Page 179 of Skate the Line

“It’s because of you.”

I drop my hand and start to shake my head, but he doesn’t let me get that far. He places his mug onto the counter and rounds the island. I spin on the stool and face him with skepticism.

What is he doing?

I glance over his shoulder to the stairs as he crowds me. One hand falls to the counter, and I lean backward. The other one does the same, and suddenly, I’m trapped between his large arms and heavy presence.

“Thank you.” He swallows.

I blink a few times. “For?”

“For fixing what I couldn’t.” He shakes his head, appearing vulnerable for the first timeever.

I brush it off. “Well, you were the one who hired me despite not wanting to, so technically, you’re the one who?—”

His hand falls to my chin, and I stop talking.

“Thankyou.”

With the gravity of his voice, it seems like he’s thanking me for more than just Ellie.

Which makes me thank him in return.

“Well…” I shrug. “I fixed her, and you fixed me. I guess we’re even.”

His thumb grazes my lower lip, and my heart races. He glances at my mouth, and if he kisses me, we’re inbigtrouble, because what can we blame it on this time?

The moment is too heavy between us.

Too real.

As much as I want him to kiss me, I’m thankful when his phone pings, telling him that someone is at the door.

A slight growl leaves him, and he reluctantly pulls out his phone.

He glances at me once before walking toward the front of the house.

I escape upstairs to help Ellie, only to come back down ten minutes later to Rhodes having an intense conversation with Marco. Except, it’s in fluent Russian.Marco knows Russian?

I look at Ellie, and after a few more seconds of us eavesdropping, she pouts. “I don’t know that many words in Russian.”

“Maybe we should listen to some tapes tonight,” I say with a laugh.

Rhodes catches my eye and does a double-take before ending his conversation with Marco.

Ellie turns her back to her father and taps her finger against her chin. “Or come up with our own secret language.”

Rhodes snorts. “The last thing I need is you two having your own language.”

Ellie giggles and runs off to pester Marco about knowing Russian. She scolds him for not teaching her certain phrases.

“Everything okay?” I eye Rhodes closely.

He glances at Marco and Ellie, seeing that they’re in a heated conversation, and inches his chin toward the living room.

Once we’re tucked away, he says, “Make sure you lock the door tonight and set the alarm, alright?”

My brows fold right along with my arms. “I don’t need to be reminded to do that,” I remind him.

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