Page 15 of Total Obsession

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling off balance again. Did he really just imply that he cared about me? Maybe this wasn’t some comment on my weight.

I shook my head. "No, it all sounds great." I made a face. "Except for the water."

He chuckled. "You'll drink that before you get your coffee."

My eyes widened. I couldn't decide if I liked what he was saying, the way he was saying it, or the way he was looking at me. Even though some might say that his actions were red flags and totally controlling, there was something nice about a man stepping in and trying to take care of me.

"We'll see," I said quietly, continuing to fiddle with my hair.

* * *

"I'll be just a minute, I promise," I said to him as the car pulled in front of my hotel.

"There's no need to rush," he said to me. He opened the car door on his side as the car came to a full stop, beating the driver to open my door. He offered me his hand, and I took it, thankful that the cold hid some of the blush that kept finding its way onto my cheeks. "Do you mind if I come up?" he asked me.

I shook my head. "I'm just going to be packing quickly."

"Of course," he said. "But, I can help you with your bags, and I'd much rather be in your company than in Nigel's," he said, gesturing to the driver. "No offense, Nigel," he said with a laugh.

"None taken, sir," the driver, apparently named Nigel, replied.

"Shall we?" he asked, and I once again found myself nodding as his dark green eyes locked with mine.

A few minutes found us upstairs in my hotel room. He closed the door behind us, and I realized that it was the first time all day that he and I were truly alone. More than that, it was the first time since all those years ago that Axe and I were alone together.

My heartbeat began to race, and I moved to the other side of the room to shove things into my suitcase as he took a seat on the sofa. I shoved clothes into my bag, but I wasn't really looking at what I was doing. I was watching him looking at his phone. His legs were crossed casually, his dark hair was combed back perfectly, and his navy blue suit didn't look like he'd been all over Manhattan like I knew he had been.

He looked up, probably because I was completely staring him down, and I quickly turned away, acting like I was looking for something. I could hear him get up off the couch and approach me.

"Did you misplace something?" he asked.

"Um," I stammered. "I'm not sure."

"Can you describe it to me?" he asked.

"No," I responded because I couldn't.

"Is that because it's not physical?"

His words struck me, and I found myself turning around and meeting his gaze. I was breathing heavily. I could hear it. He stepped in closer to me and I stepped back. I gasped as my back hit the wall. His hands came up on either side of me as he leaned into me.

"What did you lose, Zoey?" he asked me, his words like little punches straight to my heart.

"You," I breathed out in a rush.

"I'm right here," he said, his lips so close to mine now.

"Before. I lost you before," I said, trying to make sense of what I was feeling.

"I'm right here now," he repeated, his lips just grazing mine.

"I'm afraid you're going to disappear again," I said.

"I'm right here now," he said yet again.

It was like he was waiting for me to make the move. I could tell that he wanted me to take the plunge. We were alone, in my hotel room, and the tension had been running high between us all day. He kissed me in the car, but that wasn't going anywhere and he knew it.

This?