And Then You Fall (Crested Butte Series) by Heather A Buchman Page A

yours?”
    “Seven.”
    “Seven?” she gasped.
    “Relax. Seven tonight.”
    She let out a groan that sounded more like a stifled sob.
    “I can change it. What time is your flight tomorrow? I’ll leave the same time you do.”
    “No, you can’t do that. It’s okay, you have to get home. I understand.”
    He sat back up, throwing his legs over the side of the bed again.
    “Where are you going now? You promised your undivided attention.”
    “Just give me a minute. Changing my flight time.”
    That made her sit up. “No, Ben. I mean it. Don’t change your flight. It’s okay.”
    “Really Liv, it isn’t a big deal, I can leave anytime I want to. Are you trying to tell me you’d rather not spend another night with me?”
    “No. That isn’t it.”
    “What is it then?”
    “Your boys. This . . . this . . . whatever it is, shouldn’t come before your boys. I get that. I understand.”
    “If that’s the only thing that’s worrying you, if you promise that’s it, I’m staying.” She started to speak and he put two fingers on her lips to stop her.
    “If I left tonight, they’d be in bed long before I got home. And tomorrow is the day my boys hang with Grandma and Grandpa. Dad is not allowed to interfere with grandparent time. They’ll be up and out at the crack of dawn. This way, by the time they get back, I’ll be home. And, I’ll get to spend another few hours with you.”
    “But . . .”
    “But what? Liv I want to spend time with you. Is that so hard for you to accept? If I’m pushing too hard I guess you just need to say so.”
    “No it isn’t that.” Liv got up and was climbing into her panties, looking for her bra.
    He walked over to her, bringing his hand up to caress the side of her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Talk to me,” he said. “Tell me what’s going on with you. Are you worried about Paige?”
    “No, that isn’t it. Paige travels all the time. She does her own thing. I don’t need to worry about her. I’m the one who’s usually waiting around with nothing to do.”
    “Then what is it?” He rubbed his head again. “We already determined you like the bald head. I think we figured out a few other things you like just as well, if not better. Come on, give me somethin’ here. You ready to run away from me again Liv?”
    She maneuvered out of his arms and walked over to the window, pulling the drapes back so she could look out over the Las Vegas Strip. What was she going to say? The more time she spent with him the harder it was going to be to let him go?
    If she left now, her pride would stay intact. She’d walk away, thank him for a fantastic couple of days, wonderful memories, great sex, and ride off into the sunset, or at least to the elevator. If she was the one to say goodbye first, she might have more of a chance of keeping her emotions in check, not make a fool out of herself.
    She looked over at Ben, who stood with his arms crossed, less than a foot from her. “Liv, tell me. I can see the wheels turning. Talk to me.”
    “I really have to go. It’s been great, a great couple of days.” What else had she planned to say? She couldn’t think. “It’s been, you know, fun. But, I think it’s time to get back to real life now.” She was picking up her dress, looking for her shoes and her bag.
    “Unh uh.”
    “What?”
    “No. This isn’t going down like this. You are not, I repeat, not running out of here. Even if I was leaving tonight, which I no longer am, I wouldn’t let you leave now. Who knows how long it will be before we see each other again? We haven’t even talked about that yet.”

Chapter 4
     
    “Sure, that works, see you then.” Liv hung up her cell.
    “All set?”
    She bit her lip. “I know I said Paige was self-sufficient, but I hope she’s not mad at me. Honestly, as busy as she is and as much as she has to do, she’d never do this to me.”
    “Do what?”
    “Just leave me with no one to hang out with, you know, while we