Traces by Denise Weimer

Author:Denise Weimer [Weimer, Denise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781645262589
Publisher: Bling! Romance
Published: 2020-03-05T05:00:00+00:00

8:37 p.m.

Alex shook his head as Kate lunged to the window. When the inset panes didn’t open, she pressed her cheek against the glass. “We should yell for the employee before he leaves. He’s at the end of the row.”

“And have him call the police?”

“He wouldn’t do that. We would say we were checking the building out.”

“Yeah, with our fat Appalachian Trail backpacks. Actually, this is probably the safest place we could be right now. Spending the night here makes sense.”

“How can you say that?” Kate sank to the floor, raising her hands to her hair as her chest rose and fell rapidly. “I hate small spaces! Why do you think I want out of my apartment?”

Chuckling, Alex approached her, bent at the waist. “Some people live in houses this small.”

“Don’t you get it? This is my worst fear. I feel like I’m gonna pass out.”

Alex reached for her and, as he had in the car, pressed her head against his shoulder. He smoothed a hand over her silky hair. “Breathe slowly, from your middle. Concentrate on something else.”

She stilled. “Your heartbeat.”

He caught his breath as his pulse sped up. He forced himself to focus on the hum of the security light just outside rather than her enticing nearness. “Don’t worry. We’re not trapped. I can get us out of here if I have to, but I’d rather not damage the building.” He gave a low chuckle and held her against him until her breathing slowed. “Better?”

She nodded.

Alex let out a gruff laugh. “This experience does seem to force us to face our worst fears and weaknesses.”

“Mine is obvious, but what is yours?”

He pulled back, trailing a strand of hair through his fingers. “Being stuck in here with you.”

“Thanks.”

Alex gave a weak smile. He’d have to be honest if he didn’t want to distance her. “You took it the same way in Fung Chen’s office, like a rejection, but you should have recognized the compliment—certainly after what happened between us at the house today. I can’t be close to you, Kate. I find you too attractive. In the past, I’ve moved too fast and made some serious mistakes with relationships.”

Kate glanced at him, then tucked her chin. “I … see.”

Trying to numb the pain of his own failures, he’d left a trail of trouble, broken hearts, and vengeful significant-others in his wake, and with girls he didn’t even care about. Despite his resolve to keep this about the money, he cared about Kate. Maybe because their partnership had forced him to actually get to know her. She was intelligent, witty, determined, and she pushed past his walls—even called him out when he needed it.

But putting all his emotional cards on the table so soon would make him too vulnerable.

Alex drew a deep breath. “I don’t want to make those same mistakes with you. And that brings me to an apology I was too stubborn to give earlier.”

Kate’s gaze swung to him with an expression of dread. “An apology?”

“Holding your hand as a comforting gesture was one thing, but there are so many reasons I shouldn’t have kissed you.

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