I’ll admit it. Being there with him but not having him around was harder than I thought it would be. This was what I wanted. I wanted to spend as little time with him as possible to protect my heart and keep my sanity intact. But now that I had it, I didn’t want it.I wanted him to sigh in my ear and mumble in a bored tone as I gaze longingly at a picture. I wanted him to wrap his fingers around mine and pull me through the gallery quickly. And I wanted him to stop my yelling at him by silencing me with a kiss.I wanted everything I couldn’t have.Everything that was addictive and beautiful and inspiring. The things that make you wake with a laugh and fall asleep with a smile. The tender touches and knowing glances and inside jokes. I wanted the random skips of my heart and coiling of my stomach, and I wanted the butterflies whenever he walked in the

“Now who’s being a smartass?” I knocked his hand from my cheek. “You know how I feel about this.”“About what?”“You spending money on me. I can buy my own stuff.”He leaned in, putting his mouth close to my ear. “And I can get myself off, but that doesn’t mean I should.”“Nothing alike.” I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t want you to buy me stuff.”“Who said I was buying you something?”“I wasn’t born yesterday, George.”He sighed and cupped my face. “Indulge me, Gina. If I want to spend my money on you, then please let me.”“Please again.” I turned my face into his hand and kissed his palm. “I don’t have to like it, do I?”He brought my mouth to his. “I’d like it if

I wanted to squirm my hips and clamp my thighs together, but that would be giving him what he wanted—the knowledge that I am ready for him. “Now you’re getting in this boat, and as we travel around the city, you can sit opposite me and wonder about all the ways I’m planning to make your body tremble beneath me tonight.” I closed my eyes as I took a seat. He knew exactly what he was doing to me. He was playing my body and my desire in a way that meant I can’t stay out of the game. Every step further into my lust brought me closer to loving him, and he knew that. He was impulsive and playful when he wanted to be, but when he wanted something, he planned so carefully I had no choice but to go along with it. He did it in Paris and he was doing it now. If I believe him, that his love never faded, then I have no doubt that this trip was to make me fall in love again.

But this was his car.But still.Oh God.I slapped my hand over my eyes. Shut the fuck up, Gina. Love obviously made me a little neurotic and a whole lot batshit crazy.The car pulled up outside a tall glass building proclaiming Stone Advertising above the large doors. George was standing in front of it, his eyes on the sleeve he was playing with. Some guy in a suit opened my door.Blue eyes met mine as I left the car, and I raised my eyebrow. “Care to explain why you’ve pulled me down to your office on short notice?”“I need your help to select some images.”“Are you kidding me?” I stopped in front of him and poked his solid chest. “You pulled me down here without any kind of message to pick some damn photos? Do you know how crazy I just went in the car?”Evidently, he didn’t care—not i

“Why? I was just a crazy American girl amazed by the Tower, just like thousands of others that pass through here every year.”“I was as amazed by you as you were by the Tower. Just like you had to see it, I had to speak to you.”I touched my lips to his gently. “I’m glad you did. Most of the time, anyway.”“Most of the time?” He smirked when I shrugged in response then sighed. “Come on. I made reservations for dinner.”“I’m not exactly dressed for dinner.” I looked at my light blue dress.“You look perfect. No arguments.” He pulled me down a long, winding street, and I flashed back to our first date.The one after he replaced my coffee. The proper one.“George?” My smile crept into my voice. “Are you taking me to that little sandwich shop we found