Escape With Me (Love With Me 1)

He reached out to touch her, but she stepped back. She wasn't sure enough of her emotions to be touched. Part of her wanted to tackle him into the bed and show him how much she ached for him, but another part was angry.

“You lied to me,” she said softly, her eyes on his outstretched hands. “You didn't tell me this was who you really are.”

He dropped his hand. “This isn't who I really am. The bartender on a tropical island who is happy with his life is who I really am. This is what I left behind. This isn't me.”

“You could have told me.”

“Would you have believed me?” he asked her. “Would you have done things differently? I don't tell people who I am for exactly that reason. People change when they know you have money.”

Cassie wasn't sure she could honestly say he wasn't right. She probably would have dismissed him telling her he was rich as little lies to impress her.

“Would you have stayed if you had known?” His eyes went to hers, and she felt her core tighten. When he looked at her, she was the only thing in the world that existed.

“I don't know,” she said honestly. “Maybe. It would have been a very different conversation.”

He nodded and looked away.

“What do you want?” she asked. “Why are you here?”

His eyes came back to her. “I'm here for you, Cassie.”

“You shouldn't be,” she told him. Her thoughts were so jumbled, and she could smell his aftershave. She wanted to kiss him so badly it hurt. She needed to take a step back. She needed to be careful and cautious. She needed to evaluate and plan. Jumping into things too quickly was what got her into this mess. “I should go.”

“Please, don't.” He reached out and grabbed her arm. When she froze, he released it. “At least get dinner with me. I did travel all the way here to see you.”

Cassie chewed on her lower lip. It had all the markings of a bad idea. He'd lied to her about who he was. What else was he lying about? What other secrets and surprises were in store?

She couldn't trust him.

Yet, she couldn't say no to him either. Her heart and her body wouldn't let her brain form the words.

“Fine,” she mumbled. “Dinner. I'll make a reservation.”

He smiled, and her heart leaped with joy. His smile brightened the room better than the sun. “Anywhere you want. My treat.”

She made a noncommittal noise and turned from the room.

Cassie made it back to her office and locked the door. Then she collapsed on the floor and forced herself to remember how to breathe.

Chapter Twenty-One

Wyatt

Wyatt expected Cassie to pick a safe location. He thought she'd pick the hotel restaurant or perhaps even the sandwich shop across the street. He was sure she would want something with lots of people and plenty of easy exits. So he was a bit surprised when he walked into Mangia Ristorante to find that it was an intimate and cozy Italian restaurant. For the first time since arriving on the mainland, he felt hope spring up in his chest again.

He made his way to the back of the restaurant to a small booth. It would be intimate, but still public enough to make her feel comfortable. He ordered two glasses of wine and sat watching the front door. She arrived right on time.

His tongue felt thick, and his heart sped up. She hadn't seen him yet, but just watching her made his whole body tingle with anticipation. She was so beautiful.

The simple burgundy dress she wore was classy and elegant. But, just like with her bikini, it looked sexy as hell without meaning too. It was just the way Cassie wore it. She was sexy and anything she wore looked good to him.

She wore her dark hair pulled back into a low bun at the nape of her neck, and he thought she was wearing lipstick. It was hard to see by the candlelight of the restaurant, but if she was, it definitely boded well for him.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked, catching his eye as he approached. She smiled, but it felt formal instead of playful.

He quickly stood, motioning her to the seat opposite of him.

“Thank you for coming,” he said, settling back into his chair once she was seated. “I was worried you would change your mind.”