Angelina looked the other woman over. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-one. Almost twenty-two.”
Angelina pinned her down with a hard look. “Ever hear of the couples curse?”
“No.” The woman’s eyes widened.
“You know how breaking a mirror gains you seven years bad luck?”
“I guess.”
“Breaking up a couple gets you seven years of shitty sex. It’s a fact.”
The woman wrinkled her nose. “You’re joking, right?”
Angelina shrugged. “Not everyone believes in superstitions, but I do. Maybe you’re the kind to walk under ladders and not think twice. Me, I like to be careful—just in case there’s any truth to them.”
The elevator arrived and opened. Angelina and the other woman stepped inside. The ride to their floor was quick and silent. When it opened again, they stepped out at the same time.
The young woman turned toward Angelina with narrowed eyes. “You’re the one he’s seeing.”
She’s young, but she’s not stupid. Angelina winked at her. “Let’s just say I won’t be claiming to have a problem with my computer.” As she walked away, she smiled. Amazing how simple things were when she believed a good outcome was possible. Connor likes me. He’d never be interested in someone who probably still goes to college parties.
That morning she’d woken early and spent a significant amount of time going over everything she knew about Connor, every word they’d exchanged, every tender kiss he’d given her. The way she felt each time he touched her was off the charts good.
So good, she had to ask herself why she was still holding back. Those same words she’d faced again and again came back to her. This time, though, she was armed with Joanna’s positive energy.
I was sixteen. It was a lifetime ago.
As she’d rolled the words that had once shamed her around in her head, she’d realized they were only powerful because she’d chosen to carry them with her—to believe they somehow reflected who she really was.
I didn’t sleep with half the town—or any of Greg’s friends. But would it have mattered if I had? I wasn’t his first. I’m sure I wasn’t his last. He wanted to hurt me and he used shame as his weapon.
But what have I been ashamed of all this time?
Of wanting to be loved?
Of believing a boy who said he cared about me?
Of having sex?
Or being scared and considering the unthinkable?
Wasn’t all of that natural?
And how much longer will I allow the actions of a teenage boy to affect my adult life?
I’ve found a man who genuinely cares about me—a man who doesn’t want to take things further until he knows I’m ready.
So what if a few ignorant people called me names.
I’m not a child anymore.
And I refuse to be ashamed of what I want.
As she strode down the hall, she imagined the scene in slow motion, wind blowing through her hair, and a sensual smile spreading across her face.
Angelina stopped at the door to Kimmie and Linda’s office and took a fortifying breath. Taking a leap of faith was scary, but the idea of never being brave enough to was even more frightening. All I have to do is believe in miracles, magic, and happy endings.
She swung the door open and stepped through it with forced confidence. “Morning ladies.”
“Morning, Angelina,” they echoed.
“Is—Is—Is Connor in his office?”
“He is,” Kimmie said, then smiled at Linda who returned the smile as if the two of them were in on a private joke.
Connor appeared at his door. “Angelina.”
Their eyes met and the ability to think coherently dissolved. “Connor.”
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
“I like your shirt.”
“Thanks.”
In the background, Linda said, “Kimmie, when you write this scene, we’ll spice up the dialogue.”
“I hope I can capture this level of tension.” Kimmie sighed. “I always thought the term sparks flying was so cliché, but I’m getting all flushed just standing next to them.”
Linda stood. “On that note, where’s the office key? Let’s lock up as we go.”
The sound of Kimmie’s desk drawer opening and closing was followed by them making a hasty retreat and closing the office door behind them.
Angelina swallowed hard, but didn’t look away from the desire in Connor’s eyes. “Maybe I should be embarrassed, but I’m not.”
Connor took a step closer to her. “Never be embarrassed with me.”
Angelina stepped toward him. “I have a problem with something you said yesterday.”
He took another step. “I said a lot of things. You’ll have to be more specific.”
“You said you want to make me happy first, then make me yours. You can’t make someone happy. They have to choose that for themselves.”
He nodded, but kept approaching. “Okay, then I want to be with you as you choose it.”
When he stopped, he towered over her, so close she could feel the heat from his body. “And I’m a little offended that you don’t think I’m intelligent enough to appreciate good character in a man.”
“Are you saying you like nice guys?” He traced the line of her jaw gently.
“I don’t have a lot of experience with them, but I’d say that’s definitely what I’m looking for.” She placed her hand over his and held it to her cheek. “I’m trying to put it behind me, but I’ve got some baggage—mental baggage. I overthink things. I tend to fear the worst.” She closed her eyes briefly, then admitted, “Especially when things seem to be going well. I want to believe they can continue to, but . . . I’m afraid to.”
He leaned down until his lips were just above his. “Oh my God. You’re . . . human.”
She chuckled. How did he do it? How did he reach through her pain and draw her back into the light? “You mean everyone is this messed up?”
“Absolutely.”
Everything about being with Connor felt good. Her attraction to him went deeper than just sex. She could mindlessly bask in that smile of his all day. “I like you, Connor Sutton. I like you a lot.”
He brought his other hand up to cup her face. “I like you too. And there’s no reason we need to rush. I’ll be right here whenever you’re ready.”
Real panic flashed through her, but she pushed it back. This was the side of him she’d sensed during his talk to the soccer team. So kindhearted. So openly caring. He was the answer to a yearning she hadn’t allowed herself to admit she had. “What if I’m ready now?”
His face flushed. “Well, okay then.” The kiss she expected didn’t come, instead his smile faded and he looked down at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher. “We shouldn’t do this here.”
Embarrassment flooded in and she stepped back from him. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
He reached out, taking both of her hands in his. “You don’t understand and that makes sense since you don’t even know me yet. Which me do you want to fuck? The one you saw in the movie? He doesn’t exist. The one you met at Reemsly? He doesn’t either.”