Page 19 of Red Zone

Her lips parted, but no words came out. The air between us was charged, every unsaid word, every unhealed wound crackling like static.

I reached out, my hand brushing against hers where it rested on her knee. “You’re the only thing I’ve ever been sure of, Skye,” I said quietly. “And I was an idiot for not fighting for you when I should have.”

Her breath came in uneven bursts, and her eyes searched mine like she was trying to find the truth in my words. Slowly, almost hesitantly, her hand turned under mine, her fingers curling slightly.

“Liam…” Her voice was soft, barely a whisper, but it was enough to pull me in.

I leaned closer, my forehead almost brushing hers. “Tell me to stop,” I murmured, giving her the chance to pull away.

She didn’t.

Our lips met, and the years melted away, leaving only the two of us and the connection that had never disappeared. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but it deepened quickly, a slow burn igniting into something neither of us could ignore.

When she pulled back, her breathing was ragged, her eyes wide and glassy. “I… I need to go.”

Her words cut deep, but I nodded, my hand falling away. “Okay,” I said softly, though it felt like a lie. The ghost of her kiss lingered on my lips, and I let out a shaky breath. Tonight had changed everything, and somehow, nothing at all.

She fumbled for the door handle, her shoulders tensing as the door to the house opened. Her aunt stood there with Lily in her arms, light spilling around them from the living room.

Skye’s focus shifted to her waiting family. “Thanks for the ride.”

The click of her seat belt unfastening was enough to spring me into action. I wasn’t leaving her alone. Not yet. Not after our unexpected connection. I wanted to stay close to her, even knowing it might end in heartbreak. I got out of the car and hurried to her side as she opened her door. Her mouth formed an o as she let me grasp her hand to help her get out of the truck. It was probably over the top, but I craved the feel of her hand in mine—any touch from her—and I needed to assure myself that she was okay. Relief flooded me.

Her hand trembled before she got it under control, and she pasted a fake smile on her face as we reached the door. “What are you still doing up, Lils?”

“She just woke,” Coach’s wife said. “I was about to read her a story and get her back to sleep.”

Something melted inside me as Skye’s adorable daughter pulled her thumb from her mouth with an audible pop. Her dark curls framed her sleepy green eyes as she watched us in her Little Mermaid pajamas. “I wants story. Aunt Leen said so.”

“Okay, baby girl.” Skye moved close and reached for her daughter, who launched herself at her mom.

“Hi, I’m Eileen,” Coach’s wife said.

I nodded, extending my hand. “It’s nice to?—”

“Oh”—she whirled at the sound of a phone ringing—“excuse me. It’s probably Tom.”

I shifted from extending my hand to Coach’s wife to pressing it against the small of Skye’s back. “Come on, let’s get this little princess her story.”

“What?” Skye’s head whipped around to me. “No, you don’t have to stay.” Some color returned to her face, pink staining her high cheekbones. “I appreciate the ride home, but you can go.”

“Story.” Lily’s innocent eyes locked on mine in a surprisingly demanding glare.

“I’ll read you one, butterfly.” I bopped her nose, and she giggled, her arms extending to me. I caught her and swung her into my arms. She was light and small, but something about holding Skye’s daughter felt right. A gentle nudge to Skye’s back, and she closed the door behind us, shutting out the chilly air.

“I don’t feel right about this.” Skye worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “You should probably go.”

“No, Mama. Story.” Her little arms tightened around my neck.

“You heard the princess.” That earned me another giggle from the little angel who seemed entirely on my side and a ticket into getting closer to her mom. “Lead the way to her books.”

Skye’s gaze was wary, but she shook her head and decided to give in. Her face said it was probably due to the strain and exhaustion more than anything else. I followed her up the stairs and down the hallway to a room decorated for a princess. The walls were a pastel pink. And while the full-sized bed had a simple cover, the toddler bed had a bedspread washed in pink, purple, blue, and yellow with silver stars. A white canopy stretched above the bed, and the translucent fabric was pulled back toward the little headboard. A large picture on the wall closest to her bed featured all the Disney princesses. A small bookcase stood directly beneath it.

Lily squirmed, and I set her down. As soon as her tiny feet touched the cream-colored carpeting, she raced to the bookcase, pulled out aBeauty and the Beastbook, and thrust it high toward me.

“Did you brush your teeth, Lils?” Skye wrung her hands as her gaze darted from me to her daughter.

“Yep, I dids.” Lily nodded with a seriousness that was too cute.

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