Indivisible Line (17 page)

“No, thanks.” Greg eased his body onto the chair and rested the cane across his lap. “Are you all right? I got worried when Matilda said you went out.”

She knew that he could very well just be checking up on her activities. Yet she couldn’t help the warm, fuzzy feeling that coursed through her with the knowledge that he had come looking for her.

“Anxious to know if I left and breached our agreement?” she inquired, her teasing tone taking the accusation out of her words.

“No.” He blew a frustrated breath. “I wanted to ask if you would like to see a movie with me.”

The invitation was so unexpected that she gaped in disbelief, unsure whether she’d heard him correctly. She stared at him in shock until he leaned forward and waved his hand in front of her face.

“Hey, what’s up with you?” Greg’s voice was playful and his expression light.

Sarah gave a nervous laugh, and she felt flustered all of a sudden. “What movie would you like to see?” It didn’t matter to her. Just the fact that they’d be together gave her goose bumps.

“The last time I went to watch a movie was two or three years ago.” He laughed, looking sheepish. “I was hoping you’d take the burden off my shoulders and choose for us. I’m good with anything.” When she raised her eyebrow, he added, “Really.”

“Where do I look for movie listings?”

Greg pulled out his sleek Blackberry and punched some keys before he presented the phone to her. “Choose from the list, and scroll down if you need to see more.”

Just like that, she was going to see a movie with him. Sarah glanced at Greg before focusing her attention on the phone. She felt his eyes on her while she scanned through the list. She wasn’t much into chick flicks, though she thought Zac Efron was cute. Feeling a little mischievous, she decided to see how Greg would react.

“How about
The Lucky One
?”

The Lucky One
was a love story in which the main character, Logan Thibault, was a soldier who found a picture of a woman in the desert and set out to find her after his tour of duty was over.

If Greg hated the idea, he didn’t show it. “Sure, if that’s what you like.”

She laughed. “Nah . . . I don’t care for chick flicks, although I love looking at Zac.”

“Keep looking, then.” Greg shook his head.

Sarah scrolled down to the end of the list. “If you’re okay with scary movies, I’d like to see
The Cabin in the Woods
. I’ve heard good things about it.”

He nodded as a slow, wicked smile flashed across his face. “Whatever you like. I’m good to go. Shall we?” Greg stood and held out his hand to her.
 

She hesitated, staring up at him for a nanosecond before placing her hand in his.

In a way, it was a monumental step for her. She was placing her trust in him. As much as she tried to warn herself against it, she couldn’t ignore that she wanted him to touch her.
 

He squeezed her hand before pulling her up to her feet.

When she noticed his office attire, she frowned. She felt a little sloppy in comparison, dressed as she was in just a sweater, jeans, and mukluks. “Aren’t you going home to change first?”

“Hate to be seen with your father?” Greg laughed and feigned hurt by clasping a hand over his heart.

Sarah hit him on the shoulder. “You’re not that old. You may be stiff at times, but I don’t mind being seen with you.”

“Stiff, huh?” He snorted before nudging her forward.

Greg tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her through the crowded sidewalk. They spotted the black limousine parked a hundred feet away, Simon leaning against the door. He straightened as soon as he spotted them.

“Where to?” Flashing a wide smile, Simon held the door open for them.

“The movie theater. It’s three blocks down and on the right,” Greg replied. He let her climb into the car first before following her.
 

They sat next to each other, and Greg nonchalantly took her hand. Funny, she didn’t mind it one bit. In fact, she liked the sensation of his soft skin pressed against hers. One touch told her so much about him—the firmness of his steadfast confidence and the softness from his life of privilege.

His hands were so unlike her own calloused ones, which had been through all manual work imaginable. She had washed dishes, chopped firewood, hand-washed clothes, and tilled their vegetable garden. It seemed like she’d done it all.

The drive to the theater had been quick, despite the evening rush hour traffic. When they stepped out of the vehicle, the night air had already turned cold, and Sarah shivered in her flimsy sweater. Greg hurried to remove his coat and place it over her shoulders.

“Thanks.” She gave him a grateful smile. “What about you?”

He beamed at her in response. “You’re welcome. I’ll be warm if you let me keep holding your hand.”

The prospect of continuing to hold Greg’s hand excited her. This evening was turning out better than she’d anticipated. What had started as another drawn-out afternoon of solitude was turning into an evening full of promise.

Sarah squeezed his hand in hers and nudged him to start walking. “I guess we can call it even, then.”
 

“I will see you kids in a couple of hours.” Simon grinned through the limousine window before it drove away. Greg turned and waved and then walked up to the theater booth. Without letting go of Sarah’s hand, he managed to retrieve his wallet, pull out a credit card, and finish the transaction.

“Popcorn?”

“If we can share.”

“Sure. I’m famished. I didn’t get a chance to eat when I got home. Once I found out you were gone, we took off.” Looking a bit self-conscious about this admission, Greg shrugged and leaned on the glass counter to place their orders.

Once seated inside the theater, Sarah chuckled at the amount of food Greg had bought. There were nachos, hotdogs, and pretzels in addition to the popcorn and sodas.

“Are we pigging out tonight?” She eyed the collection of goodies on their laps and shook her head. Greg took a big bite off his hotdog and chewed with enthusiasm, a trail of ketchup trickling down the side of his mouth. Sarah reached out and dabbed at it with a napkin without hesitation.

He laughed, but he kept on chewing. After he’d swallowed, he spoke. “Yes, and I expect you to finish half of everything.”

Sarah wrinkled her nose, although deep down, she loved this easy-going Greg. It was a far cry from the detached man he’d been for the past weeks. Feeling more relaxed around him, she took a bite of her hotdog. Soon it became a silent contest to see who could finish their food first. True to his word, Greg proved that he was indeed hungry. He ate faster than anyone she’d ever seen. It was a wonder how a man who ate as much as he did could remain so slim and fit.

After a few more minutes, the lights dimmed and the trailers started. Greg stashed their garbage underneath his seat and resumed holding her hand. It seemed like a natural thing for him to do. Although he offered no words, the mere touch of his hand spoke volumes. Everything about it felt right to her.

The movie lasted a little less than two hours. Instead of walking out right after, they sat and watched the credits roll while the crowd piled toward the exit. Greg still held her hand, just like he had before the movie started.

“Hungry?” he asked, and she burst out laughing.

“Greg, you’re killing me.”

“I could never do that.” He shook his head with vigor, his voice low.

Rising from his seat, Greg tugged on her hand, and she stood. When he pulled her to him, Sarah felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. His fingers trailed the contours of her jaw, electrifying her with the boldness of his action. She had no idea what possessed her, but she rose on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his.

His hand encircled her waist, tugging her closer. When their bodies touched, it sent jolts of warmth along her skin. The hard plane of his thigh rubbed against hers, and her breath hitched with anticipation. In this moment, it was just the two of them, together. Nothing else mattered—not the circumstances that had brought them together, nor the uncertainty of their future and the vast differences that divided them.

His mouth claimed hers, soft and gentle. Greg probed and sucked, his tongue caressing hers. Sarah’s response was more passionate than she would have thought possible. Her arms wound around his neck, and they deepened the kiss even more. With her limited experience with men, her belief that they worked, that they were good together, was based just on how wonderful his kiss felt. Greg’s arms around her revealed sensitivities in parts of her body she never knew existed.

Just as soon as she allowed herself to let go and just feel, Sarah realized she had to end it. It could lead them nowhere except to trouble and heartache. He was married. The last thing she wanted to add to her increasing list of blunders was to be accused of being an adulterer. That wasn’t something she could envision herself doing, even though it was clear that she liked him as much as he liked her. They were destined to share more than friendship—she was sure of it—but under the circumstances, nothing could happen, even if her body tried to betray her.

“You smell wonderful,” Greg said, sounding dazed.

She didn’t need this complication. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I don’t know what came over me.” She pulled away and began walking toward the exit.

“I’m not sorry at all. I’ve always wanted to do that.” Greg was right behind her, pulling her around to face him. His compelling gaze was enough to unravel her resolve, and she fought the urge to kiss him again.

“It’s wrong, Greg. I promise it won’t happen again. It was a lapse in judgment on my part.”

“I won’t make that promise.”

With those words, he brought his mouth down on hers again. This time, his kiss was hurried, hungry. Time stood still, and she let out a long moan, surrendering herself to his long, needy, and urgent kiss
. Just this time
, she told herself. After they surfaced for air, she pushed him away. She had to.

“Let’s go home. It’s been a long day.” She walked away without looking back. If she faltered now, there would be no guarantee she’d be able to make herself stop. Despite what her body wanted, she had to be strong, stay focused, and keep believing that none of this meant anything to him.

“Sarah!” Greg called out.

She kept walking until she spotted the limousine parked in front, giving Simon a weak smile before climbing in. Greg was soon settled in next to her, and they made the short drive back to his place in silence. Sarah stared unseeing out the window. If Simon noticed anything strange, he didn’t mention it, although he sent occasional questioning glances Greg’s way.
 

Greg walked Sarah from the car and into the penthouse. When they reached her bedroom door, she stopped to wish him a good night.

“Thanks for the movie.”
And the kiss.
 

She turned around without waiting for his response, but his arm wound around her waist and pulled her to face him.

Sarah raised her chin and looked up at him. “Greg, we can’t . . .”

He stopped her. “And I still can’t promise I won’t do this.” His mouth came down on hers in one quick, fluid motion. He tasted her mouth again, and all she could do was hang on, too startled and dazed to resist.

As fast as the kiss came, it ended, leaving her flustered and confused. Greg walked to his door and, with a slight dip of his head in her direction, disappeared inside.

Sarah walked straight to the shower, hoping the warm spray would ease her tired muscles. A long one, perhaps, might do the trick.

Greg marched into the bathroom after he left Sarah in the hallway. Even though he’d wanted to stay and keep kissing her, the better part of him—the reasonable side—kept telling him that he was taking advantage of her. She was confused and alone, and no matter what it looked like, she trusted him. The first thing he’d done with that trust was to abuse it just because he couldn’t contain his urge to claim her.

He’d felt this way from the very first time he saw her. Even in the tense situation at the time, he had seen the passionate woman hidden underneath her quiet exterior.

Simon had warned him several times that this relationship, or whatever it was, had disaster written all over it. He could see the telltale signs, but he couldn’t stay away from her. The woman, with her beautiful face and her scent of mint and cedar, made his head spin.