Read Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2) for Free Online Page B

glared at me as I walked toward her. When I stood in front of her, her gaze darted around the lobby.
    She stood up and although she looked ready to knock my head off, she hugged me, held onto me like her sanity depended on it. I hugged her back and rubbed her back until her body relaxed.
    The sexual attraction I felt when Tiffany touched me crept in, and I couldn't wait to get her upstairs.
    The expectant look on her face broke my heart. She was in love with me, and I knew it.
    I kissed her softly and a whimper escaped from her lips.
    "Let's go upstairs." I took her hand and turned toward the elevator.
    "Can we talk down here first?"
    I searched her eyes, and they told me everything she wanted to say. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it.
    "Sure." I led her over to a set of sofas hidden from the lobby. I sat down and she sat next to me. I turned to face her, but she stared straight ahead.
    "What's up?"
    "If you don't want me. Please," her throat caught and she sucked in a breath, "please tell me now."
    "Tiff?"
    "Wait. I need to say this before I lose my nerve." She let out a breath and turned to face me. Her leg rubbed up against mine, and I had to push the spark I felt out of my head and concentrate on the words coming out of her mouth. "I love you. I have for a while, but I don't know why."
    "Tiffany, I don't know what to say." I pulled at a string on my cargo shorts, and avoided looking her in the eyes.
    "I'm not an idiot. I know you don't love me, but you could if you gave us half a chance. If you did more than have sex with me and allow me to occupy your space every once in a while, you could fall in love with me. I'm an amazing girl."
    "Tiff, what do you want from me?"
    "I don't want anything except to know you want to be with me."
    "I do," I said, but it came out as a question and not an exclamation.
    She stood up, but I grabbed her hand before she could walk away. I didn't want her to walk away. She was right. I'd never given her a chance. I'd never given us a chance because my mind clung to something I knew could never happen.
    "I know you've had a hard year. Your best friend killed himself and you never talk about him. In fact, there isn't one piece of evidence of him in your life and you're still struggling. And if being a part of Carrington's life helps you deal, if taking care of Josh's son helps you work through it, then I am all for it. I understand. I didn't get it before—it was weird—but I get it now. I'm sure she needs you, but I want you to give me a chance to help you, too."
    It caught me off guard, but what she said made sense. I rubbed my eyes. Tiffany reached out and rubbed her hand along my jaw. I grabbed her hand and held it to my lips. I didn't want to cry. Didn't want to show so much emotion because girls always took that as a sign. I wasn't ready to connect with her like that, but I wasn't ready to let her go. Tiffany needed something from me, and I wanted to give it to her. I didn't want her to think the time we spent together had been a waste. I wasn't a complete asshole.
    I let out a sigh and kissed her hand. She sat back down.
    "I don't know if I can give you what you want. I know I can't give you what you deserve. Not now."
    "I need you to give me more."
    "How?"
    "You can start by talking to me."
    "What do you want to know?"
    I studied her face; her skin had more color and she seemed back to her confident self.
    "For starters, you can tell me if you're as horny as I am?" she asked and giggled.
    Hell, if that is all, this is going to be easier than I thought.
    I leaned over and kissed her and bit her bottom lip.
    "Let's go."
    I checked in and held her hand as we headed to the elevator. We ran into a couple of quarterbacks from other schools. We shook hands and guy hugged before the elevator arrived.
    "Hey, guys. This is my girlfriend, Tiffany." They both shook hands with her, and her eyes sparkled from the introduction. She appreciated the label. She was in love with me, and it was nice to hear