Page 113 of The Keeper

“I’m sorry I made you think you had to.”

“I took a lot of pillows to the face for you.”

I giggled. “Did you deserve it?”

“Yeah, but don’t tell Bennet.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

“Good.” His fingers traced along my jaw and down my neck. “How was your night out on Saturday?”

I swallowed. “Interesting.”

“Bennet can be intense.”

“I think you’re underselling the experience.”

His laugh shook his body and filled the room. He genuinely enjoyed my playful response. His wide, boyish grin and the subtle etched lines that fanned from the corners of his eyes melted me. He was achingly gorgeous. The kind of man one would stop on the street to look at and wish with all their might to grab his attention. The kind of man to hold on to forever.

The shock of his skin on mine when he pressed his hand to my cheek was enough to make me shiver. His hand slid to my jaw, then my neck. He toyed with my low ponytail, reaching for the elastic keeping it in place. My entire body sighed when he pulled it free, letting my hair fall in loose waves.

“We should talk,” he said.

“About?”

“A number of things.”

“Okay. Do you want to sit and—“

“I do, but first I want,” he paused, pulling me closer. “I really want to kiss you.”

He pressed into me in a swirl of heat, need, and absolution.

“No more sitting in anyone else’s lap,” he said in his huffy way that makes me smile.

“Did it make you jealous?”

“Is that why you did it?”

“No. Have you been around American football players? They’re huge. We were trying to get a picture and—“

He silenced me with a finger to my lips. “Still fiery. That’s a relief.”

“It’s only been two weeks. I didn’t have a personality transplant.”

“Only two weeks,” he repeated quietly, leaning closer, hovering his lips over mine. “Felt longer.”

Guilt stabbed and twisted in my heart.

“Sounds like you missed me,” I whispered.

“Almost as much as you missed me.”

“Glad to see your arrogance is still intact.”

“You know you like it,” he said, scratching his fingers up into my hair.

“Maybe.”

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