I wasn’t visibly aroused, but I couldn’t hide the fact I was checking her out. Laura wiggled a bit and that didn’t help. I focused on her pretty face, and there was a naughty spark in her eye. “Rex, I want a chance to explain. My night out with Cameron wasn’t what you thought. I did keep it from you. That was wrong on so many levels.”
Laura was mine then. I still wanted her, but we needed to have an understanding because the pain of leaving her was too damn much. It took effort to seem relaxed.
Laura picked up on it. “It’s okay if you’re mad, but I’ll be one hundred percent honest. I was with Cameron that night as a favor. He tried to kiss me. You saw us, but nothing happened. I felt guilty for not telling you. I was upset with my Dad and disappointed for not backing out of the event. I wasn’t feeling well and ended up spending the night at Cameron’s house.”
“He said you were in his bed.”
Laura took a deep breath. “You’re mad, but I didn’t have sex with Cameron back then. You were leaving the next afternoon, so I figured we had time to talk. I slept in the bedroom. He took the sofa. I thought my phone was lost until you said Cameron answered it. He had it all weekend but claimed he found it in his car.”
I shook my head, “So, your father put him up to it.”
“Dad said he didn’t, but I don’t believe it since they lied about everything else. Rex, you could’ve called, at least you would’ve known the truth.”
Laura stopped talking. She took a deep breath like whatever she said next would have a major impact.
She sighed, “I never meant to hurt you. We can’t pick up where we left off, but maybe we can get closure.”
“I don’t need it. I can’t stop thinking about you,” my confession came out however because she needed to know. “Laura, you’re the main reason I came back.”
Her eyes filled with tears, “I wanted that to be true so many times. I waited five months for you.”
“Are you seeing someone now?”
“Not really. I try to date sometimes, and Cameron and I have been on and off. I didn’t cheat on you. It’s hard to believe since I’ve been hooking up with him.”
I had my share of women, lovesick, or not. I didn’t come back for Laura and that was on me, but I needed to ask. “Do you love him?” my words didn’t sound harsh, but the question put Laura in a bad space.
Her eyes narrowed, “I can’t believe you had to ask. I’m in love with you, but I need to make sure I’m not a fling. I love my job too, so I won’t leave it. My Dad wanted to break us up. He was wrong, and his plan worked until now, but if you want to be with me, you need to talk things out with him at some point. I love you both, and I won’t choose. Not for him or you. And what if you leave again? I’m not dealing with that crap. I won’t let you play with my heart. Not this time. I can’t handle the stress from it.” Laura’s chest heaved, so she stopped to take a breath. “Why are you staring at me?”
I smiled, “Because you’re in love with me.”
“I never stopped caring or worrying about you, but you left and changed your number so,” Laura shrugged and pretended it didn’t matter.
“I like your bossy side,” I teased her.
“Don’t laugh. It’s not funny, and you accused me of fucking someone else. Remember?”
“I was out of line.”
“Damn right you were,” her eyes sparked in anger. “Things are so screwed up between us.”
My eyes swept over her. Laura was always soft-spoken, but this spitfire in front of me was something else. “I like your attitude, so you can be mad whenever you want.”
The expression on her face was cute. I wanted to kiss her until she said my name in that sexy whisper I liked so much. “Beautiful, I’ll let you control things from here on out. What do you want to know?”
She quickly gave me her attention, “A few things have been on my mind.”
I relaxed in my chair. “Okay, I’ll give you answers.”
Laura eyed me for a moment unsure if I was being honest or not. I tried not to laugh because it wasn’t the time for it. She would be in my arms soon enough.
“I’m ready when you are,” I prompted her.
“For starters, where did you go last year?”
“I spent time in Miami, the Carolinas, and Hawaii.”
“Okay. Where do you live?” she asked.
“Here. I purchased a property in a private community. It’s nice, would you like to see it?”
“Yes, so are you seeing someone?”
I laughed because Laura asked without missing a beat. “No, but I’ve had my fun.”
“Hmm, you were enjoying yourself the night I was here, but you ignored me, and I didn’t like that.”
“I wasn’t trying to make you jealous, and I’m sorry for how things went down. I won’t fuck up this time. Please say yes to us, and you’ll never feel heartbroken again.”
“I’m still mad at you,” her voice shook. “Rex, you hurt my feelings.”
I wanted to touch Laura, but I didn’t want to risk putting her on edge, so I spoke calmly instead.
“I asked my Grandfather for advice because I wasn’t sure what to say. We talked the night you were here.”
Laura had a curious expression on her face. It was damn cute, and the urge to kiss her was there, but I kept talking. “I was lovesick and my pride was hurt. He said sometimes a woman will break your heart, bruise your pride, and then love you so deeply, you’ll never want to be without her. Every word was true because that’s how I felt.”
Laura sobbed, but I was at her side before any tears fell. I placed a gentle kiss on her mouth, “I love you.”
Laura hid her face against my chest and anchored her leg on my waist. I held her until she lifted her chin to look at me. My mouth locked on hers in a kiss that was overdue. It felt damn good. Laura flicked her tongue in a naughty tease. I let up because her little moans were driving me crazy. Our kiss ended with a groan on my part, “We’ll get wild right here if you don’t stop.”
“I missed you, so kiss me again,” she demanded.
I gave in and her pretty dress inched higher as she wiggled in my grasp. I caressed her thighs and warned her one last time. “I won’t be able to resist. Let me go.”
“I don’t want to,” Laura pouted and kissed my neck. She was feeling playful, but I wasn’t in the mood to be teased. I gripped her ass up, and it felt damn good to do it. I kept caressing her in-between intense kisses, but I was prepared to go all the way.