Free All That She Wants (Connor's Point of View Part 1) by Olivia Thorne Page A

her, but then I saw
the second bank of elevators she was heading towards, and the
‘Parking’ sign over them.
    “I’m this way,” I called out. When she turned
around, I pointed towards the front of the building.
    She looked flustered. “You didn’t park in the
garage?”
    “No.”
    “But… there’s no street parking out front
after seven,” she said, and I could see the rising panic in her
face. “They might have towed your car!”
    “I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
    “But – ”
    “Lily,” I said, in as soothing a voice as I
could. “Calm down. Just walk out with me.”
    She looked into my eyes, and I gave her as
warm a look as I could. She nodded once, then walked beside me
across the lobby. Once I was sure she wasn’t going to bolt, I
pulled out my phone and texted Johnny.
    Come pick me up.
    Then I put it back in my jacket.
    “Night, Stan,” I said as we walked by the
guard station.
    Stanley smiled and raised his hand again.
    I wanted to tease Lily about how well people
react when you don’t weird them out – but I didn’t want to lose
her, so I just kept quiet as we exited the lobby and walked out
into the street.

     
20
     
    Downtown was bustling with cars, though none
were parked along the side of the streets. Apparently that alarmed
Lily, because she cried out, “Oh no, your car!”
    I thought that was funny, but it was a
reasonable assumption. After all, what kind of a person had a
chauffeured Bentley at their disposal?
    I was kind of looking forward to her reaction
– but I wanted to know where she stood before it showed up.
    “Quit worrying about it. I have a question to
ask you.”
    “But – ”
    “Lily. Focus,” I said, and raised her chin so
she was looking into my eyes. I felt her tense – but she didn’t
fight me, so I kept my fingers there as I asked, “Did you mean what
you said earlier about this being the best night of your life?”
    I could see the struggle play out on her face
– but eventually, the truth won.
    “Yes,” she whispered.
    I kissed her. I had to; I wanted her so
badly, there simply was no other option.
    She tensed again – harder this time – but
eventually I felt her melt into me and give back as good as I
gave.
    I didn’t want to stop kissing her… but I
could hear the soft whisper of the Bentley in the background.
    So I pulled away and looked into her eyes,
which she gradually opened as though waking from a dream.
    “Come with me,” I whispered.
    “…what?” she asked, stunned.
    “You said this was the best night of your
life. So let’s keep it going. Maybe even make it the best weekend
of your life. Come with me.”
    I could see the struggle in her face:
happiness and fear, both vying for control. “I… I can’t… what are
you talking about?!”
    I took both her hands in mine. “Come with
me,” I said, more urgently this time.
    “But – the reports – ”
    “Are crap. A fake test Klaus didn’t pass
anyway. Forget them. Come with me. ”
    “The office – I left everything on – ”
    “Who cares? Leave it and come with me.”
    There is a moment in every negotiation, every
argument, every game, where there is a tipping point. The moment
where everything is either lost or won. Usually it’s a very small
moment – and usually won by one person gradually convincing
themselves, rather than by overwhelming logic or emotion. If the
reasons to do something are overwhelming, it was never a true
negotiation or argument or game in the first place.
    But this was. It was a battle between
everything she wanted… and everything she feared.
    I could see it in her eyes.
    And it looked like I was losing.
    “Take a chance,” I whispered. “Be that woman
I made love to just now. Come with me.”
    I felt her shiver, and I wanted to grab her
and spirit her away and make love to her all night long.
    But it had to be her choice.
    I saw the two sides warring in her eyes – and
then suddenly, desire won out, and the fear