Chapter 23 – Couldn't Wait

The hotel room door had barely clicked shut before Daniel reached for her.

Not gently.

Not cautiously.

As though every ounce of restraint he'd carried over the past few weeks had finally slipped through his fingers.

"Emma..."

Her name barely left his lips before they were on hers.

She laughed in surprise, the sound disappearing into the kiss.

"So much," she managed between breaths, "for being the gentleman."

"I've been the gentleman all evening."

"And now?"

"I've run out of patience."

She smiled against his lips.

"I noticed."

His forehead rested against hers for only a heartbeat before he kissed her again.

This time, slower.

Longer.

Emma's fingers found the lapels of his blazer, pulling him impossibly close.

She could feel his heartbeat.

Fast.

Almost as fast as hers.

The realization made her smile.

"So," she whispered.

"So?"

"You were pretending."

"I was."

"At dinner."

"Yes."

"In the parking garage."

"Yes."

She looked up at him with a teasing smile.

"And the whole drive here?"

Daniel closed his eyes for a brief second.

"The whole drive here."

Emma laughed.

"I knew it."

"No, you didn't."

"I did."

"What gave me away?"

"You kept clearing your throat."

He groaned.

"I did not."

"You did."

"I was trying to think."

"Were you?"

"No."

She burst into laughter.

"I knew it."

He couldn't help laughing with her.

"I had every intention of acting like a responsible thirty-five-year-old man tonight."

"And?"

"You smiled at me."

"My smile ruined your plans?"

"Completely."

She reached up, straightening the slightly crooked collar of his jacket.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this..."

She searched for the right word.

"...unfiltered."

Daniel's smile softened.

"I don't think I've ever been."

Something in his voice made her heart tighten.

He wasn't embarrassed.

He was simply telling her the truth.

Emma looked at him for a long moment before stepping closer again.

"You know..."

"What?"

"I like this version."

"The one who's forgotten how to think?"

"The one who stopped pretending he wasn't falling for me."

Daniel looked at her quietly.

"I stopped pretending a long time ago."

She blinked.

"You did?"

"I just wasn't brave enough to say it."

Her smile grew.

"You really have no idea what that does to me."

"I could say the same."

Silence settled between them.

Comfortable.

Warm.

Daniel reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I've wanted to do that all evening."

"You could've."

"I was trying to behave."

"And now?"

"I've accepted defeat."

Emma laughed, shaking her head.

"I think that's my favorite sentence you've ever said."

"Oh?"

"It means I win."

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"You think this is a competition?"

"It is now."

He stepped closer until there wasn't an inch of space left between them.

"And what exactly did you win?"

"You."

His laugh escaped before he could stop it.

"I don't remember agreeing to be a prize."

"You didn't have to."

"Oh?"

"I think you surrendered."

"I believe you're right."

She smiled triumphantly.

"I knew it."

Daniel cupped her face, his thumbs brushing lightly across her cheeks.

"You look very pleased with yourself."

"I am."

"You should be careful."

"Why?"

"I might kiss that smug smile away."

"I'd like to see you try."

He didn't answer.

He simply kissed her again.

Emma's hands found his shoulders as she smiled into the kiss.

She'd never imagined someone could make her laugh one second and leave her completely speechless the next.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing a little harder than before.

Emma rested her forehead against his.

"I don't think we're very good at saying goodbye."

Daniel smiled.

"I don't think we ever intended to."

She looked down and suddenly laughed.

"What?"

"My lipstick."

She gestured toward him.

"I think most of it's on you."

Daniel frowned slightly.

"Is it?"

"A little."

He looked toward the mirror across the room before laughing under his breath.

"I look ridiculous."

"You look adorable."

"I was aiming for dignified."

"I don't think that was ever going to happen tonight."

He smiled.

"Probably not."

Emma reached up, using her thumb to wipe away the faint smudge near the corner of his mouth.

"There."

"Better?"

"A little."

He caught her hand before she pulled it away.

"Thank you."

She smiled.

Then glanced down at herself.

"I should probably freshen up too."

Daniel nodded.

"Take your time."

"I'll only be a minute."

She leaned up and brushed one last quick kiss against his lips.

"No disappearing."

"I wasn't planning on it."

She picked up her purse from the sofa, set it down again absentmindedly beside the bathroom door, then disappeared inside.

A moment later, the sound of running water filled the suite.

Daniel let out a slow breath.

"What happened to you, Brooks?" he murmured with a quiet laugh.

He loosened his tie and walked toward the windows.

The city glittered below, but he barely noticed.

His eyes drifted back to the sofa.

Emma's purse had slipped sideways.

As he reached to set it upright, the wallet inside slid free.

He caught it before it hit the floor.

"You're lucky," he muttered with an amused smile.

He opened the purse to tuck the wallet safely back inside.

The leather folded open in his hand.

An identification card peeked into view.

He hadn't meant to look.

But the date caught his eye before he could look away.

His smile faded.

He looked again.

Twenty-one.

His breath caught.

He stared at the card, certain he'd misread it.

He hadn't.

The sound of running water continued behind the bathroom door.

Daniel remained perfectly still, Emma's wallet resting in his hand, while a hundred conversations replayed in his mind.

University.

Studio projects.

Late-night assignments.

Mrs. Alvarez fussing over her.

He had understood every piece.

He had simply put them together the wrong way.

The bathroom door clicked open.

Emma stepped out, drying her hands on a towel.

"There," she said with a bright smile. "I feel much—"

She stopped.

Daniel hadn't moved.

Her wallet was still in his hand.

"...Daniel?"

He looked up.

For the first time that evening, the easy smile she'd grown used to was gone.

Quietly, he held the wallet out to her.

"Emma..."

His voice was softer than she'd ever heard it.

"You're twenty-one?"