Page 61 of Power Play Pursuit

She does her face a lot quicker,then looks in the mirror to make sure she didn’t miss a spot. “There! We’re a good-looking pair now.”

I chuckle. “Who knew that’s what it took for you to call me pretty?”

She shakes her head. “As if you didn’t know it already.”

I shrug. “Sure. I know a lot of women find me attractive, but I’ve never heard it from you, Elizabeth. And some opinions matter more than others. More than most.”

She flits her eyes away for a second, then catches my gaze again. “Are you saying you need me to tell you you’re handsome?”

I lean forward a few inches. “Only if you mean it.”

She swallows hard, and I’m pretty sure there’s a pretty blush under that mask. “We said no flirting.”

I grin, my face itching under the cream. “Nicely played, Elizabeth. But I already have my answer.”

“Really?” She tries to arch an eyebrow, but it barely budges.

“If you weren’t attracted to me, you wouldn’t call that flirting.”

She pauses a second, then shakes her head. “You’re unbelievable.”

Nice deflection on her part. And I’m not going to push it, because after all, I did get my answer.

After we wash our faces, Elizabeth insists we apply at least four other products—a mix of serums and creams—before we finally sit down on the couch and relax.

“This skincare business is no joke,” I say with a sigh, checking my watch. “I’m beat.”

She settles a throw pillow on her lap. “You gotta do what you gotta do. Also, you’re clearly out of shape if you’re exhausted by a little skincare regimen.”

“Haha. Just you wait, I’ll be working out again soon enough. And trust me, half the things we did back there were completely unnecessary. Maybe a daily face wash and some moisturizing cream. But all the other things? I don’t think so. You don’t need that stuff to be beautiful.”

She hugs the pillow tighter, a blush coating her cheeks. “You’re such a flirt.”

“But I don’t lie,” I say with a wink. “All right, what are we watching?”

“I don’t know.” She settles into the couch. “Whatever you want.”

Scrolling through the streaming catalog, I find a comedy that looks fun and put it on. Before I know it, we’re laughing and snorting our way through the movie. And as the glow from the TV catches her face, my heart soars in my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am in this simple moment. Watching TV and laughing with a cool girl who’s as pretty as she is sweet. It feels normal, and so right.

We decide to do a double feature. And when the second movie ends, I know Elizabeth is a bit groggy, because she fell asleep after the midpoint. Frankly, that movie kind of sucked, but having her use my shoulder as a pillow sure didn’t.

“Time for bed,” I mutter, and she yawns.

“Gosh, I can’t believe I fell asleep.”

I chuckle. “It’s fine, but I do think your bed will be more comfortable.”

I turn off the TV, and we walk to the hallway, stopping at the doors of our respective rooms. “Thanks for tonight,” I say, leaning against the wall. “I had fun. Even during the skincare routine.”

“Me too,” she breathes out, capturing me with a raw intensity in her eyes. The kind that makes me want to pull her close and kiss her gorgeous red lips.

There’s a shift in her gaze, and tension builds between us. Suddenly, we’re closer than before, and I wonder who moved first. She places a hand on my torso, and the skin beneath my shirt might as well have just burst into flames.

I cover her hand with mine, and she closes her eyes. “James,” she whispers.

I swallow hard, squeezing her hand. “I know. You’re not ready.” Which is why I don’t go for a kiss. Instead, I kiss her on the forehead, which still smells like the rose-scented product she applied earlier.

Then, she surprises me by throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tight. “Thank you.”

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