Accidentally On Purpose Part 12

"As your friend."

"Yeah. Whatever."

I was trying to reinforce our friends only relations.h.i.+p. I was selfish, because I didn't want to give Kyle up completely, but I didn't want to be a sneaky hoe bag either. We "agreed" on a platonic relations.h.i.+p at the end of that long week after the gala. Since then, we have only hung out a couple of times, and I sorta missed him.

"What's the party for?" I asked.

"For nothing. A good time. A chance for the Mainline to show off in expensive clothes. Will you come?"

"Interesting statements from a man who spends thousands of dollars on a single suit. Do you want me to go?"

He gave a small smile. "Of course I want you there. Even if you will be with Luke, and I'll be with Jess."

I didn't say anything. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to try and maintain a platonic friends.h.i.+p after all.

"What should I tell my mother?"

Gah.

"Tell your mother I will be there."

We stepped off of the elevator and walked through the lobby.

"Are you meeting Luke?"

"Nope. He's in Dallas."

"Want a ride to your car?"

I looked through the front revolving doors. It was pouring rain. Even with my umbrella, I would surely be soaked by the time I got to my car at the speed line.

"Yeah, I'll take the ride," I said.

We walked through the building to the attached parking garage reserved just for Sterling employees.

"Why don't you drive to work?" Kyle asked as we neared his car.

"Traffic is a b.i.t.c.h, and I like walking through the city, and if I want to do anything after work, I don't have to worry about finding parking. I just go."

The rain was falling in sheets and giving everyone a reason to drive like idiots - more than usual. Kyle didn't complain when he was cut off by cabs or when traffic gridlocked. He kept one hand on the wheel and one on my seat, not so much a position of comfort as it was an indication of possession.

"Do you have plans for dinner?" He asked me.

"I have meatb.a.l.l.s in a crockpot at home."

"I could go for some meatb.a.l.l.s."

Probably, it would have served me well to say no.

"I just have to stop at the bakery on my way home," I said.

Traffic eventually eased and we made our way out of the city. Every now and then Kyle's fingers would lightly touch my hair or brush gently across my neck. I didn't stop him or even acknowledge it.

"I'll meet you at your house," Kyle said when I was getting ready to depart.

"There's a spare key under that big rock in the front garden, if you don't want to wait outside for me."

"Cool. Now I can sneak into your house anytime I want to."

"Can you turn the crockpot off, stalker?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"Sure. Be careful." He leaned over and kissed the corner of my mouth.

"Okay," I said, fl.u.s.tered.

The bakery was half way between my house and the speed line. I parked at the curb while I ran in for bread to go with dinner, and a cake for dessert.

When I got home, Kyle was draining pasta in the sink, with his sleeves rolled up to the elbow and the top of his s.h.i.+rt unb.u.t.toned. His tie was on the table and his jacket was draped over a kitchen chair.

"Thank you, Betty Crocker," I said, pulling my shoes off.

"Julia Childs," he grinned.

"I'll be back, Julia. I have to change."

I went upstairs and after some thought, I changed into unattractive sweat pants and an ugly purple tee s.h.i.+rt. Maybe if I looked a hot mess, Kyle would be less likely to want to throw me on the floor and make sweet love to me. The thought of it instantly made me h.o.r.n.y.

I sighed and returned to the kitchen where Kyle had set the table and poured two gla.s.ses of red wine.

"Nice work," I said, impressed.

"Thanks."

We ate dinner with quiet conversation. It was pleasant and platonic, and I started to feel that maybe we could pull off this friends.h.i.+p thing after all. After dinner, we put the dishes in the sink and started on the cake, while standing at the counter.

"I want to talk to you about something," Kyle said after we finished the cake and had washed it down with the rest of the wine.

"If it's about the cake, I'm sorry. We can't always have my mother's cake, and I'm not a good baker. My cookies burn and my cakes are crunchy."

His mouth curved up slightly, amus.e.m.e.nt danced in his eyes.

"I'll let it slide this time," he said.

"What a friend." I gave his arm a hearty, friendly whack.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh?" I took a step backward, which was a big mistake because I literally backed myself into a corner. Kyle wasted no time closing the distance between us, trapping me.

"I don't want to be just your friend," he said.

"We had an agreement," I said feebly.

"No, you you agreed. I didn't agree to something I knew I wouldn't be able to do." agreed. I didn't agree to something I knew I wouldn't be able to do."

"You have to accept my friends.h.i.+p or nothing at all," I argued.

"I don't have to accept either one of those options. You want to explore the possibilities as much as I do. You don't like this box you've put us in any more than I do."

"That's not true."

"Oh? It isn't?" He ran a finger over my neck, just under my ear, like he did in the car earlier. A grin appeared on his face. "See? Your eyes just glazed over. You love when I touch you."

I pushed his hand away, aggravated by his b.a.l.l.sy behavior, but he grabbed my hand and pinned it to my side. He pinned my other hand, too before leaning in to kiss me. I pulled my head back, turned so that he got my cheek instead. He let go of my hands and grabbed my head with both of his hands.

I was pressed into the counter, with nowhere to go, and he had a firm hold on my head. I could have hit him, or pinched him, but why bother? I probably would still cave.

Kyle's lips were warm, his tongue warmer. When it was apparent I wasn't going to fight him anymore, he used his hands to pull me into him and then held me extremely tight. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed back.

Minutes pa.s.sed, judging by the numbness spreading through my lips, when suddenly Kyle pulled away. Entirely. He backed away from me, leaving me confused and wanting.

"I want you to think about that for a few days before you decide you only want to be my friend," he said and left me alone in the kitchen. Moments later I heard the front door close.

I was still reeling when my phone buzzed on the kitchen table. On weak knees I crossed the kitchen and plucked the phone off of the table.

"Hey, babe," Luke said.

"Hey," I said, breathlessly.

"You sound like you ran to the phone."

"I practically did," I lied and then mentally chastised myself for lying.

Well, I couldn't tell him Kyle left me breathless, could I?

"How are you?" Luke asked.

A little f.u.c.ked up.

"Fine. Tired. How are you?"

"The same," he sighed.

He proceeded to talk about the suckish points of his day. I didn't mind. Luke doesn't complain much, so if something bothers him I want to hear about it.

"So, what's going on in your world?" He asked when he finished talking.

"The Sterlings invited us to a c.o.c.ktail party they're having on Sat.u.r.day."

"While that sounds painfully merry, I have a bachelor's party to attend Sat.u.r.day night in Chicago."

I giggled. "Painfully merry. Funny. I forgot you weren't coming right home. You're flying to Chicago to get drunk and have other women shake their b.o.o.bs in your face."

"If it bothers you, I won't go," he said seriously.

"No," I kicked at the table leg. "It doesn't bother me. Maybe I'm just jealous."

"Jealous? You're not the jealous type."

"Maybe I want b.o.o.bs shaken in my face."

He laughed hard for almost an entire minute.

"You're a riot."

"I know. Seriously, though, have a good time, be careful. Make sure you get a lap dance."

"I'd rather have you dancing on my lap."

"Well, you know where to find me."

He chuckled. "I'm going to get to bed. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Night. Miss you."

"Miss you, too. And..."

"And?"

"I love you," he said in a quiet tone.

"I love you, too, Luke."

We hung up. I sat down in a chair and let my head hit the table with a loud THUNK THUNK.

Chapter Seventeen