A Very Important Guest Read Online Free PDF Page A

started responding as if he was toying with her.
    “Then how did you mean it?” he asked as he simultaneously pulled away to look her in the eye while putting his arms around her to pull her closer.
    She settled into the warmth of his arms but playfully slapped his shoulder. “You know I was talking about whether or not I should kiss you on the lips, and now you’re kissing me everywhere but there.”
    “You caught my little joke. Excellent.”
    She snorted a laugh and slapped his shoulder a little harder.
    “Aw. There’s no need for that. I promise I’m going to get to your lips soon enough. Just wait a moment. For someone who was in great personal torment over kissing me, you sure are eager now.”
    “Oh, God. You’re impossible.” She looked up to the sky and laughed.
    He tightened his arms around her. “Your pretty smile is back.”
    “Thanks,” she said in bewilderment.
    “I’d say my strategy worked.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’ve managed to distract you so you don’t notice that I’m the one who desperately wants to kiss you.” Lowering his head to hers again, he murmured, “Can I kiss you now?”
    “Yes,” she said in a quick whisper. There was no hesitation in her voice because his honesty was evident. Even if she hadn’t verbally agreed, her body was already moving of its own accord. Within seconds, their lips met halfway. A brief kiss led to another and then another, but all were as careful as his hands, which wandered with hesitation over her back. In a signal that things were going just fine, she caressed the nape of his neck. He hummed in appreciation, and every touch and kiss intensified between them.
    Time passed, but Abby didn’t keep track. She was long gone. When he broke away and gave her what felt like a final kiss on her forehead, disappointment crept into her heart. Not knowing what to say, she shyly said, “Hi.”
    “Hi.” He wore his own smile and briefly stroked her cheekbone. “Do you think it was unwise?”
    “Not at all.”
    “Good,” he said and punctuated it with a kiss on top of her head. He nodded toward Waikiki . “I should be getting back. I’ve got a presentation tomorrow morning.”
    “It’s late,” she said, though she really wasn’t sure of the time.
    As they walked back they held hands, and this time, Abby peppered Will with questions to keep the conversation going. She only half-listened, though, as she spent most of the time trying to figure out why she’d just let that happen between them and even more so, why it had felt so good. When they arrived at her old Mercedes, she turned to him and smiled. “Thank you for dinner. Good luck with your presentation tomorrow.”
    “Thank you for making dinner fun,” he said and touched her hair again. “Can I see you again tomorrow?”
    “Um. I’m scheduled to work.” She didn’t want to presume too much.
    “You know that’s not what I meant.” He chuckled.
    “I know.” She smirked. “I can meet you around the same time.”
    “Great. Let’s go to dinner then. You pick the restaurant this time. You’ve got great taste in food.”
    “Thanks. I’d be happy to. I’ll let you know where.” Her chest filled with warmth over the prospect of another date, and she seized the joy. Standing on the tips of her toes, she kissed him—not short, not long—but a sweet caress of how she felt. He responded by weaving his hands into her hair, bringing her in closer, and her body was soon pressed against his. When the kiss began to gather some heat and their mouths opened to explore, she felt as if the door to a grand prize was swinging open for her. Unfortunately, he quickly shut it when he broke the kiss and gave her a brief nuzzle of the nose. “Good-night, Abby.”
    She eyed him, wondering about his restraint. Is he always this way, or is it just because of me? The correct answer wasn’t readily obvious, and in the end, it didn’t matter. Whatever the reason, she needed his self-control