Page 60 of The Best of Us

I wasn’t sure how he was truly steadying my pulse after what he’d shared, but he’d injected a feeling of safety into my veins and gave me new life. And now I wanted to stay here just like this. Keep the dark where it belonged, not bring it with us into the here and now.

“Basics. Let’s start there. Like back to when you were born. Which was when? How old are you anyway?”

Keeping hold of my wrist, he replied, “Forty-three as of last December.”

“Ever married?”

“No.”

“Long-term relationship?”

“Will you judge me if I say no?”

Well, that response felt oddly personal, honest, and not very basic.

“Only if you judge me for the same,” I confessed.

“Then no, nothing long-term for me, either.”

Our Q and A had shifted slightly, mirroring Colin’s from earlier. And it felt right.

“Not the type?” I couldn’t help but probe.

He smoothed the pad of his thumb in small circles where he held my wrist. Who knew such a light touch could provoke such strong feelings?

Skeletons and danger were officially back in the dark, exactly where I planned to leave both for a while.

“Never found the one.”

He didn’t say he hadn’tmetthe one, just hadn’t found her. Was I theherhe’d been looking for? There I went again, falling headfirst into that feeling of hope.

His eyes slanted to where he held my wrist, and a smirk ghosted his full mouth. My pulse was racing with hope, and he’d clocked it.

“Last time you were on a date?”

He closed one eye and said sincerely, not sounding even remotely annoyed, “This is starting to feel the opposite of basic.”

True.“Well then, hmm. Do you considerDie Harda Christmas movie?”

“Why? Has anyone ever said it’s not?”

I lifted one shoulder. “Some would say it’s not.”

He grunted in mock disgust. “Please tell me you’re not one of those people so I won’t have to kick you out.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I teased. “But no need.” I smiled. “Colin watched that with me this past Christmas, actually. He loved it.”Was that insensitive to mention since he missed out on it?“Shit, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” His words said one thing, but his step back and the return of his hand to the counter said another. His movements had me worried I’d killed our banter bubble. “I’m relieved to know his mother raised him to have good taste.”

He scratched his jaw as if the scruff was irritating him, and all I could think about was how it’d feel against my skin if he were to kiss me. I genuinely had no clue how my mind went there after everything I’d learned, but at this point, nothing really surprised me.

“Any other questions, or are you satisfied for now?”

“Hardly satisfied. Not close to being done.” I wet my lips. “Any chance you’re allergic to shellfish?”

“That’s not public record. How’d you—” He dropped his head forward, shaking it slightly. “Colin, too?”

I nodded.

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