“That’s all it says?” Glenna asked.
Tandy Boone’s voice joined in with all the others. “Who got the flowers?”
But all Kylee could do was stare at the card. A card that was shaking in her hand. She dropped the card on the counter and left the desk, walking as sedately as possible into the women’s locker room. All the students were on rounds, so she’d have some privacy—and there was a bathroom in the back where she could hide. And right now, she needed to hide.
By the time she reached the bathroom she was sniffling. She turned the handle but it didn’t budge. She knocked, but there was no answer. She turned the knob again, rattling the door. She pressed her forehead against it, trying to calm down. Her eyes burned, her throat felt tight and her lungs were starving for air. But she knew one deep breath would push her over the edge and make he
r fall apart. She tried the door again, desperate.
What was he doing? Why was he pushing this? Didn’t he understand? She wanted to say yes. But she couldn’t... didn’t he see the way things were?
“Kylee?” His voice was behind her. His wonderful voice, full of concern.
“Fisher...” She heard how high-pitched her voice sounded, how pathetic. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Women’s locker room,” she spoke, still facing the door. “You are not a woman.”
“No, I’m not.”
She almost smiled. Even now, with her eyes full of her tears and her heart torn, he could make her smile. “Go, please.”
“Kylee.” His hands clasped her shoulders. “Can you look at me?”
She shook her head, wishing his touch didn’t affect her. “Can you leave?”
“Not until you look at me,” he pleaded. “Please.”
He’d go, and she could pull herself together and hope walking out hadn’t cost her this job. She blinked several times, willing away the tears that made her vision blurred. She drew in a shaky breath, rubbed her nose with the back of her hand, straightened her shoulders and faced him. He was so...gorgeous.
“I’m sorry.” There was no denying the sincerity in his voice. “I never meant to upset you.” Standing there looking heartbroken, staring down at her with those big green eyes, she almost wanted to comfort him. She was making him feel this way? Act this way? It surprised her to see just how much her distress affected him.
She didn’t understand him...but she wanted to. “Why did you send me flowers?”
“They made me think of you.” He shook his head, his hands squeezing her shoulders.
She stared at him. Those beautiful vibrant flowers made him think of her? That made absolutely no sense. “I’m not playing hard to get, Fisher.”
“I know.” He frowned, stepping closer. “But, dammit Kylee, I’m not ready to give up on you—on us—yet.”
She shivered, his words easing the pain in her chest. Us. He meant it. This was Fisher. He said what he meant. And what he said suddenly seemed more important than the mile-long list of reasons she had for telling him no. She didn’t want to say no. She wanted him to pull her against him, she wanted his lips on hers. She didn’t want him to give up. “You’re not?”
He shook his head, pulling her—finally—into his arms. His eyes searched her face as his hand cupped her cheek and tilted her head back. But he didn’t kiss her. He hesitated, so close she could feel his breath upon her skin. He was waiting for her, she knew that. If she stepped back, if she shook her head or turned away, he’d let her go. This was her last chance to stop him. Her heart was at risk.
But she didn’t want him to let her go.
She closed the last inch between them, sliding her arms around his neck as his lips met hers.
His kiss was soft. And then it wasn’t. Not because he was impatient, but because she was. She’d never had someone ask for her permission. She’d never had someone say sweet things to her. Or want her for her. She’d never had someone look at her as a woman instead of as an asset or a tool.
Fisher made her feel things—good things.
His tongue slid into her mouth, knocking her feet out from under her. But he had her, his strong arms holding her tightly to the wall of muscle that was his chest. He was strong, so strong, but he was also gentle. Her fingers slid through his closely cropped hair, cradling the back of his neck, and she reveled in the heat of his skin beneath her palm.
He ended the kiss with a groan, though his hold didn’t ease. “Please go on a date with me, Kylee.”
She couldn’t think. Every cell was still sparking from the power of his kiss. She turned into him, her lips brushing his jaw. His scent reached her, making sure she was firmly caught up in one thing—Fisher.
“If you want, I’ll kiss you again.” His words were low and husky. His mouth met hers, his kiss lingering. “As much as you want.”
As much as you want...