Page 10 of Knotted Laces

He frowns, but I don’t acknowledge it.

Noise increases from the kitchen, drawing Martha’s focus.

“Night,” I tell her. “Thanks for the yummy food.” I move in and hug her tight before she shooing her away so she can head into the kitchen and negotiate a truce between Carter and Caleb.

My lips curl up at the edges.

The Jackson brothers.

Chaos personified.

Always.

But when I turn to Cam any amusement in my belly fades.

“Thanks for letting us invade your house,” I say softly.

He studies me for a blip too long and I can’t miss the hurt in his eyes.

Shit.

I fucked up. I should have told him and?—

His face clears as he hitches a thumb over his shoulder. His smile is normal, and relief floods my insides. I can’t bear to hurt him, can’t bear to hurtanyof them.

“You’re welcome anytime,” he says, hugging me briefly and I feel that blip in my stomach again, as though I’m riding a roller coaster, cresting the first rise just before the big drop, waiting for the rest of the cars to catch up before we fly. “As if I ever had a choice with this crew.”

“True. There’s no stopping a Jackson invasion,” I agree, ignoring that rollercoaster inside me even as I step back and grin at him. My heart is pounding, and my palms are sweaty.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

He leans back against the wall and crosses his arms, causing the muscles beneath his short-sleeved shirt to stand out sharply in relief. “I accepted that long ago,” he says lightly.

My body drifts towards his and the slightly spicy scent of him fills my senses.

I want to lean closer.

To inhale deeply.

To touch and kiss and?—

Seriously.

What. The.Fuck?

I straighten and panic has my hands shaking as I zip up my jacket. “Well, I, um—” I clear my throat. “I need to head out. I’ll see ya around.” I settle my purse on my shoulder and start for the door, not realizing he’s followed me until he reaches past me and opens the wooden panel.

I still, feeling…

Nope.

Not feelinganything.

“You know how to get home?” he asks quietly.

“Yup,” I say tartly as I step out onto the porch. “New to the area, but not new to Google Maps.”

“Noted.” He lifts his palms, mouth curved, clearly picking up on my tone. But one has to be careful with these Jacksons. Give them an inch and pretty soon you’re part of a family of more than twenty nosy nellies.

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