Then she leaned into me, rising on the tips of her toes, and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth.
I closed my eyes when I felt her warm lips, felt the softness I’d been thinking about for a week. My hand stayed on the door, and I kissed her back, my movements just as slow as hers. She kissed me like she didn’t know what would happen once she touched me. I kissed her with the same hesitance, like I crossed an invisible line I’d never crossed before.
She pulled away, her eyes lidded with the spark that erupted between our mouths. “Would you like to come up?”
The question stunned me even when it shouldn’t. I’d been going out of my way to see her for weeks now without actually asking her on a date. I called her assistant just to figure out how she preferred her coffee. I willingly told her things I wouldn’t have told another reporter. It was obvious how I felt about this woman—and now it was obvious to her.
I didn’t know if this invitation was just for coffee after dinner, but I suspected that wasn’t the case. As enticing as it was to finish that kiss we just had, something held me back. It was fear, guilt, and a lot of other things. “I would love to…but I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
“Oh…” She couldn’t mask her disappointment. The embarrassment formed in her eyes, the rejection stinging her.
I didn’t want to make her feel bad, but I couldn’t go up there. There was too much guilt in my chest, too much pain. “Good night, Scarlet.” I leaned and kissed her on the cheek. Then I turned away and headed back to the car without looking back.
I got into the back seat and told my driver to immediately pull away. That way I wouldn’t have to see if she was still standing there. The darkness of the back seat surrounded me, and the classical music overhead blocked out some of my thoughts—but not all.
All I could think about was the empty penthouse I was about to return to.
I didn’t want to be there.
I wanted to be in Scarlet’s apartment.
But the guilt kept me away.
Tatum moved into my arms and gave me a strong squeeze.
I hugged her back, immediately smiling at the affection she just gave me. It was the best I’d ever seen her, the most I’d seen her move. She hugged me hard like there wasn’t anything restraining her anymore.
“You look great,” I said into her hair.
“I feel great.” She pulled away then rubbed her hand across the left side of her chest. “My stitches were finally removed.”
“That’s great, Tatum. I’m very happy to hear that.”
Like a pregnant woman, she had a wonderful glow to her. Her happiness was rising as her health returned. She’d made an extraordinary recovery, and the worst had passed. “Does that mean you’ll be joining us at work? Kyle and I have made a lot of progress together. Products are already on their way to distribution.”
“No.” Diesel interfered, like always. “She’s not going back just yet, but soon.” He was in dark jeans and a t-shirt, obviously taking the day off to be with her.
Tatum didn’t hide her annoyed expression just because I was there. “Hopefully, very soon…”
“You have to do it right, baby,” Diesel said. “You’ve come this far. Don’t take a shortcut now.”
She rolled her eyes and walked away. “You’ve made your point very clear.”
Diesel turned back to me. “She’s feeling better, but she’s more restless.”
“Would you like something to drink?” Tatum called from the kitchen.
“No, I’m okay,” I answered. “But thank you.”
Diesel walked me to the couch. “How’s it going, Dad?”
“Good. I’m glad to see things are going well with you.”
“They’re alright.” He sat on the other couch. “Tatum and I are having some arguments about the wedding.”
Every couple had their preferences, and there was bound to be clashing. Isabella and I went through the same. “You want my advice, son?”
“I didn’t ask for it.”
“Well, I’m going to give it to you anyway, smartass,” I snapped. “Just give her whatever she wants.”
Diesel released a fake chuckle and shook his head. “Normally, I would. But not this time.”
Tatum joined us and set a glass of water in front of me even though I’d rejected her offer. She sat beside Diesel and crossed her legs.
Diesel kept his gaze on me. “But maybe you can give her some advice. Titan doesn’t want to take my last name when we get married.”
Any disagreements about their marriage shouldn’t involve me, but I did chime in once. “A lot of women don’t change their name nowadays.”
“Yes, but when they have children, it makes things complicated,” Diesel said. “And Titan wants our children to have her last name or have a hyphen, which just isn’t going to work. We’ve talked about it a few times, but she won’t budge.”
I understood a woman like Titan prided herself on her independence, and since people referred to her as Titan all the time, she would be completely changing her identity. She was a person who needed control in her life. Changing her name would put her under someone else’s control, in a way. “Diesel, you know this isn’t any of my business.”
Diesel sighed in disappointment.
“Thank you, Vincent,” Tatum said. “Diesel hasn’t been very understanding about the matter.”
“With all due respect,” he said to her. “My kids will have my last name. I’m not letting you call them Titan-Hunt.”
I didn’t want my grandkids to have a different last name from me either, but I still held my silence. I shouldn’t even be listening to this conversation. “Your mom and I didn’t agree on everything. I found the secret to a happy marriage is compromise. Meet halfway. Or have one person compromise on this and the other person
