No Falling Allowed (No Kissing Allowed) Read Online Free Page A

fingers brushing over the cold glass. Instantly, my heartbeat kicked up, and my focus drifted to our hands, mine rough, hers perfectly manicured. Nothing about this seemed right. This chick should be talking to the pack of suits to my left, all of them checking her out like they were waiting for me to leave so the luckiest dick in the pack could weasel his way into her world. But right or not, I wasn’t going anywhere.
    “I…”
    “Go on.” This time when she glanced up, her carefully constructed demeanor cracked, and something stirred deep inside me. I wanted to pull her into my arms that second, my lips on hers, every bit of hesitation and appropriateness be damned. But then she straightened, her control snapping into place, and I wished I could ask her to go back to the girl she’d shown me mere seconds before.
    “Flowers die, so no. No flowers. He would be impeccably dressed for dinner, and would take me somewhere nice but not overly formal. He’d choose our wine, but would never try to order for me. We’d talk about our work, our education, a hint of something more. Then he’d walk me to my door, kiss my cheek, and say thank you and good night. He’d call the next morning and ask for a second date.”
    “That sounds boring as all hell.”
    “It does not.”
    “It does. And you know it.”
    “Let me guess, it wouldn’t be boring with you, right?” she asked, her face matching her patronizing tone.
    I knew I should leave it—just turn around and let her get back to her friends. But I couldn’t seem to walk away.
    “I think you know the answer. But why don’t we test it. We’ll treat this like a date. I’ll hang out with you in between helping around the bar. Talk. Flirt. I’ll tell you about my job, you tell me about yours. We’ll talk about our educations, because yes, City, I’ve got one. And then I’ll walk you home.” I leaned in once more, my breath on her face, before I whispered, “Kiss your cheek.”
    Her breath whooshed out as her cheeks flushed. “And then what?”
    “I guess that’ll be up to you.”
    “I don’t think—”
    “That’s the beauty of it. You don’t have to think.” We don’t have to think. The freedom of it flowed over me, drugging me, everything in me attuned to this woman like she’d cast a spell, but she wasn’t even trying. The magic was just a part of her.
    Her perfect green eyes found mine, and I was gone, hooked. Never in my life had I wanted a girl to say yes so badly.
    “But maybe—”
    “If you’re scared, just say it. Wouldn’t be the first woman intimidated by my charm.”
    A small smile played at her lips, and I knew I was close. “I’m not scared.”
    Once more our eyes locked. “So prove it.”
    “You are trouble, you know that?”
    “You have no idea.”
    Charlie shouted for me from the other side of the bar, and I pulled away to go see what he needed, wishing I could stay to help her work through all the reasons she should say yes. Then I thought of Jonah and wondered what the hell I was doing. I didn’t fuck around. I didn’t do irresponsible. My hookups were quick and neat, with no mess to clean up the next day, no calls or random chicks stopping by to confuse him. And besides, nothing about this girl read as hookup material. She was a commitment girl all the way, likely with a giant list of disappointed men in her back pocket, all hoping for something she would never give them. But I didn’t want forever with her. I wanted a moment. What was it Sam Hunt said in that song? Something about wanting the girl’s time and nothing more? Well, damn if I didn’t want a little bit of this one’s.
    “What are you doing?” Charlie asked as I neared. He poured a round of shots, half the alcohol hitting the bar, which did little more than piss him off further. Somehow in the small amount of time I’d spent with City, I’d missed the bar growing even more packed.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I didn’t invite you up here to hang out