Knock Love Out (A Sensual New Adult Crossover Romance) by Pella Grace Page A

paper and rips it in half, tossing it into her ashtray.
    “Didn’t think so.” Melanie scoots back from the table. “Be a gem and walk Lilla to her car. I have a fundraiser tonight and I must be getting dressed.”
    I watch as she exits the room, and then turn slowly towards Lilla. She is putting away her things. Glances to me briefly.
    “I’m okay. You don’t have to walk me out.”
    “It’s no big deal,” I shrug.
    I take one of her bags as we walk to the door. Instinctively I lay a hand on her back as we cross the steps, reaching the driveway. Quickly I pull away, handing over her belongings when we make it to her car.
    “Um,” she looks to her feet. “I need to give you something. I mean, you’re going to want to know what you’re getting into. I mean, I have plans. For you. I mean …” she sighs. “I have the stuff, the freaking plans for Cruella’s shopping center.”
    “Cruella?”
    Her hand mimics Mel’s smoking her cigarette. “Dahhling I want to buy and skin all your precious puppies.” She tokes from a fake holder, rolling her eyes.
    “Mel’s alright.”
    “Ha,” she opens her car door, tossing her bag inside.
    “She gave me my start. I wouldn’t have sold anything if it wasn’t for her. Her family.”
    “In that case,” Lilla says, “I wish I was a painter.”
    Everything packed up, ready to go. Only the cool breeze between us. Only awkward tension speaking up.
    “I can make copies and drop them off at the store if you’d like?”
    “I don’t even know what she wants me to do.”
    “We’re supposed to collaborate on the advertising campaign. I think she wants you to take what’s in my head and bring it to life.”
    “Copies of stupid fucking shopping mall plans aren’t going to do that.”
    She lowers her eyes. “I’ve never done this before. I don’t know how it works. For you.”
    My hands rub over my face. “Just come to my apartment. Fuck.”
    My feet start to walk away.
    “Cash …” Did I already say fuck? “Warren, I’m sorry.”
    “I’m sure you didn’t know Melanie was one of my clients. It’s fine. We’ll do this, get paid and move on.”
    Her head shakes. “I’m not talking about this project. I’m sorry I hurt you the other day. You just … caught me off guard.”
    She smiles sadly, looking down. “It’s easy sometimes to blame everyone else. My marriage is crap so obviously it’s Adam’s fault. My career is crap so obviously it’s my boss’s fault. Never mind the fact that every time something bothers me, I keep my feelings to myself. I keep Adam in the dark about everything and expect him to somehow be in touch with me. I put fifty percent of myself into my work and expect to be rewarded one hundred percent. And I blame everyone and everything but myself. “
    I take a few steps towards her. “You just did.”
    She looks up. “What?”
    “Took the blame. You just did.”
    Lilla nods. “Said it to the wrong person, so, not really.”
    “If you told Adam what you just told me, what would he say?”
    “Probably agree with me.”
    I nod. “Then you’d still be in the same place.”
    “It’s not his fault. He does what any woman would want. Would ask for in a husband. He’s a good provider. A good person. Would do anything for anyone. If I explained to someone why I’m unhappy they would look at me like I have two heads and tell me to grow up.”
    “Wanting your husband to love you isn’t a sin.”
    “He does. That’s my whole point.”
    “You can love someone without being in love with them, Lilla. There’s a difference.”
    “How can you tell?”
    My feet move, stopping just as my body presses lightly to hers. Backs of my fingers grazing lightly over the flush in her cheeks.
    “Does it ever feel like that?”
    Her eyes look to mine.
    “There’s a difference between love and lust, too.”
    “Ah, you’re hurting my feelings again,” I tease.
    “I can’t compare you to Adam. That’s what I’ve been trying to say.