Read Love Lift Me for Free Online Page A

his
mouth.
    “I’d
be alright, being stranded here with you, Kat.”
    Immediately
after saying it, Shane tucked his lower lip in and looked over at me like it
had accidently slipped out. I still hadn’t told him about Hale, and I had to
admit I’d been throwing flirty vibes off since the moment we met in Watauga. What
was I thinking, staring at him like that the whole time, like some swooning,
tipsy school girl?
    My
thoughts took a delightful turn as we quick-stepped along. I considered what
Shane and I might do if we really were stranded there together. Would we go
out and have a drink together too? Would there be more small talk or would the
subtle flirtations become something more? Maybe things would lead us back
to a hotel in the city and… ooh , delicious heat grew in my belly at the
idea of the exciting way an evening with Shane might end. It wasn’t like me to
be having such thoughts, but I had to admit I liked them. Maybe I had just gone
too long without a man’s touch. The last time was months ago, when Hale came to
visit for one long weekend.
    My
mind clamped the fantasy off right there. Could I really do something like
that with a man a barely knew? A one-night stand? Wasn’t I still technically in
a relationship? I had to tell him about my currently conflicted
relationship status before he got the wrong idea.
    “Shane,
I-“
    “Look,
there’s the gate, and everyone else has already finished. C’mon, let’s step it
up or we really will get stuck here!”
    In
the distance, I watched as the attendant took the last passenger’s luggage and
ushered him towards the bus. Just as the uniformed man was pulling the rope
across the exit, Shane and I came bounding up to him. The man took one look and
then thumbed for us to hurry on past and get back on the bus. Even in our rush,
I didn’t forget what I’d heard Shane say.
    We
took our seats while the rest of the bus seemed to wait on us impatiently. Once
he’d put away his bag and adjusted into a comfortable position, Shane flipped
open his phone and grew immensely quiet.
    So
now he was going to ignore me?
    The
same driver from before stomped back on board only a few moments later, soaked
completely through in fresh rain. He gave another quick announcement, took his
place behind the wheel, and got us moving.
     
    It
was like that for a while. Shane entertained himself by reading his messages
and I occasionally peeked out at him from behind the cover of a magazine. I felt
like he needed to know about Hale, and how that relationship wasn’t quite over
yet. Blurting it out suddenly didn’t feel natural though, and I didn’t want to
send mixed signals.
    On
and on we went, with the storm hammering the metal shell of the bus the entire
way. Traffic had been standing still in Raleigh, but once we reached the open
road we began to take on speed and the weather became noticeably worse. I
wished the driver would slow down, if not only for the rain and the wind, but
so Shane and I could have more time together.
    “Kat,”
he said, finally breaking the silence. His voice was blunt and purposeful. “After
this trip is over, I’d really like to see you again.”
    My
pulse quickened. Was my mouth hanging open? He was asking me out, right?
    Shane
adjusted to my expression and went on, “I mean, I know we just met. But I’ve
really enjoyed spending time with you today. Maybe you can show me around your
hometown while I’m stuck in Wilmington for my case?”
    “Shane…I
would-“
    The
words stumbled to come out. There was so much to say and he’d caught me off
guard. Before I could finish telling him what I had to, there was a tremendous
bang and entire bus rocked violently. Someone shouted. Then another. At the
time, it sounded almost like a bout of shocked laughter.
    Gravity
seemed to shift and felt myself being thrust out of my seat and into the gritty
aisle. I grimaced at a sudden, bright flare of pain on my elbow, but there was
little time for reaction. The