Dashing: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Unleashed Romance, Book 2)

by Kylie Gilmore

  I go through the motions of microwaving dinner and eating, barely tasting the chicken parmigiana and noodles. Does it really matter exactly how much we have in common? Isn’t it more important that we’re compatible? Kayla and I complement each other. She accepts the way I am, and I love the way she is.

  I gulp, my fork stilling. I love her.

  I leap from my seat, startling Tank into a low growl.

  How did I not see it before? I love being with her, love talking to her, love giving her pleasure. So much so, I ask for nothing in return. It’s an insult to her. That’s the problem. She wants to give back, and I push her away every time. It’s not just physical. It’s way beyond that. It’s about true intimacy between two people who are way beyond friends.

  I have to tell her. It’s Friday night. She always works Friday and Saturday nights. I’ll go to The Horseman Inn, wait for her break, and go upstairs with her to lay it all on the line. We don’t have to say goodbye.

  I make it to the restaurant in record time, my breath shallow as urgency drives me on. I didn’t have time to come up with a speech, but I’m just going to make my case for why we’re compatible and what that means.

  I burst inside, looking for her. I don’t see her in the front room. I move to the back of the restaurant, looking quickly back and forth. Still no Kayla. I’m about to try her apartment when Sydney finishes checking on a customer and walks over to me. “Hey, Adam, you okay? You look like you were just chased in here, sort of panicky.”

  “Where is she?”

  She doesn’t pretend not to know who I mean. “Don’t you guys talk? She’s in Indiana. The company liked her so much for the phone interview, they flew her out for a second interview.”

  “Indiana,” I echo. It’s far. I’d have to fly to get to her quickly, and the rush ticket will be expensive. I’ll pay it. I don’t care. But what if I fly out there while she’s flying back here? “When’s she coming back?”

  “So you’re not hanging out anymore?”

  “Just tell me!”

  “Okay, chill. Geez, I’ve never seen you like this. Take a breath, okay? She’s staying for a week. She had an all-day interview today that went really well, and she’s staying to explore the area and visit her college roommate.”

  Adrenaline kicks in. She’s going to get a job offer far from here. I knew this was a possibility, it’s the only reason I got as involved as I did, and now that it’s here, I can’t bear it. “Okay, where exactly in Indiana? I need her friend’s address.”

  “I really feel like this is something you need to talk to Kayla about.”

  I grab her arm, my voice low. “I’m losing her. I can’t lose her, Syd.”

  Her eyes widen. “Oh, wow, you fell for her, didn’t you? I’m so happy—”

  “Address,” I say through my teeth.

  She pulls her phone out and pulls up a hotel name. “She’s got a nice suite, all paid for by the bigwig pharmaceutical company.”

  I snap a picture of the info and take off.

  “I’m rooting for you, bro!” she yells after me. There’s a murmur of curious voices behind me.

  I don’t have time to waste. I can’t lose her forever.

  14

  Kayla

  I finish my long luxurious shower in the marble bathroom of my deluxe hotel room and sigh. This is the life. Such a far cry from the tiny shower stall with minimal water pressure at my apartment. Noon Pharmaceuticals paid for me to stay in this gorgeous room with a view of downtown Indianapolis. The bathroom has a soaking tub and enclosed shower, complimentary luxury bath and beauty products, thick white towels, heated towel racks. Truly a sumptuous space. It went really well at my interview yesterday. I spent the entire day meeting with a lot of different people, all the way up to the VP of research and development. I think they’re going to make me an offer. They said they’d get back to me on Monday.

  I pad into the main room, which is also spacious and lovely. There’s a king-size bed with a fluffy white down comforter, along with a sitting area with a sofa and a desk. Brunch should be here in half an hour from room service. Nothing better than a Belgian waffle to start your day. I’m meeting up with my friend Livvie tonight for dinner and drinks. She’s a mom with a toddler at home now, and she’s dying to have a night out. She married right out of college to the guy she met the first day on campus. She says it was like a lightning strike with Justin. They instantly knew.

  I wish things were that clear for me. I seem to stumble along in relationships, never sure where I stand, afraid to ask and come off like I’m pressuring a guy. Maybe it just hasn’t happened for me yet—that lightning strike. Though there was something special with Adam from the very first time I clapped eyes on him last January. He stopped by Wyatt’s house to help remove a fallen tree, and I couldn’t stop staring at him. I wasn’t ready for any kind of involvement with a guy at the time, but I couldn’t resist visiting him the following week when he started his carpentry work for Wyatt. We were friends because that’s all I could handle, and it seemed like that was all he needed too. And then it changed. I changed it, and now it’s ruined. We’re not even friends anymore.

  My eyes well, and I shake my head at myself. I’ve cried enough about him. I’m the one with the problem. I changed the rules, he didn’t want anything serious, and I can’t expect him to magically be where I’m at.

  I sniffle and get dressed in a summery pink off-the-shoulder top with white shorts and sandals. After my Belgian waffle with whipped cream, I plan on exploring the downtown.

  I return to the bathroom, wipe off the mirror so I can see myself through the condensation, and carefully apply makeup. Even if I feel wretched on the inside, I want to look put together on the outside. I haven’t seen Livvie in a couple of years, and I want her to think I have it together. I do, mostly. I’m on my way to finally starting a career after years of school. That’s a big deal. I don’t want her to take one look at me and think, what happened?

  I wander out to the room, open the curtains, and take in all the tall buildings. So different from the lakeside community I’ve grown to love. There must be a lake around here somewhere. I’d miss not having a lake.

  The hotel phone on the nightstand rings, startling me. I wonder if there’s a problem with my room service order. Damn, I was really looking forward to a Belgian waffle.

  I pick up the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Ms. Winters. You have a visitor. Adam Robinson. Would you like me to send him up?”

  My hand flies to my mouth. Adam? Here? How did he even know where I was?

  “Ma’am?”

  “Yes. Send him up, please.”

  I thank him and hang up, my heart racing. I look around in a panic and quickly make the bed, hang up my bath towel, and straighten up my toiletries. What am I doing? Like Adam cares if my hotel room is neat. I can’t believe he’s here! Sydney must’ve told him where I was.

  I wring my hands together. What does this mean?

  I pace the room and then open the door, searching for him, too wired to wait. The elevator dings, and he steps out, his jaw set. He’s got a duffel bag over one shoulder.

  “Adam.”

  He marches toward me, his expression serious. “We need to talk.”

  “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “Got the first flight out this morning. Sydney told me where you were.”

  I step back to let him in. “Have a seat.” I gesture toward the sofa, which is small, more like a love seat.

  He drops his duffel bag by the door and strides over to the sofa, flopping down.

  I join him on the sofa. “Are you okay?”

  He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “No, I’m not. I haven’t been okay since you told me goodbye six days ago.” He levels a hard look at me. “Six days, Kayla.”

  My lips part in surprise. He must’ve missed me.

  He straightens and meets my eyes intently. “I just want you to hear me out, let me make my case, a
nd then you decide what you want to do.”

  A small ray of hope warms me. “Okay.”

  “First, we’re very compatible. I know you said we weren’t because you talk and I listen, but that complements each other. And, not only that, it doesn’t matter if we watch the same TV shows as long as we’re sitting together. That’s all I need. To hold your hand or feel you pressed against my side. And I’ll go to as many parties as you want. I’ll even dance with you. All I want is your happiness.”

  My throat tightens, and I take a deep breath to loosen it. “It sounds like—”

  “I’m not done. We’re compatible physically too. I’ve never wanted another woman the way I want you, and I held you off, convinced you’d regret it because I was not the one who’d be sticking by you, but the thing is, Kayla, I want to stick. I’ve never wanted anything more. So if it’s still okay with you, I’d like to be your first.”

  Pure happiness bubbles up inside me. “Oh, Adam, I—”

  “And your last. What I’m saying is, we should get married.”

  I stare at him, shocked. “We should get married? Why?”

  “Because we’re compatible in every way, and I want you to have that security. Your first, your last.”

  Because of sex. Not one mention of love. He’s still trying to protect me in his misguided way. He’s saying he knows what’s best for me. We should get married.

  I shake my head.

  “What’s no? You don’t want to marry me?”

  I stand. “It’s just not right. I’m sorry. I think you should go.”

  He doesn’t move, his brows knit together.

  Do I have to spell it out? You don’t love me. That’s the only reason I’d consider getting married. I’m saved from pointing out the horrible truth by a knock on the door.

  “Who’s that?” he asks.

  “I assume room service,” I say.

  He goes to answer the door for me, and I follow. He opens the door to a smiling middle-aged guy in the hotel’s maroon uniform. “Hello, room service.”

  Adam lets him in, and the server sets up brunch for me on the desk.

  I sign it to the room. “Thank you. Have a good day.”

  “You too, ma’am.”

  The door shuts behind him.

  Adam steps close. “Have you been with someone else? Is that why you don’t want me anymore? Is it too late to be your first?”

  I back away, stunned. “It’s been six days!”

  “I don’t know. I saw you talking to Drew at the restaurant.”

  “So? I talk to him all the time. Other people too. If you haven’t noticed, I’m a people person.”

  “He smiled at you.”

  I throw my hands up. “People smile! It doesn’t mean they had sex!”

  “What were you two talking about?”

  I plant my hands on my hips and give him my best glare. “If you must know, he was inviting me to a free trial karate class for adult beginners, which I went to on Wednesday night. I enjoyed punching a punching bag and learning defensive maneuvers that will take down a much larger body.” I eye his towering size. “I could probably take you to the ground with what I know now.”

  His lips twitch. “You could try.”

  “Glad you’re amused, Adam. I’m not. You flew all this way to tell me we should get married because we’re compatible. Well, I don’t agree. I’m compatible with a lot of people I won’t be marrying. I’m compatible with the VP of Noon Pharmaceuticals research, won’t be marrying him. I’m compatible with the research associate I followed yesterday, won’t be marrying him. I’m compatible with Audrey, won’t be marrying her.”

  “I’m sensing the word compatible is the problem.”

  I turn and walk over to my brunch. “I’m going to eat. I’m feeling very hangry.”

  “Okay. I’ll wait.”

  “No, you should go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  I bite back what I want to say, which is clueless man! How can we be in two such different places?

  I take a few bites of waffle and then turn to where he’s standing looking out the window. “You want a bite?”

  “I’m good.”

  I go back to eating, but I don’t enjoy it at all. I just need my strength to deal with Adam. I’m finally going to admit I have deep feelings and, if he doesn’t return them, then we need to say goodbye for good.

  “They put you up in a nice hotel,” he says. “They must really want you on board.”

  “I’ll hear on Monday. It’s a good job with potential for growth long term. They have all sorts of interesting ways I could branch out too.”

  “Have you had any other job offers?”

  “This would be the first. Though I do have second interviews scheduled at others.”

  “Any close to home?”

  “Close enough to visit. New Jersey, Boston, Manhattan, none easily commutable.”

  He nods and crosses his arms.

  I’m tired of hoping he’ll say something deep. He says he missed me but that’s all. Maybe he just misses our friends-with-half-a-benefit relationship. I finish breakfast and cover the plate with the silver domed lid. Then I drink my water and turn my swivel chair to face him.

  The words lodge in my throat. I take a deep breath and blurt, “I can’t do friends with half a benefit with you anymore.”

  He steps closer. “I’m saying we can be friends with full benefits, and I think we should get married too.”

  I take a deep breath. “I don’t think we should get married just because of that. You’re not responsible for what I thought I wanted before—sex only with my husband. I’ve changed my mind. That’s not what I want anymore.”

  He sits on the edge of the desk next to me, his voice fierce. “I don’t want you to have sex with anyone else.”

  I close my eyes, pained over the complete disconnect with the man I’m in love with. “I’m afraid sex has become this huge deal between us, having it, not having it.” I open my eyes. “Sex is not the problem.”

  “Tell me what is.”

  My lower lip wobbles, tears springing to my eyes. “The problem is, I have deep feelings for you, and you have nothing but obligation toward me and what you think I need when all I want is to be close to you. And I don’t mean physically close, okay?”

  He pulls me out of my chair and wraps his arms around me. “You are close to me.”

  I press my cheek against his chest, listening to the solid thump of his heart. “It doesn’t feel like it. It feels like you keep me at a distance in every way.” I lift my head. “It’s my fault. I changed the rules. I can’t help it. Any woman who spent any amount of time with you would fall for you.”

  He tips my chin up. “Sweet woman. What I was trying to say in my bumbling way before was this, I’m all in now. I love you.”

  My lower lip trembles. “Really?”

  He rubs his thumb across my lower lip. “Yeah, really. You think I just blurt out the L word to anyone?”

  I kiss him, tears springing to my eyes. I wipe them away. “Statistically speaking, you’re unlikely to lose me. I love you so much.”

  “Kayla.” He holds me tight like he never wants to let me go.

  “This is the first time you’ve ever hugged me first. I’m always the one hugging you.”

  “I was an idiot before, trying to keep you at a distance.” He frames my face with both hands. “And then you were at a distance, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”

  I pepper his gorgeous face with kisses. “You won’t. And I will marry you. Your earlier proposal counts.”

  “No, it doesn’t. I did that all wrong with the compatibility stuff. How about you move in with me, and we’ll take it from there?”

  “With full benefits?”

  He gives me a slow sexy smile. “We can get started on full benefits right now.”

  “Then you need to strip.”

  15

  I close the curtains so all of Indianap
olis doesn’t get the show I’m about to get. “Nice and slow,” I tell him, taking a seat on the sofa. “Make it like a stripper routine.”

  He chuckles and pulls off his T-shirt, spinning it over his head. “This is much tawdrier than I imagined.”

  “Woo! Take it all off!”

  He tosses the shirt to me.

  I catch it and breathe it in. “I’ve missed this. You always smell so good. Clean and woodsy.” I grin. “Remember what you told me about seduction and stripping?”

  One corner of his mouth lifts. “If you strip, he’s on board. If he strips first, run.”

  I nod. “You stripped first, and there’s no way I’m running. I’m on board.”

  “Me too.” He kicks off his shoes and socks and rests his fingers on the button of his jeans, his eyes intent on mine. “Have you ever seen a man naked?”

  “Not in real life,” I admit.

  “C’mere.”

  I go to him, and he pulls me close, his lips meeting mine. He takes my hand, running it over the length of him, letting me feel him through his jeans. It’s an impressive bulge. A lick of panic runs through me. How’s that going to fit?

  I break the kiss and stare at it. “Show me.”

  He groans. “I probably shouldn’t have kissed you. This would’ve been easier.” He undoes the button and carefully unzips, pulling his jeans away from his massive erection.

  I don’t hesitate, grabbing the waistband of his black boxer briefs and pushing them down along with the jeans. His cock rears up, thick and engorged. I stroke it tentatively with one finger.

  He groans and steps back, stripping his jeans and briefs completely off.

  I bite my lower lip. “What do you like?”

  “Just touch me. I’ll like anything you do because it’s you.”

  Reassured, I step close, roaming my palms over his heated chest, over defined abs, and then lower, following the trail back to his cock. I run my fingers over it, under it, around it, learning the feel of him the way he learned me. I look up at him to see how he likes it.