Realization dawns and I step away from her, thrusting myself onto the sidewalk. A couple headed straight for me has to dodge around me and I mumble an apology to their quickly retreating backs before I return my focus on Lisa. “Are you following me?”
Lisa blinks, the personification of innocence. “Why would you think that?”
She is. Oh God, she is. How dare she? “You are, aren’t you.” My voice is flat. I don’t bother waiting for a response. She could defend herself till the cows come home and I won’t believe a word she says. “You have no right to follow me.”
“I have every right to follow you,” she says crisply, her eyebrows rising. I bet she figured I’d be my usual meek self. Well, forget that. “Agree to the interview and I’ll leave you alone.”
“Do you really think you’ll gain my cooperation with bully tactics? I don’t think so.” I’m about to leave, turn on my heel and get the hell out of there, when I spot him. Him.
Ethan.
He’s to my left, walking along the sidewalk, somehow a head taller than everyone else in the crowd. Our gazes meet. Lock. His mouth curves upward at the same time mine curves down. His brows furrow in that way he gets when he’s concerned or agitated and I quickly shake my head, sending him a look that says stay away. My heart races as if it’s desperate to leap out of my chest and chase after Ethan.
As if it knows that’s where it belongs.
Enough.
I swallow hard, my gaze meeting Lisa’s once more. Thank God she didn’t notice Ethan making his way toward us. She’s too busy talking to pay attention.
“You’re being extremely difficult, Katherine, and I don’t understand why. My boss says he’s desperate for you to be included in this interview.” Please. Her boss isn’t desperate; she is. “Even if it’s for ten minutes.” At my eye roll she amends herself. “Five minutes. Two minutes, whatever it takes to get your opinion on Aaron Monroe and what he has to say.”
I shake my head, trying my best to remain composed. “I refuse to allow you to manipulate me any further. You had your chance. Now please, leave me alone.”
Without a backward glance I walk away. I can almost feel Lisa’s angry gaze on me, her frustration following after me in palpable waves. But I also feel something else, something full of . . . longing and confusion. Every hair on my body seems to stand on end and I rub my hands over my forearms to wipe away the chill bumps that suddenly formed.
As subtly as I can, I glance over my shoulder to catch Ethan watching me in the near distance. Unnoticed by Lisa, by everyone but me. He’s just another man in the growing crowd, his mouth tight, his eyes full of . . . so much pain.
I meet his gaze for the briefest moment and I can feel him. Feel his presence, his strengths, his weaknesses, but most of all I feel his unequivocal yearning reaching toward me. The yearning he feels for me. For this.
For us.
My traitorous body answers, everything within me growing warm and loose. I quickly turn away, my breath short, my heart thumping like a wild thing, the blood roaring in my ears. One look at him, one single moment of our gazes meeting, and I’m lost. His hold on me is so incredibly baffling, so unbelievably dangerous, I’m not sure what to do.
I don’t know how to resist, even though I know I should.
Instead of going to my car, I dart into the narrow alleyway between the coffee shop and the building next to it. I lean against the brick wall to catch my breath, close my eyes for the briefest moment as I try to compose my chaotic thoughts.
Did I really think I’d be able to withstand Ethan by meeting him in public? Like that would make a difference? We just saw each other with plenty of distance between us and I feel like I’ve been electrified by a live wire. What might have happened if he’d actually touched me?
I don’t know if I would have survived it.
“Katie.”
That deep, masculine voice slides down my spine, settling low. I open my eyes, my lips parting when I see him standing directly in front of me. Panic, fear, and longing mix together and leave me breathless.
It’s Ethan.
God, she’s beautiful. I can’t believe she’s here, that we’re breathing the same air, that our gazes are locked and I can smell her scent on the breeze, fresh and sweet. I’m so close I can touch her and I flex my fingers, eager to get my hands on her.
She parts her perfect pink lips, her eyes wide, and she finally says my name.
Immediately followed with, “You need to get out of here.”
That was the last thing I expected to hear. Isn’t she the one who asked me to meet her?
Frowning, I take a step toward her. She has nowhere to go. She’s pressed against the brick wall of the coffeehouse and watching me with eyes full of wariness mixed with . . . is that excitement?
The potential excitement is what urges me on. Makes me think I have a chance. I need this chance. Need her to listen to me, to talk to me.
To go home with me.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell her, my voice low and firm. She’s not pushing me away, not when I finally got this chance. “We need to talk.”
“Did you not see who was out in front of the coffee shop harassing me just a few minutes ago?” When I say nothing, she blows out an exasperated breath. “Lisa Swanson!”
“What?” I rub my hand along my jaw. The jaw I still haven’t shaved. I probably look like a damn caveman, but I don’t care. “Is that why you ran away?”