Meant to Be by Jessica James Page B

again
sometime.”
    Lauren just smiled and nodded as he
slid his hand down and laced his fingers with hers. There was no
talking now as each of them became lost in their own thoughts. At
last Lauren looked up, and seeing where they were, turned toward
the Boardwalk. She nodded toward the hotel. “That’s it.”
    Rad stared grimly at the building, but
made no comment other than to give her hand a reassuring
squeeze.
    When they stopped in front of the
entrance, Lauren longed for a way to control her heart because it
felt like it was going to pound itself right out of her chest. Not
knowing what to say or do next, she stood there awkwardly until Rad
pulled her gently toward him, his steady gaze searching hers in
silent expectation.
    “ I’m an old-fashioned
girl,” she said half-jokingly. “I don’t kiss on the first
date.”
    “ I kind of figured that.”
He did not release his hold, but the expression in his eyes was
soothing in its assurance and power of restraint. “The average date
is about two and a half or three hours tops.”
    “ Yeah?” She studied him
questioningly and found his expression so intense and galvanizing,
it sent a tremor through her.
    “ And we’ve spent
twenty-some hours together.”
    “ So?” She still didn’t
know where he was going with his reasoning.
    “ So the way I figure it,
we’re well past our sixth or seventh date.”
    Lauren smiled. “Oh, I see your point.”
It took only another second for her to decide that this was one of
those times when the present moment was worth anything that might
catch up to her in the future. She had never intended to feel this
attraction, but it was too late to stop it now. “In that case, I
guess you have some making up to do.”
    Without giving her a chance to change
her mind, Rad put a strong arm around her waist and pulled her even
tighter, enfolding her securely into the circle of his arms. She
could feel the heat of his body course through the entire length of
hers as he lowered his lips, first in a soft, searching, gentle
kiss, and then with more passion and need.
    Lauren was shocked by her own response
to his embrace. She had planned to resist anything more than a
goodnight kiss, but his masterful touch melted her resolve. She
clung to him, feeling the tight cord of muscles in his back and the
strength of his powerful arms surrounding her. Every inch of him
was solid and strong, like a mountain made of granite, yet his kiss
was tender and loving, leaving her breathless and trembling and
confused.
    At last she pulled away. “Damn. This
is all your fault.”
    Rad blinked and eyed her curiously,
swiping a stray strand of hair from her face. “What’s all my
fault?”
    “ You made me have a good
time today.” She stared into his eyes and then looked away, not
wanting to risk getting lost in his gaze. “And now I have to
leave.”
    He smiled. “Do you regret
it?”
    “ Only the leaving part,”
she said, dejectedly.
    “ Well, I’ll take the
credit for making you have a good time, but you’ll have to take the
blame for leaving.”
    “ I don’t have much choice
in the matter.”
    “ There’s always a choice.”
He pulled her back against him, his touch firm and
persuasive.
    Lauren laid her head against his
chest. “Why did you have to be so stubborn and obstinate and not
take no for an answer?”
    “ Honey, if I had taken no
for an answer, you would be sound asleep in your bed right now and
wouldn’t have half the memories to take with you.”
    She half-nodded in agreement and then
gazed up at him. “Actually, I’d probably be up and packed.” She
glanced toward the hotel. “I really gotta go.”
    “ Well, wait a second.” He
dug through his pocket. “I hope you don’t mind. I got you something
for our anniversary.”
    Lauren cocked her head. “Our
anniversary?”
    Rad nodded to something over her
shoulder, so she turned around and saw the faint glow of the
sunrise. “Don’t tell me you forgot our anniversary. I met