Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) (14 page)

“
He calls you Thally,” Linden states.

“
I know. They all do,” I say.

“
May I call you Thally, too?”

I nod. “Sure. I think I suggested it to you before, and I was surprised that you stuck with Thalia.”

I keep thinking that I can’t allow my heart to beat faster when he’s near.
Remember this man is taken and that is taboo, spelled with a capital T.
I want to stick to my principles. I’ve never started anything with a man in a relationship, and I don’t want to throw that overboard for Linden. Maybe I’m reading him wrong, anyway. He may not be flirting with me. Maybe that’s just the way he acts with everyone.

While I ponder all this, we fall silent and watch the show. In the blink of an eye, an hour has elapsed.

“
Can we leave now?” Linden finally asks.

“
Sure.” I nod. “I’ll say goodbye to the others really quick.”

“
Okay.”

I walk over to Avery, Camille, and the rest, hugging each of them briefly. “See you soon. I’m tired, so we’re leaving.”

“
Already?” Dahlia complains.

“
Do you want me to give you his number so you can go on fangirling all over him?” I wink at her.

Ave clears his throat in an exaggerated manner.

She blushes. “I don’t think so. I’ve already found my own star.”

I smile and hug her a second time. “You’re so cute, Dale. Don’t let that big oaf ruin you,” I whisper in her ear.

“
You’re great, too, Thally,” she replies in a choked voice, pulling back a little. A single tear glistens in her eye.

Ave clears his throat again and leans closer. “She’s still not sure how to handle people being nice to her.”

I nod. “Okay. Sorry I made her cry.”

“
Don’t worry. I’ll comfort her.” His smile widens.

I hug him a second time, too. “Don’t you ever hurt her again the way you did in the beginning. I swear I’ll bust your ass if you do.”

“
Aye, ma’am.” He salutes me with a smirk. We both know I wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

I smile at him and then finally turn around and walk back to where Linden is waiting for me. We leave the club and walk back to his car in silence. There are no crazed fans to be seen.

We get in, and I start the car, taking it slower than on the way here.

“
Your friends seem nice,” he says.

“
Yeah. Apart from Sky, I guess, but he’s not really my friend. He came with Dale.”

“
Was she the short redhead with the tall, black-haired guy?” He’s obviously struggling with their names.

“
Yes. She’s Avery’s girlfriend. They’re cute together.”

“
How long have they been a couple?”

“
If you count the breakups, maybe seven months or so.”

“
And Delsin is Devin Rough’s son, isn’t he?”

I nod. “He is. And his girlfriend is Camille, my other best friend.”

“
The short one with the auburn curls,” he murmurs.

“
She’s taller than me,” I giggle.

“
You were taller today,” he protests.

“
That’s because I’m wearing heels. Normally she’s at least an inch taller.”

“
And how long have Delsin and Camille been together?”

“
I think nine or ten months now. I don’t really keep tabs.”

“
Trish and I have been together three years now,” he says randomly.

“
Wow. High-school sweethearts?” I ask, trying to sound interested.

“
Yeah. We started dating senior year, and somehow we’ve managed to stay together.”

“
That’s something, considering how fast-paced life seems to have become for you.” What am I talking about?

Linden nods. “You can say that again.”

“
But I won’t,” I murmur with a half smile.

“
What about you? Are you in a relationship?” he probes.

“
No,” I reply.

“
Why not?”

“
Probably because the one guy who could have been my boyfriend chose a different girl.” I clear my throat, because it hurts to think about Colton.

“
But do you love him?” he keeps probing.

“
I don’t know,” I sigh, just before thinking,
Dear God, please don’t let me be in love with Colton.
“We didn’t even have a real relationship.”

“
What did you have?”

“
A friendship with benefits. Friendship plus. An affair. Call it what you like.” I’m calmer now, after reminding myself that Colton didn’t deserve a girl like me anyway.

“
Oh. That’s surprising.”

“
Why?” What is so unbelievable about a girl my age who would rather have something casual than the commitment of a relationship?

“
You just don’t seem the type who has affairs, Thally.”

“
And how do you recognize that type?” I ask, amused.

He chuckles. “I don’t know. But it’s different. You seem to be nice and down-to-earth, not … I can’t think of the right word.”

“
Not a slut? Is that what you were trying to say?”

“
Oh God, no! You’re not a slut, and I never thought you were. No, I think a woman who has affairs is more of a temptress, you know? You don’t strike me as a vamp.”

“
I can be a temptress, if I feel like it.” I grin.

“
Prove it.”

“
Another time.”

He sighs deeply. “So would you like to hang out with me again?”

“
Yeah, we can do that. I had a good time tonight, even though we were chased by crazy fans, my friends gawked at you, and we didn’t get to talk much about ourselves,” I list, glancing at him with a smile.

“
True, but that’s all part of getting to know each other, isn’t it?”

“
Maybe, but on the first date?”

“
Why not? I found out quite a bit about you tonight: You like art, if it’s beautiful to look at. You really love your friends, that much is obvious. And you pull away when I come too close. You were also rather stiff when we were dancing.”

I take a deep breath. “That’s because you have a girlfriend.”

“
And it’s because you think I’m going to make a pass at you when I’m not.” He chuckles.

“
I certainly got the impression you were. I mean, none of my friends put their hands around me the way you did at the railing, or ask me to slow-dance to a fast song,” I try to explain, feeling awkward. “That’s something I’m not used to. It made me think you were after me.”

“
I like you, Thally, but I have a girlfriend and I’m faithful, even though people might think differently,” Linden says, and his tone is far more serious than it was just a minute ago.

“
I wasn’t doubting that, Linden. Sorry if I sounded like I was.”

“
It’s okay.”

We fall silent again, and this time it’s no longer comfortable. I have the feeling I insulted or irritated him by speaking my mind. On the other hand, he’s reassured me that he doesn’t want anything beyond friendship.

***

I park Linden’s car in the garage and hand him the keys once we get out. It has gotten rather late, and I should really be getting home, but he looks at me questioningly. “Do you want another drink?”

I shake my head. “No. I should go. It’s late, and I need some sleep.”

We climb the front steps and walk inside. “I’ll call Grayston so he can take you home,” Linden says softly.

I nod slowly. “Thanks, Linden.”

“
Do you want to wait in the living room?”

“
Okay.” I follow him and sit down on the couch again, while he notifies his chauffeur. The evening was nice, and of course I would like to go on another date with him, but I know I should refuse any further invitations. Why? Because he makes my stomach tingle, and I don’t want to give my heart to a man who’s already taken. It’s wrong, and for some reason, I have to keep reminding myself of that.

“
Grayston will be outside in five minutes,” Linden announces.

I look up at him. “Then I’ll go outside. The fresh air won’t kill me.” I rise, and at that moment, the inevitable happens. My heel breaks off again, and I lose my balance, falling right into his arms.

Linden catches me and smiles down at me.

“
I’m sorry,” I say, feeling clumsy and sheepish.

“
An accident. Are you okay?” he asks softly.

I look into his turquoise eyes and nod a little too quickly.

Linden caresses my cheek and doesn’t let go of me, even when I regain my balance and straighten. He lowers his head, and I think,
He’s not going to kiss me now, is he?
Before his lips can meet mine, I turn my head to the side. “I-I should take off my shoes. D-don’t want to break m-my neck on the way out,” I stammer.

He puts his finger underneath my chin, and before I can do anything else, he kisses me. I blink and then close my eyes. His lips are soft, and the kiss is incredibly tender.

I know I shouldn’t return it, but I can’t resist. Before he can deepen the kiss, however, I pull away. “I’m really sorry about
that
.”

“
But I’m not,” he says, taking a step backwards to give me space.

I take off my sandals and hold them by the straps. Then I tiptoe to the door.

“
I’ll see you to the car.”

“
No,” I say, with more vehemence than necessary. “No. I can go alone. Thank you for the nice evening.” And with that, I rush down the hallway and out of the house. I run down the front steps so quickly that Grayston has to hurry to open the car door for me. “Thank you.” I sit in the backseat, and he closes the door.

Cinderella indeed. Only, in this version, the prince is already taken!

Grayston gets in behind the wheel, and I lean back and close my eyes. “Crap,” I murmur under my breath.
Why did I let him kiss me? That was so stupid!

With a sigh, I open my eyes again and stare out the window. We pass by houses and students walking home, and I wish I hadn’t let the evening end in a kiss.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck
.

Chapter 6

I wake up with a headache. It took me a long time to fall asleep, because my conscience kept haunting me. Linden tried to call me several times. When I didn’t answer the phone, Alexis Kingston called, too. I ignored him as well and finally turned off my phone.

I will never be able to look this Trish girl in the eye, let alone meet her at all. What a stupid mess! Why didn’t I push him away and leave? I could have stayed at Dizzles, too. But no, I agreed to go continue our conversation—which didn’t happen in the end.

A glance at my alarm clock tells me it’s almost noon. I groan and sigh, before I get up and shuffle into the kitchen.

“
Good morning, sunshine,” Draven calls out far too enthusiastically for my current mood. “I missed you last night, and the others, too.”

I make a face. “Morning. We were there, just up in the lounge,” I explain in a low voice.

“
Judging from your expression, the date wasn’t a success, was it?”

I shake my head. “Not really. I mean, at first it was nice, but then he kissed me.”

“
But that’s good, isn’t it?” Draven asks, looking puzzled.

“
I don’t think it is,” Nate chimes in. He’s already sitting at the table, nursing a cup of coffee.

“
No, it isn’t good if the guy who kisses you is taken,” I say guiltily.

Draven’s expression changes into a grimace of pity. “But if you didn’t return the kiss, it’s not your fault, is it?”

I’m going to scream if he asks another one of his “is it?” questions. “The bad part is I did return it,” I confide. “At first I was taken by surprise, but then I returned it … before I pulled away and ran out of the house.” I plop down in the chair next to Nate.

“
Uh-oh,” he says.

Draven brings me a mug of coffee. “Do you want to see him again?” he asks, and Nate looks at me expectantly.

“
No.” They look disappointed. “Good God! You’re worse than Hailey and Cami, you know that?”

“
We’re men, that’s why,” Nate laughs.

I smile in spite of myself. “That’s not an excuse.”

Nate shakes his head. “Well, I for one am convinced that if a man with a girlfriend kisses another woman, his relationship is not that happy. Plus, we all saw him smolder at you the whole evening. That was painfully obvious, and I know the others noticed it, too. The guy is totally crazy about you.”

“
That’s what it sounds like,” Draven says.

“
You guys have no clue,” I whine, before sipping my coffee. “I admit I’d like to see him again, but not because he kissed me. Because we got along well. We talked about a lot of things that I wouldn’t normally think interesting, but they became interesting because we talked about them. You know what I mean?”

They both look at me cluelessly. “Too much female logic.” Draven grins.

Nate nods earnestly. “Way too much.”