neck. Our bodies press together, and I lower my forehead to hers. I’m fighting for more time, begging the clock to stop and just let us be, but I know that won’t happen. I really don’t get it. I’ve had plenty of one-night hookups, but something about this one is making it difficult to walk away. I just want to know more about her. I want to know her.
My words are nowhere to be found, and I think she feels the same as she goes up on her toes and presses her lips to mine. I squeeze her to me, lifting her off her feet and devouring her mouth for what I know has to be the last time.
Unless fate decides to be kind once more.
She’s the one to break the kiss, and when she does, I gasp against her lips as my eyes search hers. I place her on her feet, kissing her nose again, and she says, “Till next time, D’Artagnan.”
I kiss her top lip. “Hopefully it comes sooner rather than later, Tennessee.”
She kisses me once more and then pulls out of my arms. She steps back, rolling the suitcase between us, and exhales heavily. I don’t know how she is this strong. How it seems easy for her to watch me walk away, because I’m on the verge of moving to Virginia. But I can’t. I blow out a breath and turn then. I start for the door, trying not to look back. I check my phone to see where my car is, but the text she sent herself of the photo of us is still up. Then I notice her contact name.
The Only Ten You’ll Ever See.
A full grin fills my lips as I look back at her, and she’s grinning just as big, watching me with those intense eyes. She lifts her hand and waves, and I do the same, fighting the urge to go back inside. But then her friends are there, blocking her from my view, and my phone rings, telling me my driver is here.
I look up to see if Tennessee is still there, but she’s not.
And I fear that fate won’t ever be as kind as it was last night.
Chapter Eight
Tennessee
I’m thankful for the solitude of my car once I hit the road.