Part 8 (1/2)

”Will you be okay if I go back to Portland with Decklan tonight?” she asks, clearly not needing my permission but just wanting to be considerate since we came here together.

I ignore the fact that just two seconds prior Gavin proposed I leave with him. Kimber was my excuse not to. I can already feel the panic start to creep up my spine like a swarm of tiny spiders climbing across my flesh.

”Of course,” I say like it should be obvious. ”I can catch a cab back to the dorm.”

”I'll take you back,” Gavin offers, pulling my attention back to him.

”You don't have room for me, do you?” I struggle to find an excuse, remembering Kimber said Paxton and Charlie were riding with Gavin.

”Paxton drove separately. I can drop Charlie at the house and then take you home,” he says, causing my stomach to double over in a flutter of nervousness.

”Paxton can run me home,” Charlie interjects, turning to Paxton who immediately nods like it's not a problem.

”There, it's settled.” Gavin hits me with a wide, mischievous smile.

”Awesome.” I try to hide the sarcasm that drips from my voice.

The last thing I want is to be stuck alone with Gavin. I wish I could say I trust myself enough to resist him, but if I'm being honest I don't. I know the effect he has on me. I know the way he makes me feel and the way my entire mind seems to turn to mush when he kisses me.

These are the thoughts that plague my mind for the remainder of dinner. By the time we exit the restaurant a half an hour later, my anxiousness has only intensified. I feel like a bundle of nerves that's about to split apart and float off in a million different directions.

”Thanks again for taking her home, Gavin.” Kimber smiles up at him before pulling me into a brief hug. ”Be good,” she whispers, meeting me with a knowing smile when she releases me.

”Don't freeze to death,” I tease, watching her zip her coat and pull her gloves on.

”No promises,” she laughs, taking the helmet Decklan hands to her.

”Be safe,” I say, throwing her and Decklan one last small wave before turning to follow Gavin toward the opposite side of the parking lot.

I open my mouth to speak several times during the short walk toward Gavin's truck, but by the time we reach it I still haven't managed to get even one word out. I don't know what to say and honestly, I'm not sure any of it would make a difference.

”Thank you.” I muster a small nod as Gavin pulls the pa.s.senger door of the truck open and gestures for me to climb inside.

He lets out a small chuckle, clearly enjoying the fact that he's making me squirm. I'm not really sure why I'm so nervous. Then again, I think I know exactly why I am at the same time.

”You know.” He grabs the seat belt and stretches it across my waist. ”I don't bite.” His words dance across my face as he latches the buckle. ”There.” He smiles.

”You realize I can buckle my own seat belt.” I fake annoyance even though the protective gesture makes my heart flutter inside my chest.

”Good for you.” His smile turns wicked as he steps back and slams the door shut.

Within seconds he's climbing into the driver's side and snapping his own seatbelt before firing the engine to life. He slowly pulls from the parking lot, purposely keeping his focus on the road as he avoids meeting my gaze.

After a few long moments of silence, I feel like my head might explode if I don't say something. I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.

”You didn't seem surprised about Decklan and Kimber's announcement,” I observe, keeping my eyes locked out the window.

”That's because I already knew.”

”How long have you known?” I ask, a little offended that I was left out of the loop.

”I went with him to get the ring,” he answers flatly.

”And how long ago was that?” I ask, realizing that in the surprise of hearing the marriage news, I never actually got around to asking when he had proposed.

”Last week.”

”Last week?” I flip my gaze to him. ”You mean you knew on Tuesday and you never said anything?” I gape at him in disbelief.

”He hadn't asked her yet.” He chuckles lightly. ”I wasn't about to ruin his proposal before he even got a chance to make it.”

”I guess that makes sense,” I agree, knowing I would have done the same thing. ”But you still could have said something. It's not like I would've run off to tell Kimber or anything.”

”Not a chance I was willing to take. Not when it wasn't my s.h.i.+t to tell.” He shrugs, meeting my eyes for a brief moment before flipping them back toward the road.

Seconds later he pulls the truck into a vacant spot outside of my dorm building and kills the engine. I immediately reach to unbuckle my seatbelt, anxious to escape the confines of this vehicle. Before I can even get my hand to the latch, Gavin stops me. His fingers close down around my forearm, pulling my gaze up to his.

”Just where do you think you're going?” He gives me a wicked smile, his eyes growing impossibly dark.

My stomach does a flip for the millionth time this evening and I suck in a ragged inhale, determined not to let this man cloud my better judgment. The judgment that tells me sleeping with him would be about the worst thing I could do. Not just to Bryan but myself as well.

I don't know if I can walk away from Gavin a second time. I don't know that I even want to. What I do want is to not be put in the position to make that choice at all.

Gavin unlatches his seatbelt and slides across the bench seat until he's right next to me, his breath hot on my cheek as I try to look anywhere but into his eyes. The eyes that suck me in and blind me from everything but the gorgeous man they belong to.

”Look at me, Harlee,” he commands, his voice causing a s.h.i.+ver to run down my back.

”No.” The word is weak and barely breaks the surface.

”Look at me,” he repeats, his hand closing down on my chin as he pulls my face toward him.

When my eyes find his face, I expect to see humor, a teasing smile telling me he knows he's got me. What I see instead takes my breath away. It catches in my throat, making it impossible for my lungs to suck in the air they feel so desperate for.

I can't grasp what the look means or even begin to understand it. All I know is that something has s.h.i.+fted. This is no longer funny to him. It's no longer a game. He wants me and not because he knows he can have me.

And now he's got me. Before his face lowers to mine. Before his lips brush gently against my mouth. Before his hand unlatches my seatbelt and his strong arms pull me against his rock hard torso.

He had me in that one look.

Chapter Ten.

Gavin ”Gavin.” Her whispered word against my lips is enough to make my hunger for her d.a.m.n near unbearable.

I suck her bottom lip into my mouth, loving the way it coaxes a light groan from the back of her throat.