“Did you forget something?” Felix asked.
“No, I was just wondering if maybe there was somewhere else we could talk.”
“I promise I’ll be better about not letting anyone else interrupt,” he said quickly. “But outside is probably better. We can sit in my car if you want.”
Great. As if Grayson wouldn’t spot the Bentley a mile away. Unable to come up with any reason why outside, in the privacy of his car, wasn’t better than in the gym where they’d be continually interrupted, she continued walking alongside him and prayed Grayson wasn’t already out there.
They walked to a car parked in the same spot he’d parked his Bentley the last time. Only this time it was a much less assuming BMW. She’d seen other cars parked in the spot all week, but she just assumed they belonged to someone else. He opened the door for her and she got in. The car may not be a Bentley, but it was nearly as fancy with every bell and whistle you could think of. It dawned on her that since he’d mentioned his main home was still in Los Angeles he might drive a different one of these fancy cars every day. Meanwhile, her dad had reminded her that one of her tires was low—again. Yep. Different galaxies.
At least they now had a chance of not being spotted by Grayson if he drove by. Grayson may not even give the BMW a second glance if he was looking out for a Bentley. Felix got in just as her heart had started thudding again. She chided herself for wasting the time it took him to come around to the driver’s side by admiring his car instead of getting a quick word in with her mom.
Already just having walked alongside him, she’d been treated to the incredible scent of his cologne. Now in such a confined space, it was utterly intoxicating. Unlike his cars, he wore the same cologne every day, and she’d since decided she loved it. It wasn’t overpowering; it was subtle—but it was so him. She still hadn’t been able to pinpoint what kind it was. Knowing Felix, it was probably one of the most expensive ones. She and Carmen had decided the next time they were at the mall they’d go through all the latest brands and try to guess which was his.
He stared at her for a moment after closing his door. The intensity in his eyes together with the twinkle that followed his smile that could melt an iceberg only made her decision to be strong about this that much harder. How did any woman stand a chance of denying this man whatever he asked for?
Reminding herself to breathe, she inhaled slowly and, as calmly as she could, waited for him to say something.
“I know you have to be back in there soon, so I’ll keep this simple,” he began, and she cursed the drumming in her ear because it was so loud it nearly drowned out his words. “I don’t want to make things awkward or anything, but I was hoping that maybe you and I—” She flinched so hard when her phone vibrated in her pocket that Felix stopped midsentence, his eyes going a bit wide. “Something wrong?”
Her face was already on fire as she reached in her pocket for her phone and shook her head. “I forgot it was in my pocket, and it startled me when it buzzed,” she said, pulling it out and showing him.
“Is that a call you need to take?”
She glanced down and saw she had a text from Grayson. “No,” she said, clicking on the little envelope icon. “Just a text.”
She read it quickly, hoping it was him saying he wouldn’t be making it after all.
I’m outside. Can you take a break anytime soon?
She didn’t want to cut her conversation with Felix short. In spite of the fact that she knew she couldn’t agree to get into anything with him she knew would only end in heartbreak, she did want to be clear about one thing. She wasn’t worried about him thinking that she wasn’t physically attracted to him because, Jesus, he had to know there was no possibility of that. But she wanted him to know it wasn’t personal. He’d been nothing but a gentleman to her thus far, but as much as she’d like to give into the fantasy and allow her body to enjoy even one night in his arms, she just couldn’t. This was all about her fear of getting hurt and had nothing to do with her judging his lifestyle. She just needed to get rid of Grayson so she could talk freely.
For once, luck was on her side. Because her dad had told her he didn’t think it a good idea for her to drive with her tire so low, she’d hitched a ride that morning with Carmen. If Grayson looked for her car in the parking lot, he wouldn’t find it.
I’m not at the gym anymore. I had to leave early.
She slipped her phone back in her pocket the moment she hit send and glanced back up at Felix’s inquiring eyes. “Sorry, that was my boss from Starbucks.”
Felix nodded then took a deep breath. “I was just saying that I was hoping maybe you and I can have dinner sometime or catch a show. You . . .” He paused then smiled again. That smile was definitely going to do her in. Her heart was swelling by the moment, and it was already begging her to just hear him out. “You do something to me that”—he shook his head—“I can’t even begin to explain.”
As hard as she was trying, she couldn’t help smiling, and his eyes going directly to her lips as they did so often only made her insides go crazier. The buzzing of her phone in her pocket didn’t even matter now.
“Felix,” she started, even as her heart begged her not to. “That’s very sweet, and I think I know what you mean about not being able to explain the feeling . . . but you and I . . . I can’t.” She shook her head, reminding herself to be strong. “I just can’t. I mean I couldn’t . . .”
The continuous vibrating in her pocket was distracting her. Frustrated, she stopped to pull the phone out of her pocket so she could set it to silent instead. She set it to silent after seeing she had several texts from Grayson. Without opening any, she saw the beginning of the first one.
Why are you lying??
Just as she began to slip it back into her pocket, she remembered Grayson had said that he had no respect for Felix, that Felix was nothing but an obnoxious spoiled idiot squandering all his money on booze, drugs, and women, that a guy like Felix had no respect for women, and if he ever tried to take advantage of Ella, boxing champ or not, Grayson would have no qualms about getting in his face and telling him off.
She pulled the phone out of her pocket, suddenly panicked, and looked around. She clicked quickly on the three texts from Grayson and read them in order.
Why are you lying??
I know that’s his BMW. I ran the plates before I even texted you. Is that you sitting in the car with him? What are you doing!
Answer me, Ella, unless you want me to come over there. You know I will.
With her heart at her throat, suddenly she jerked her head around just in time to see the squad car pull up behind Felix’s car, blocking them in. Felix turned too. Grayson had actually turned on the lights on his squad car as if he were pulling someone over or making an arrest.
“Is that—?”
Ella opened her door and jumped out of Felix’s car before Felix could finish. Grayson was still in the squad car, talking into the two-way radio when she rushed to the passenger window. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
Felix was out of his car now too. “What’s going on?”
“I told you what I’d do, Ella.” Grayson said, glaring at Felix.
“Is there a problem?” Felix asked, his expression going as hard as Grayson’s, and took a few steps closer to the squad car.
“Don’t you dare,” Ella said, her eyes pleading with Grayson.
Grayson said something else into the two-way radio, asking someone to stand by in case he needed backup. They began to turn heads from a few people in the parking lot. Ella looked around meeting Felix’s questioning eyes, but how could she possibly explain without things getting ugly? Grayson was being ridiculous, and all she could think of was how mortified she’d be if he did anything stupid like bait Felix into an argument or even a fight just so he could arrest him.
“Get in the car,” Grayson said, motioning to the front seat of the squad car.
Ella turned to Felix, whose eyebrows pinched now, as her mind
raced to think of how best to handle this. She could try running back into the gym, but she knew Grayson wouldn’t just leave, and she wasn’t about to leave him out here with Felix whose arched brows already indicated he was getting pissed.
Grayson opened the driver’s side door, prompting Ella to open the passenger side. “Stay in the car,” she said to Grayson as she slid into the passenger seat. “I have to go” was all she said in Felix’s general direction but couldn’t even bring herself to look him in the eyes.
She hadn’t even closed her door all the way when the car zoomed off. “What is your problem?” she demanded, suddenly feeling enraged. “How dare you just show up and do something like that!”
“Didn’t I tell you what I thought of him? What he’d be trying with you? Did he take you out to his car for a quickie?”
“I don’t care what you think of him. What I do with him or anyone is none of your business!”
He skidded into a gas station, ironically, the same one where he’d run into her and Felix the night they were putting air in her tires. “So is that it?” he asked, banging on the steering wheel. “Does this mean you’re gonna fuck him? Or have you already?”
“Take me back now or I’ll get out and walk.”
“Answer the question!” Ella opened the door and started to get out. “Get back in here!” he yelled as she slammed the door shut.
She’d never been so humiliated in her life. This was exactly why she’d broken up with Grayson and a perfect reminder that no matter how much he claimed he’d changed, he hadn’t. At all. At least now she could finally stop wondering if breaking things off with him had been a mistake. For a long time, she’d wondered if maybe she’d been unfair or too hasty in her decision to break up with him. It was why she still let him come around. Her feelings for Grayson had run pretty deep at one point, and she’d been afraid she’d regret it—miss him. As much as she still cared for the guy, even with his faults—she wouldn’t deny that she did—she knew now she’d made the right decision. His temper just wasn’t worth it. She was so done with him.
The reality of what had just happened back at the gym slammed into her suddenly. She was only glad now that she hadn’t quit her job at Starbucks yet because she had no idea how she’d face Felix again.
Grayson followed her as she stalked through the gas station toward the corner where she could cross the street. “Get in, Ella. I’m sorry.” As usual, he sounded genuinely remorseful. Once the anger passed, he always was. She ignored him, continuing to walk, arms crossed tightly in front of her. “I’ll take you back. I promise. Please just get in.”
She stopped and let her head fall back. The thought of taking the walk of shame all the way back to 5th Street where Felix might still be waiting out front was a mortifying one. She’d sooner walk straight home instead, but she had classes pending still, and she’d told no one aside from Felix that she was leaving. Her one o’clock class was probably already waiting on her.
“I’m not talking to you about him,” she said without even looking at him.
“Fine.”
“I need to get back ASAP, Grayson. I have a class waiting on me.”
“I’ll take you straight there.”
Letting her shoulders slump in defeat, she got back in the car. “Drop me off at the back entrance.”
As promised, Grayson didn’t say another word the whole way back until they were almost at the back entrance. “I’m sorry I lost it, babe. I really am. You know I’m trying.”
Ella nodded but said nothing. He’d been sorry about losing it too many times. The words meant nothing anymore.
“Ella, just promise me one thing,” he said as he pulled the car over to drop her off. Ella refrained from rolling her eyes, reaching for the door handle. “Promise me”—he touched her arm—“that you won’t forget what we talked about.”
Ella stopped just before getting out of the car but didn’t turn to face him. How could she forget? It was all she could think of lately.
“Whatever he says or does for you, whatever he buys you, it’s nothing he hasn’t already done for someone else. I’m only saying this because I care about you and don’t wanna see you get hurt, but I know you, Ella. Without having been there, I can guarantee you your reaction to him wasn’t anything like what he’s used to from girls. It’s probably throwing him for a loop that you’re not falling all over yourself over him. For a guy like him, it’s probably a refreshing challenge. But make no mistake about it, babe. That’s all you are to him—a challenge. Once he’s nailed you, you’ll be just like all the others, yesterday’s news.”
She knew what he was saying made all the sense in the world. Her head had made this very argument with her heart each and every time she’d been caught up in one of Felix’s intense gazes or every time he smiled at her so genuinely. Even today when he’d put it out there for her, saying he couldn’t explain what she did to him, it had felt so sincere. No matter how hard she tried to remind herself of the very thing Grayson was saying—that giving into anything with Felix was a huge risk to her heart—she wasn’t sure she could fight the temptation. Despite everything that had just happened, her heart was still doing a little dance over Felix’s words just before she read Grayson’s texts.
Without saying a word, she got out and closed his door. Her heart ached suddenly at the thought of what Felix must be thinking of her but more so because she knew they’d eventually get back to that conversation he’d started. She’d have to do the right thing: gather all her strength to protect her heart.
Chapter 10
Felix
Never in his life, not even in all the fights he’d ever been in, had Felix felt the adrenaline pummel through him like it had the moment he’d seen Ella slip in the back way and rush into the stairwell. He’d almost missed her, but he’d done a double take when he saw her. Then he practically sprinted towards the stairwell door, turning a few heads in the process, but he’d been going mad waiting for her to get back. Now that she had, he wasn’t waiting even a second to talk to her. If there had ever been any doubt that he had it bad for this girl, there was zero now.
The moment she sped away in Grayson’s squad car and he realized what had just happened, Felix had jumped in his own car ready to chase after them. It was only after a moment of clarity that he decided not to. Chasing after a cop car wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do, and the last thing he needed was another scandal all over the tabloids, especially one that might drag not just 5th Street but Ella down with him too.
Already, she’d begun to shoot him down in the car before Grayson showed up, and he had a feeling he knew why. It was what he’d worried about all along¸ that she might think their lives too incompatible. Getting her name dragged through the tabloids would just further her hesitation. But he felt even more determined suddenly to try and convince her to give him a chance.
“Ella!” he called out as soon as he rushed into the stairwell.
She was halfway up the first flight of stairs when she froze in her tracks but didn’t turn to face him.
“What happened?” He rushed up to meet her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, yet she still didn’t turn to face him. “I’m sorry. Grayson gets . . . I just didn’t want him to say anything that might . . .”
Finally, she turned to him, her eyes welling up. Instinctively, he touched her face and felt a fire ignite inside him like he only remembered feeling once before in his life. “What’s wrong? Did he do something to you?”
“No.” She shook her head, her eyes glued to his. “He didn’t. I’m just embarrassed and—”
“Embarrassed? About what?”
His heart raced but for more than one reason now. While the adrenaline and fire still surged through him, he stared at her lips and had to fight the incredible urge to kiss them. “Why are you embarrassed?” he asked a little gentler—calmer—this time, tearing his eyes from her lips to look into her eyes.
“Because of the way I jus
t left with him. I just didn’t want him to say or do anything rude.”
“Are you still seeing him?”
“No.” She shook her head immediately.
Almost afraid to ask, he did anyway. “Hector said you were considering going out with him again. Are you?”
She shook her head again. “Not after what he did today.”
That almost made it worth having been left standing in the parking lot like an idiot. Almost. He stared at her, unable to take his hand away from her face where she leaned into it. Incapable of holding back anymore, he leaned in and kissed her softly. She tasted as good as he’d imagined. To his relief, she didn’t protest, so he kissed her again.
“Felix, I can’t,” she whispered against his lips with her eyes closed, but she didn’t pull away.
“Why?” he asked, leaning his forehead against hers, still savoring her taste on his lips.
“I’m not like the other girls you go out with. I can’t just turn it on and off.”
“Good.” He smiled, kissing her again. “I don’t want you turning it off.”
“That’s not what I meant.” This time she did pull away. “As tempting as it is, and believe me you have no idea how tempted I am, I can’t do this.”
“But you’re not giving me a reason,” he said, reaching out for her hand and lacing his fingers through hers like he’d thought about doing so much since that first time. “Why not?”
“Because I’m just not like that.”
Now he pulled away, peering at her curiously. “What exactly do you think I’m asking you to do?”
For the first time since they’d been standing there, she looked as confused as he felt. Her eyes opened wide and her face flushed. “To sleep with you, right?”
Felix couldn’t help but laugh at her adorable expression. “That’s what you think I’m asking you to do? Right here?”