Chapter Nine
Ethan
My eyes open. My unfamiliar surroundings momentarily disorient me. The slight weight of the warm body sprawled on top of me brings back my memory. A smile spreads across my face. This is the first time I have woken up with a woman and not feared the awkwardness that will follow. Needless to say, I’m immensely happy to wake up with Lindsay in my arms: a bit cramped from spending the night on her couch, but pleased. I glance down to find her still fast asleep.
Her curtain of black hair fans out across my chest. Her head is slightly upturned so that I have full visual of her face. I study her flawless, creamy skin, pert nose and full lips swollen from my kisses. Her long lashes rest against her cheeks. She looks so relaxed and innocent. My heart stirs with an emotion that I’m much too afraid to analyze at the moment.
I make an attempt to move and can’t help the groan that rumbles in my chest. How did we end up spending the entire night on the couch anyway? Lindsay stirs, her soft skin sliding over mine and I groan again, this time because of arousal. I can already feel myself hardening. She freezes, no doubt feeling my cock poking at her. Her head snaps up, blue eyes clashing with mine, swimming with confusion and then shock.
“Ethan, what are you- oh, God.” She springs up, nearly stumbling to the floor.
I swiftly reach out to steady her. “Hey, careful.” Hopefully she doesn’t hear the amusement in my voice. My amusement fades, however, when I see the look of horror on her face.
“Lindsay, what’s wrong?”
She snatches up her shirt to hold against her front. “You spent the night.”
“Yeah. You fell asleep and then I fell asleep. I didn’t think you would mind if I stayed.”
“I do mind. You should have left.” Agitation radiates from her as she shoves her fingers through her mass of curls.
Standing up, I reach for her, cupping her face and forcing her to look at me. “You’re near panic. Calm down, Lindsay. So I spent the night. It's no big deal.”
“I-it is.”
I frown. “Why?”
She wrenches her face out of my hands. “You’re leaving in a few days. We shouldn’t have done this,” she adds, waving her hands.
My frustration mounts. With a sigh, I reach for my clothes and begin to dress. “You told me there would be no regrets.”
Lindsay pauses in the middle of pulling up her pants to look at me. “Don’t get me wrong, Ethan. I don’t regret having sex with you. I meant that you shouldn’t have spent the night. We shouldn’t get too close- complicate things. Plus, I have a child.”
My head snaps up, and I forget all about buttoning my shirt. My heart stills. “You have a child?” She seems almost as shocked by her declaration as I am.
“Yes, a daughter. That’s why you should just stay away from me. I know you don’t want a woman with a child or a woman who lives in a crappy apartment, who works at a diner.”
Realizing that I’m gaping with my mouth open, I snap it shut. “You’re with someone?” The pain that pierces my heart is almost overwhelming. Of course she has someone. A beautiful woman like Lindsay would surely attract men’s attention.
“I just told you I have a child and that I’m way beneath you, and you ask if I have a boyfriend?”
My jaw clenches. “Because that’s all I care about. The fact that you have a daughter doesn’t stop me from wanting you. And what the hell do you mean beneath me? The only time you were beneath me was last night. And as I recall, we both liked it.”
I’m satisfied to see a blush spread across her face. “You know what I mean,” she bites out. Her shoulders sag. Her defeated expression tugs at my heart. “I didn’t go to art school, Ethan. I didn’t become anything. I stayed here in this small town and worked a minimum wage job. I still do. You’re a big star. You’re rich, successful. What would a guy like you want with me?”
What I hear from Lindsay is unbelievable. Taking hold of her chin, I force her to meet my gaze. “I thought you knew me well enough to know that I wouldn’t care about such trivial things. I want you, Lindsay. I don’t care what kind of job you do. I’m sad to discover that you didn’t go to art school, though. You had your heart set on it.”
She shrugs. “It just didn’t work out.”
“Don’t think you’re anything less than amazing because your life didn’t go the way you planned.” I sigh. “I believe the real question is what a great girl like you would want with someone holding my reputation.”
Lindsay lets out a laugh. “Well, I have read quite a few things.”
I groan, but smile, and the mood instantly lightens. But there is one more question hovering in my mind. I clear my throat lightly. “Um, is your daughter’s father in your life? I mean, are you and him- Do you-”
“I’m still single. I wouldn’t have slept with you if I wasn’t.”
Feeling ridiculously relieved, I nod. “Right. What’s your daughter’s name?”
“Casey.” There is evident love in her tone when she mentions her daughter’s name.
“Casey,” I repeat. “I would love to meet her.”
Lindsay’s eyes widen. “That’s not a good idea. You really should go, Ethan. I would offer you breakfast, but I have to pick up Casey from my mom’s.”
“How about I drive you to your mom’s, and I take you and Casey out for breakfast?”
“No! I- I mean, thanks, but no. I have a lot to do today. You know how it is when you get one day off.”
She’s pushing me toward the door as she speaks. “Okay, dinner then. I’ll take you both out for dinner.”
Lindsay sighs. “I’m not comfortable with you meeting her yet.”
I stare at her for a moment. “Alright, I respect that. What do you say about just you and me, then?”
“If my mom can babysit, maybe.”
“Good enough for me.” Before I can lean down to give her a kiss, she’s closed the door. “Goodbye to you, too,” I say to the closed door. I turn and let out a sigh. I’ve practically been kicked out of her apartment. No woman has ever rushed me off after a night of passion. “Well, this is a first.” I’m usually the one trying to get rid of a woman in the morning.
Lindsay’s behavior perplexes me, although it’s now a bit clearer after her confessions. I shake my head. Did her ending things between us all those years ago stem from her feeling that she wasn’t good enough for me? The notion is laughable considering that she is the one who is too good for me.