"Kyle can be a d.i.c.k," I said, edging toward the door.

"Well, honey, you're no angel."

"It doesn't matter. As you just pointed out, Kyle's with that Venner woman."

"Yes. Well." She stood upright, fluffed a pillow and put it back on the bed. "Since he is with that Venner woman and you are with Luke, he should probably be more careful how he looks at you when you're surrounded by two hundred and some other people."

"What are you talking about?"

"He couldn't keep his eyes off of you last night, and I saw his face when you didn't want to dance to that slow song. If I saw all of that, then who else did?"

"Maybe you're the only one who saw what you think you saw," I said, hoping to dissuade her. "I don't think it's as dramatic as you think it is."

"Yes. Well." She started opening the blinds. "Maybe if it weren't for the enormous hickey on your neck that wasn't there when I left you two alone last night, I would be inclined to believe that I'm imagining things."

I raced to the mirror to look at my neck.

"s.h.i.t!" I yelled. I didn't really look in the mirror when I was getting ready. I don't need a mirror to brush my teeth or my hair. "f.u.c.k!"

"Don't let your daddy see that," Mom said before exiting my room.

After putting on a jacket that better hid my neck, I got my parents' loaded into the car and deposited them at the airport. I went over the bridge and raced up 295 to Cherry Hill. I parked outside of Kyle's apartment building, next to his Lexus. I had to put an end to this. No more hickies, because his lips couldn't touch me again. The truth is, my relationship with Luke was getting heavy, and I really felt something for him. Maybe love?

After taking the elevator to Kyle's floor, I half hoped that he wasn't actually home, that Jess changed her mind about leaving and picked him up, or he was abducted by aliens. I punched the doorbell and he opened the door seconds later, wearing only a pair of pajama bottoms. So much for aliens.

I held up his wallet.

"Again?" He asked, plucking it from my hand.

"I'm starting to believe you're doing it on purpose, like you're leaving your mark."

His eyebrows went up. "I don't need to leave a mark. I'm memorable."

"I beg to differ," I said and pulled my jacket back at the collar.

"I do good work," he said, touching the hickey.

"Yeah, whatever. Have a good day, boss boss." I started to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. He took my bag from me and put it on the floor by the door.

"Why don't you stay a little while?" He caressed my hand in a way that made me a little melty.

"I really shouldn't."

"Why not?"

"You know why."

"Because you can't resist me?"

"Funny." I started to pull away again, but he pulled me further inside and then closed the door.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" He wrapped his arms around my waist, drawing me closer.

"Because you have a girlfriend and I have a boyfriend."

"Yeah...we should get rid of them."

"You don't mean that," I said, trying to break away.

"I'm not sure that I do," he whispered. "For reasons I don't want to get into. I don't want to talk about them. I want to talk about us."

"Us?" I raised one eyebrow.

"I love you," he whispered, staring into my eyes.

So, it wasn't just in the heat of the moment. I stared at him, startled, unsure of what to say. I tried to pull away from him again, but he pulled me even closer and held me tightly.

"Do you love me?" He asked.

"I can't..." I couldn't remember what I couldn't do. He was staring at me so intensely, I lost my train of thought.

"You can't what? Love me? I think you already do."

I shook my head. No. No way. h.e.l.l naw.

He pressed me into a closet door.

"Don't lie to me. Don't ever lie to me." He kissed me so hard it hurt, but it hurt so d.a.m.n good. "Tell me you love me," he whispered.

I shook my head. I couldn't breathe. My heart was in my throat and it was beating faster than I thought possible.

"Stop shaking your head. You love me, I know you do."

"I have to leave," I managed.

"No, you don't, but if you tell me you love me, I'll let you go."

"s.e.x does not equal love."

"I know that, but I loved you before I ever touched you."

I stared at him with my mouth open. It felt like deja vu. Luke and I were wrapped in a similar scene not very long ago. What was with men secretly carrying a flame for me?

I left my mouth open too long, because Kyle planted his mouth on mine. He kissed me for a long time, more tenderly this time. I kissed him back, like a reflex.

"I love you," he said again, his face buried in my hair, and then I felt his mouth on my neck, gently kissing where he had marked me.

I involuntarily moaned, but with all of the strength I had, I shoved him away from me. I felt tears burning in my eyes and did the best I could to blink them back.

I was sure I loved Luke. The problem was I was also sure I loved Kyle.

"I love Luke," I said weakly.

"Yeah. And I love Jessyca," he took a step closer. "But I can't help how I feel about you. I love you, Emmy. You love me, too or you wouldn't be crying."

"I'm not crying!" I wiped at my eyes.

"Just say it."

I hastily pushed past him to the front door.

"I have to go," I said and slammed the door behind me.

I marched down the hall and took the elevator all the way down and almost got to my car before I realized I didn't have my bag, therefore, I didn't have my keys or wallet.

"f.u.c.k!" I stomped my foot and went back inside.

Kyle opened the door before I could knock or hit the bell. He had a stupid grin on his face as he held my pocketbook up in one hand.

"It's not funny," I said, s.n.a.t.c.hing the bag from his hand.

"It would have really been a great exit if you didn't forget your purse," he said. "I tried to look through it, but you have way too much s.h.i.t in there."

"I feel violated."

"Like you didn't look through my wallet."

"Why do you have the name and address of the bar in your wallet?" I blurted out.

"I told you, I loved you for a while."

"That's not an answer."

"Why don't you at least come inside?" He stepped aside so I could get in.

I looked at him with suspicion.

"Chicken."

"I am not chicken." I stormed inside.

"Want a drink?" He asked, walking past me towards the kitchen.

"No."

"How about a bottle of water?"

"Okay." I accepted the water while he cracked open a beer. "Now, answer my question."

"What did you want to know?"

"Why do you have that address?"

"Oh, the bar. So I could punch it into my GPS."

"Why?"

"So I could find it. I thought you were smart."

I smacked his elbow just as he was lifting the beer to his lips. Beer spilled down his bare chest. He looked down his chest and when he looked up again he was grinning.

"Two of your favorite things. Me and beer. Wanna lick it off?"

"Why did you want to find the bar?"

"Because I wanted to see it."

"Stop being elusive!" I smacked him again.

"Emmy, you were going to be working directly under me, handling my professional and personal business. You have access to everything I have access to. I needed to know who you really were."

"Wait," I held up a hand. "You were 'interested' in me before I started working for you?"

"Professionally, yeah. Everything else soon followed."

"So, why did you suddenly appear at the bar that night if you had known about it for so long?"

"I was very mean to you that day, and I wanted to come apologize."

"You were very mean every day," I pointed out. "All of the time."

"Yeah, but I was meanest to you."

That was true. As mean as Kyle could be to his staff, I always took the brunt of it. Some days I felt like he was purposely trying my patience. Now I believe that was exactly what he was doing.

"Why?" I asked.

"Stupid guy thing," he said, shaking his head at himself. "I can't even explain it."

"Seems juvenile," I said. "Like the little boys who torture the girls they have a thing for."

"Yeah, I guess it's a lot like that. I'm sorry."

I didn't know what to say. I just stood there with my arms crossed, glaring at him. I thought boys grew out of that stuff by the ninth grade. Apparently not all do.

"I was going to order some lunch and watch some movies. Do you want to hang out?"

My eyebrows went up and he smiled.