“Mean.” I turned and poked his chest as he stood up and stepped back so that his knees were against the bed. I rose from the chair, shoving him slightly till he sat on the bed, his grin expectant and his expression playful.
“Oh really? How are you going to punish me?” He laid back, waiting.
Expecting.
I smiled to myself, a plan forming in my mind. I slowly crawled on top of him, resting my hips just over his and leaning in, nipping at the arch between his neck and jawline, pressing into him and then away.
He groaned deep in his throat.
“I can think of so many ways,” I whispered hot in his ear, then licked it.
His voice was deep and gravelly from arousal. “You don’t say.”
“Mmm hmm.” I captured his lips with a passionate kiss, his hands grasped my hips and pulled them tightly against his.
“And I think…” I bit his lower lip and pulled it with my teeth playfully. “I’ll go with this one.” As quickly as I could, I climbed off him and walked to the door, opening it. “We’re going to be late, let’s go.”
The shock on his face was priceless.
Worth the burning heat I felt from wanting him so badly.
“You’ve gotta be shitting me.” He rose up on his arm from the bed, his suit slightly disheveled, his hair tousled as though he’d been loved well.
If only.
“You said we had a reservation.” I hitched a shoulder as if it were obvious.
“And you said I was mean.” He shook his head, took a deep breath and stood. “You’re a cold-hearted lass.” He walked toward me.
“Gotta keep you on your toes.” I reached up and kissed his cheek.
He gave me a mischievous grin, and he grasped my hand. “I’d rather you keep me in your bed.”
I giggled as we walked down the hall toward the elevator. “Who said I wasn’t going to keep you there too?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE NEXT TWO days went by far too quickly. Thankfully, Roxi had left us alone with only a quick text to tell me the blog post was great and I had a short meeting with ABC on Monday night.
But time was like a ticking clock sounding in the background of each moment… reminding me that I only had so much before I had to leave.
And as much as I tried to stop it, I worried.
Because what if things changed?
I wanted to play house forever in his little flat.
But we couldn’t just spend the rest of our lives in bed.
Pity that… but true.
My flight was scheduled to leave Monday afternoon at one and with the time difference I’d arrive in Seattle Monday afternoon around four. Kirby bought a ticket to see me a week later. It was only seven days without him, but it loomed ahead like eternity.
Early Monday morning, Kirby drove me to my hotel so I could pack.
“This sucks,” I mumbled as I stared out the window watching the stone buildings slowly pass.
“Yes. Yes it does.” His grip tightened on my hand.
The sound of the purring engine was the only noise. I didn’t know what else to say.
I love you.
The three magic words kept tickling my tongue, but if I was going to say those words I wanted to be with him, not about to leave him.
And it wasn’t as if he had said them either.
But when I looked at him… I knew.
It’s hard to explain falling in love, because it happens differently every time. One person will see the person and just know… another will spend years with a friend then slowly learn that that friendship is really more.
For me, it was learning that maybe hating Kirby was because I didn’t think I’d ever have him.
And vice versa.
Now that I had him, I didn’t want to risk losing him.
“You’re far too quiet. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Kirby asked as he parked the car in front of the hotel. “Hold that thought.” He got out and opened the door for me — just another thing I loved about him.
I stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“Wait just a moment.” Kirby grinned, his dimple twinkling at me once more. Damn I was going to miss that smile.
“Okay.” I watched him curiously as he walked to the trunk and opened it.
“Close your eyes.” He peeked around the top of the trunk, watching until I obeyed. “Now just hold on. Don’t open them till I say so.”
I pinched my eyes closed, listening for clues. What was he up to?
“Okay, you can open them.”
The first thing I noticed was the color — bright orange. “It’s so pretty!” I ran my fingers over the print covering the suitcase and the carry-on bag, then looked closer. “It’s Louis Vuitton!” I blinked, glanced to Kirby, then back to the beautiful gift. “Holy shit. I can’t use this! It’s too nice and I’ll break it or—”
Kirby shook his head, amused. “You’ll be fine. I asked for the best luggage that was both stylish and also wouldn’t lose its wheels…” He cleared his throat meaningfully.
“Ha ha… hey, that messed up luggage helped you find me,” I replied with a smile.
“True… true. But I’ll find you even better with this color trailing behind you.” He raised his brows.
“Valid. I think everyone will see me coming with these babies.” I ran my fingers over the thick canvas once more. “Thank you.” I glanced up, meeting his gaze.
“You’re welcome.” He leaned over the luggage and gave me a quick kiss. “Let’s get these upstairs.”
Once we got to my room, Kirby set the two beautiful orange suitcases on the bed and opened them.
“Service with a smile. I like it.”
“I’ll give you more than a smile.” He winked at me as he slowly unzipped the bag and bit his lip, fluttering his eyelashes.
“Dear Lord, please stop.” I almost choked on my laughter. “Not… sexy.” I shoot my head.
“Whatever, everything I do is sexy.” He shrugged. “Actually I’m just trying to make this more fun than it is. I hate packing. Let’s finish it up and get some lunch. Airplane food sucks.”
“A man with a plan.” I marched to my closet and pulled out my two very sad looking pieces of luggage. Kirby placed his hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
He touched the carry-on with the missing wheel. “It’s kinder this way…”
“Shut up…” I rolled my eyes at his chuckle. “But you’re right. What should I do with these now?”
“Ask the front desk. They’ll have an idea. I’d assume a shelter would need them.” He lifted the larger piece and set it beside the new one, transferring clothes over for me. “Merry, you fold like shit.”
I sighed, exasperated. “I blame you.”
“Me? Why?” He turned, confused.
I started helping move my clothes into the new suitcase. “Easy. I was either distracted because you could burst into my room at anytime—”
He started laughing.
“Or…” I glared. “I was trying to get to you. So no matter how you look at it… it’s all about you.”
He paused, turning to me. “Merry?”
“Yeah?”
“You still fold like shit.”
I shoved him as he laughed. “You’re a pain in the ass.”
“And all those promises about coming up with new ways to insult me—”
“If the name fits… why change it?”
He shrugged as if to say, why not?
“I’m going to go and pack up the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I walked to the bathroom and collected all my makeup, shampoo and other stuff stowed away then returned, setting it on the bed.
“Remember you can’t take the shampoo and stuff in your carry- on,” Kirby reminded me just as I was tucking it in the small suitcase.
“Damn it. Your right.”
“I get that a lot.”
“You’re going to get hit a lot too.” I smacked him in the shoulder.
�
��Just trying to help.” He held up his hands in defense.
“Sure you are…” I rolled my eyes but tucked my bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the larger suitcase.
In a few minutes we were all finished. “All that’s left is my laptop.” I slid it into the case and put it in my carry-on. “Can you check under the bed? I’m going to double check the bathroom and everything else.”
When I came back, Kirby was holding up a lacy black thong by his finger, a devious grin on his face. “I don’t remember seeing this.”
I walked over and swiped them from his hand. “That’s because you haven’t.”
“Pity.”
I giggled as I shoved them into the suitcase. “Okay. Done.”
The room seemed so bare. Kirby pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. “You know, we never did get to see the sea.”
“You distracted me.”
“You started it.”
I leaned back. “I did not!”
His white teeth flashed as he smiled. “Yes… yes you did.”
“How?” I narrowed my eyes teasingly.
He chuckled. “In the kitchen.”
“First, you can hardly call that a kitchen—”
“Merry…” he scolded playfully.
“Fine. But I didn’t start it… I… finished it.” I smirked.
Kirby’s laughter lightened the sad atmosphere of the room. “If I remember right… I finished it.” He leaned down and kissed me softly. “I finished it again, and again and—”
“Fine, fine. Your right.”
“I will never tire of hearing you say that.”
“I will never like saying it,” I shot back, but he leaned forward and kissed me, making everything else fade away.
“Merry…” He leaned back, smoothing my hair with his hand and watching me. “I…” He seemed to fight some internal battle as his crystal blue eyes focused on me.
I held my breath.
“I…” he started again. “I am really going to miss you.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead against mine.
I held back a sigh of disappointment. Part of me — okay, a lot of me — was hoping he would say the ‘L’ word… but a much smaller part was kinda thankful he held back.
Because, it was a big deal.
It should always be a big deal, not something you say in the heat of the moment. Something that has shifted in you so fundamentally that you can’t exist outside of it.
I wanted that type of love.
A smile teased my lips. I wanted the kind that read my expressions, just like Kirby and I had talked about that one night.
“I’m really going to miss you too.” I slipped my arms around his waist and held him close, focusing on the spicy scent he wore and the warmth of his arms around me. Remembering it so that when I had to lie down, alone, at home, I could pretend he was there.
My phone beeped in my pocket, the alarm I set so I wouldn’t be late getting to the airport. “Damn Siri.”
“Always getting in the way,” Kirby finished even as he released me and tucked a curl behind my ear.
“I guess we’ll be catching that lunch at the airport.” I offered a weak smile.
“Nah.” Kirby zipped both suitcases and pulled them toward the door. “Just leave the details to me. I have connections.” He nodded his chin.
“Mr. Scotland. Got it.”
He chuckled as we made our way to the front desk. My old pathetic carry-on wobbled as I set it upright.
“Checking out?” The receptionist asked in a light brogue.
“Yes.”
After I gave her my room number and signed a few papers, she glanced between Kirby and I. “Did you enjoy your stay?” She offered a small smile and turned to the computer, typing in the final information.
“It was far more than I expected,” I answered, even as Kirby bit back a grin.
“I’m pleased to hear that.”
Kirby pulled out his key card and slipped it on the front desk, a wide grin teasing his lips.
I glared at the card. “I don’t know whether I’m happy or angry right now.”
“Confused. Your natural state.”
I shoved him lightly.
He shoved back teasingly, making me bump my already teetering suitcase and causing it to fall over. “Oh. I almost forgot. I no longer need these. Do you have someplace we can donate them?”
The lady gave the luggage a once over, her eyes narrowing as if assessing if they were worth donating… or were maybe better suited for the trash. “Of course. We will take care of it, if you like.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
She gave me the final papers and soon we were out the door. I turned and gazed up at the building, the bright indigo flag gently blowing in the breeze. “I’m going to miss this place too.”
Kirby cleared his throat. “You mean you’re going to miss the breakfast.”
I bit my cheek, trying not to laugh. “Yeah… those tattie scones…” I shook my head.
“You and scones. I think you like them more than you like me.” He popped the trunk and put the luggage inside, then opened my door.
“I like you more,” I replied as I tucked my legs in the car. “But only just.”
“Figures.” He chuckled and closed the door, looking both ways before he slipped into the car and started it. Before he pulled out onto the street, he withdrew his phone and made a call. “Yeah, it’s me. I need two orders of fish and chips with a side of tatties.” He glanced to me, smirking. “Maybe two order of tatties.” He nodded. “Yeah. Got it. Be there in ten.”
“I need to learn how to make those.” I pulled out my phone and searched for a recipe. I wasn’t exactly gifted in the kitchen, but I could read and follow instructions. Surely, I could make them.
“Hmm… which brings up an interesting topic of conversation. Can you even cook? I mean. I know you can make some great scrambled eggs—” I smacked his arm.
“I can cook.”
He nodded. “Nice to know.”
“Where are we going?” I asked as he pulled onto the street and quickly onto a different intersecting one.
“One of the pubs by the waterfront.” We went through several roundabouts and shortly I saw a glimpse of the sea. “We never made it that one day.” He coughed, then chuckled.
I smacked him again.
“So I figured I’d take you there today, even if it’s just for a moment.” He shrugged self-depreciatively.
A smile warmed me from the inside out. “That is really romantic.” I reached over and grasped his hand.
“Every once and a while.” He squeezed it.
Soon he parallel parked in front of a small pub by the Scot’s Wharf. “Go ahead and walk down a ways, I’ll be out shortly with lunch and we can eat it on the way.” He released my hand and ducked inside the restaurant.
The air was almost sticky with salt, the scent of ocean and marine life thick in the air. It was a mix of a seafood market and the fragrance after a rainstorm.
In a word, it was heavenly.
The sun glimmered off the calm sea, a few fishing boats moored on decks with others bobbing out in the water. The water lapped against the rocks just over the fence that lined the sidewalk, its smooth surface compromised by years of salt spray.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it.” Kirby’s voice startled me but I turned and watched as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
“Yeah.” I did the same, committing the same scent to memory.
I hated how I was doing that so much.
I didn’t want to remember… I wanted to experience it.
“I hope you’re hungry. Logan packed us quite the lunch.” He lifted a large paper sack, splotches of grease leaking through the paper. “That looks glorious.”
He rolled his eyes teasingly and grabbed my hand, leading us back to the car.
“I feel privileged. You’re letting us eat in your car.” I nodded to the bag.
“Don’t mention i
t, I’m already struggling.” He pressed his lips together and glanced from me to the car.
“It is a really nice car.”
“Dinna make it harder than it is, lass.” He pressed his finger against my lips.
I couldn’t hold back the laugher that bubbled out. “Dramatic much?”
“Keeping it real.” He jerked his chin up.
“For once, the brogue doesn’t help.” I shook my head sadly. “It’s anything but gangster.”
Kirby opened my door. “The brogue is good for all things that matter.” He let his gaze travel over my body once before shutting the door, leaving my heart pounding.
“Yes. Yes it is,” I murmured to myself as I watched him round the front of the car and get in.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
KIRBY TOSSED THE empty paper bag into the garbage as we walked into the Edinburgh International Airport. Lunch was amazing and I was thankful I wouldn’t have to depend on the airline food to survive the next several hours. But as amazing as the food had been, my stomach felt tight.
It was time.
And I really, really didn’t want it to be time.
We were silent as Kirby held my hand, his other pulling the large suitcase for me. I checked in at my airline and he waited in line as I checked my bag, his hand warm and tight in mine. Soon, it was time for security and the wretched goodbye.
The line for security just ahead, Kirby lead me to a small waiting area.
“It’s not goodbye,” I blurted, searching his gaze.
His gaze softened. “No. It’s just, ‘I’ll see you in a week.’” He rested his hand against my face. I leaned in, savoring the contact.
“A week will go fast.” He kissed me softly.
“No, it won’t,” I argued, then kissed him back.
“I’m trying to be positive, lass.” He captured my lips once more, teasing them with this warm tongue.
I pulled away. “That makes one of us.” Then I met his kiss once more.
“I always was the mature one.” He chuckled and I leaned back, glaring.
“I won’t even get into that. I don’t have the time,” I said, grinning.
“That’s my girl.” He tugged on a loose strand of hair. “A week will seem like forever, but know that each day I’ll be thinking of you, wishing you were here. It might seem hard… to do this. But Merry, we’ll make it. Dinna worry. I’ve waited this long for you, I’ll not be changing my mind.” He kissed me sweetly, lovingly, affectionately. It was the type of kiss that I would feel guilty about watching if it was someone else. So intimate, not because it was overly passionate, but because it was deep.
The One Page 18