For a moment—just a breath of a moment—she felt Hudson’s warm lips mold to hers, his stubble rough against her skin. She pushed herself forward, trying to deepen the kiss. In the next moment, though, he had his gigantic hands around her upper arms and was applying a steady pressure so she couldn’t kiss him anymore.

Annika looked at him, her head swirling with his pheromones and her petulance. All she could manage was a high-pitched whining sound at being thwarted. “Hnnng?”

Hudson gazed into her eyes, his own burning with an intensity she found incredibly sexy. “Why are you kissing me?”

His question did not compute. “Why am I kissing you? Because I want to?” She blinked.

His eyes were two emeralds in the darkness. “You want to. Are you sure?”

Annika felt her lips lift in a smile. “Do I want to? Let me show you.” She leaned forward again, but his hands were like steel clamps around her arms.

“No, Annika. You’ve had a lot to drink tonight.” He paused, so many expressions flashing across his face, she had trouble keeping track of them all. “Believe me, I’m … glad you want to kiss me. But not like this.”

“I’m not that drunk,” she said, her eyes returning to his lips.

Hudson half smiled at her tone, but his gaze was serious when he spoke. “When I kiss you again, I want you to be clear-headed. I don’t want this to be another mistake.”

Annika sat back, her cheeks hot. Sure, he was saying he didn’t want to kiss her because she was drunk. But maybe he was just letting her down easy. Maybe all the toying with her in yoga class and asking about Vegas had been just that—toying.

“Ready to go?” he asked, swinging his legs around and stuffing his feet back into his shoes. He didn’t meet her eye.

Annika felt her heart drop, a small disappointed stone falling in her chest. “Yeah. Sure.”

On the walk back to their Lyft stops, they talked about inconsequential things, and Annika rallied. She was glad Hudson hadn’t kissed her. She was glad he’d stopped her. Because, actually, he was right. She’d clearly lost her head to want to kiss him of all people, Mr. Heartbreaker of the Masses, Mr. Boorish Break Up Bully. Mr. Stupid Smug Smile. Mr. Green-Eyed Devil. Mr. Powerful, Pleasing Pecs—oh. Her Lyft was here.

chapter seven