CHAPTER 15: ALMOST KISS

Maya

The silence in the elevator stretches on, long enough that my breath starts to come in short, shallow pulls. Every inch of me is tuned into him: the way his thumb strokes the back of my hand, the steady beat of his heart I can feel through our joined fingers, the warm weight of his breath against my cheek.

“I should have known this would happen,” he says, his voice low enough that only I can hear it. “That one day you’d walk into my life and turn everything upside down.”

“You brought me here,” I whisper back, leaning in just a fraction closer. “You’re the one who asked me to be your intern. You’re the one who looked at me like I was more than just Monica’s daughter.”

“I did.” His other hand comes up, brushing hair away from my face, his fingers graze my temple, then linger on my jaw. “But I never meant for it to be like this. Never meant to let you get so close.”

“Too late for that.” My eyes drop to his lips, then back up to his face. The red emergency light casts shadows across his features, making him look older and younger all at once, silver hair catching the glow, dark eyes burning with something I can’t name.

He moves forward, just a hair’s breadth, and our noses almost touch. I can taste the wine we’d shared at dinner on his breath. My hands find his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, feeling the hard muscle underneath.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Maya,” he says, but there’s no bite to it. His voice is thick with want, with need. “What happens when your mom finds out? When she realizes you’re the one who’s trying to pull us apart?”

“I’ll deal with her when the time comes.” My thumb traces the line of his jaw, feeling the sharp edge of it under my skin. “Right now, I just want you.”

His lips part, and I lean in…so close I can feel the warmth radiating from his mouth. Just a little more, and we’ll finally cross that line we’ve both been dancing around for weeks. My eyes flutter closed, my heart hammering against my ribs so hard I swear he can feel it.

I’m so close I can count the individual silver strands in his hair. So close I can feel the way his lips twitch, ready to meet mine…

Then the elevator lurches.

The emergency light flickers, and the car jolts hard enough that I stumble forward, falling against his chest. His arms wrap around me automatically, holding me steady as the lights flash back on with a buzz. The elevator groans, then starts moving again…slowly at first, then picking up speed as it glides upward once more.

The doors slide open on the twenty-third floor, but we don’t move apart. He keeps his arms around me, holding me tight against him as people start filing out of the car…Sarah is there first, her eyes going wide when she sees us pressed together like that.

“Mr. Davenport? Everything okay?” she asks, though her gaze lingers on where our bodies are still touching.

“Fine, Sarah.” He doesn’t let go of me, just adjusts his hold so his hands rest on my hips instead of wrapping around my waist. “The elevator had a minor issue. We’re fine now.”

She nods, still staring, then turns to walk back to her desk. He finally releases me, but his hands linger on my hips for a second too long before dropping to his sides.

“That was… unexpected,” he says, clearing his throat.

“Unexpected?” I laugh, though it comes out shaky. “I think ‘traumatic’ is more like it. We almost…”

“I know what almost happened.” He runs a hand through his hair, looking more disheveled than I’ve ever seen him. “We can’t do this, Maya. Not here. Not ever.”

“But you wanted it too.” I step closer, not letting him pull away. “I saw it in your eyes. You wanted me just as much as I wanted you.”

“I’m engaged to your mother.” The words stabs me, but there’s no heat behind them. Just sadness. “That means something. It has to mean something.”

Before I can answer, the elevator dings again, and Ethan steps out, carrying a large canvas under his arm. He stops short when he sees us, his eyes scanning the space between us, then landing on my flushed cheeks and rumpled hair.

“Well, well,” he says, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Am I too late for the party?”