Look but Don't Touch Read Online Free PDF

sister's married; she's successful, and—"
    "You think by c oming here alone…it would paint you as a failure?" I chuckle wryly. "You're unbelievable." I'm fucking shocked, truth be told. While I've noticed that Amanda is a competitive woman, this goes beyond that. I'm merely here so she can look good in front of her family. At the age of thirty-six, she evidently needs more than a successful business. She needs a man, too—me. "This is why you've pushed, isn't it? Why you've been so insistent that we move in together. More for you to tell your parents."
    "Oh, please." She scoffs. "You're going too far. We love each oth-"
    "Don’t finish that fucking sentence," I seethe.
    It feels entirely wrong to speak about love when it comes to us. The past four months don’t just disappear; we've definitely shared something good. She even made me feel better than I did before her. But I'm finally able to see that’s the extent of it. We've both been so into this for the wrong reasons; we've used each other. I can't deny what I really want, and Amanda…well, I actually don’t have a fucking clue. Maybe she's only after success—more milestones to tick off. Me, on the other hand? I want Kayla. At least…I want to try. I want to see if there's more.
    "Introduce me as whatever you want," I tell her, shaking my head, "but once this night is over…" So are we .
    "Don’t overreact," she beseeches and grasps my forearms. "We're good together, Nick."
    At this point, I don’t think it matters what I say. Luckily—or unluckily, depending on how you look at it—we're interrupted. By her parents.
    "Mom! Dad!" Amanda's bright smile is back, and she proceeds to introduce me as her boyfriend. In turn, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens say it's pleasure to meet me after hearing so many stories. I'd be freaked out about how animated Amanda gets when she speaks—how terrific of an actress she is—had I not been too disappointed in us both. Because I find it a bit disheartening how easy it is to let her go. Shouldn’t it be harder? Or does the possibility of having more—with Kayla—mean that much, when it hasn't even been twenty-four hours since we met? That puts things into a new perspective, and we, Amanda and me, obviously haven't been worth much as a couple.
    It is what it is, though. Right now, all I can think of is finding Kayla and making sure she's all right. I feel protective of her already, and I'd hate for her to worry. Whatever animosity there is between her and Amanda…I want nothing to add to that, and I don’t want Kayla to believe I'd side with Amanda.
    *
    The dinner is still in full swing when I leave my seat and walk over to Table Nine across the room. It's where Kayla is sitting, and for the past half hour, she's looked positively miserable. I've tried to catch her gaze, but she hasn't looked my way even once.
    Reaching her table, I dip down and murmur in her ear. "Come wit h me." I've startled her, and when she finally looks up, she appears nervous and unsure.
    Wedding guests all around us are busy being cheery in their festive mood; no one turns their head as I take the lead. Yet, I can practically feel someone staring a hole in the back of my neck, and it's not Kayla. But I don’t look back.
    "Where are we going?" Kayla asks behind me, following at my quick pace. "She's going to notice you're gone, Nicholas." That’s the first time I 've heard her say my name. I like it. Correction: I love it. However, I want something else right now. "Are you gonna answer me?"
    I smile and round a corner; she keeps up. "Some place private." I hear the breath she releases.
    Doubting we can find privacy on the first floor, I head to ward the elevators in the lobby. It's when I press the button that I realize how tightly wound I am. My back feels rigid, my shoulders are stiff, my neck is strained, my jaw is clenched, and my hands are balled into fists. Don’t get me started on my fucking mind. I'm all over the place, overwhelmed by thoughts