As we stared at one another, the room broke out in applause, and the cameras kept snapping pictures and somehow my lips ended up pressed against Colton’s once more.
When the interview ended,we stayed for a few more pictures, but once that finished, we were free to return to the hotel and get ready for the game tonight.Colton had gotten a call just as we’d left the interview that the team was meeting prior to the game tonight to go over some plays.
I’d hoped he’d just get ready for his game and forget what had gone on at the interview, but the moment we’d returned to the hotel and were safely behind the locked door of our room, Colton grabbed hold of my hand and stopped me from walking away.
“What the fuck was that?”
“I don’t know.My friend at the magazine provided me with the questions.I answered them for you, and…somehow the interviewer added in his own questions.”
“That isn’t what I’m talking about.”
I froze.I knew what he was talking about—the same thing I’d been thinking all the way back to the hotel after the interview.The same thing I’d been thinking ever since he’d kissed me first the other night.
“What are you talking about?”I questioned, hoping that if I played dumb, he’d just let up on the subject.
“The kiss, Emma, what the fuck was that?”
My cheeks heated, as did the rest of my body.I needed to get out of here.I could still feel his lips against mine, and everything in me wanted to feel them again.
“I don’t know.Why don’t you ask yourself that?You kissed me back!In fact, you kissed me first!”
“That I did, in the privacy of my home, not in front of all the cameras and reporters.I certainly didn’t start it this time.”
“We don’t have time to talk about this.You have a game to get to,” I said, trying to get out of the situation.
“Oh no, we have plenty of time,” he said, his voice deepening.
I glanced at my watch and shook my head.
“Well, we can either discuss it, or perhaps we should just recreate that kiss and find out exactly what was going through your mind when you leaned in and kiss me in front of the cameras.”
I stood there, afraid to move.I wanted to feel his lips against mine so badly I could taste it.He was watching me, staring at me, almost willing me to step into him.Instead of giving him not only what he wanted, but I wanted as well, I spun around, opened the door, and took off down the hall to the stairwell.I sped off down the stairs, praying he wouldn’t follow me.
I tookcomfort in the sounds of nature as I walked through the enormous park down the road from where we were staying.When I came to a park bench, I took a seat and looked out over a large pond where children were feeding ducks and smiled to myself.Then, I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened the chain of messages between me and Chantal.She still hadn’t responded to my message that I’d sent a few days ago.
Emma: Got time for a quick chat?
I hit send and then placed my phone on my lap and sat there listening to the sounds of the birds.Within seconds, my phone vibrated against the bench.
Chantal: My goodness, I’m so sorry I didn’t see your message from last week; things have been chaotic.
Emma: No worries.
Chantal: Emma, it was our SOS message, which means you really needed me.How are things going with the sexy hockey player?
Emma: Got an hour?
Chantal: Oh dear.
Emma: Okay well maybe two.
Chantal: What’s going on?
Emma: What isn’t going on?
Emma: First, Mark thinks I used this case to leave him for Colton.He has been so unfair to me over the past few days, horrible actually, what you would call downright abusive.
Chantal: Uh huh.So, even though you are legitimately working for Image Hackers, Mark thinks it’s all a lie.
