Page 57 of Love Overboard
Jon backed up with his arms held high in surrender. “I have no idea what you said.”
Lacey brushed the tears from her face. “I said, ‘Stop being so nice.’” She rubbed her sleeve against her nose. “It’s hard enough to keep my distance when you’re pestering me. When you act like this, I can’t resist.”
Jon lowered his arms and spread them out. “Then don’t.” He held his breath.
Her eyes darted back and forth, panic-stricken. Her chest heaved in short, desperate puffs. She rose from the cot, shoved by him, and headed for the door. He watched her leave. Again. Like they were stuck on a sick, twisted carousel, going around and around but never getting anywhere. What were the secret words that would make her stay?
“Please?”
Lacey stopped at the threshold, facing away from him.
Jon remained where he was. He couldn’t force her to love him. It had to be her choice.
“I don’t know why you’re scared of us being together again.” His hands twitched at his sides. “But I promise I won’t let you down. Like with the spiders. I keep my word.”
Her body swayed forward, but her feet stayed in one spot. She wavered, and Jon’s mind whispered the same prayer from earlier.
God, help?
Lacey turned. She moved one step closer. Then another. Her eyes fixed somewhere around his chin. He fought to stay where he was, wanting to make it easier, but telling himself he couldn’t rush her. Was she trembling? Her vulnerable expression scraped at his heart. She drew near enough that her two feet nestled between his as she stood with her nose a centimeter from his chest.
Jon wrapped his arms around her body so tight his elbows almost met in the middle. He bent his head and buried his nose by her neck, breathing in the smell of shampoo, fruit punch, and Lacey—that indefinable scent that had haunted his dreams for two and a half years. What if he woke and found it was all a fantasy?
Lacey’s hands crept around his waist and stretched up his back. Her soft frame pressed against his.
No. His imagination wasn’t this good. If the moment was for real, he’d better have her sign on the dotted line while she was feeling amenable.
“Does this make it official?” He raised his head. “Are we athem?”
“A what?”
“No longer ahimandher. Athem. A pair. A couple. Have we finally crossed the dreaded just-friends barrier into an honest-to-goodness romantic relationship?”
“I admit, I’m scared. But I don’t want to be. I want to be”—she took a breath—“with you.” Lacey pulled away—not out of his arms but far enough to look up at him. “I’ll agree on one condition.”
“Name it.”
The corners of her mouth rose. “Don’t tell the Shippers.”
He laughed and checked over her shoulder, half expecting to see Emily gloating in the doorway. “They might have us under surveillance as we speak.”
“No. We managed to sneak this one by them.”
Jon studied her playful expression. “And why don’t you want to tell them?”
“Payback.” Lacey smirked. “Don’t forget, they stranded us in Cozumel and locked us in the lost and found without so much as a candle.”
“As I recall, we managed to stay warm.”
“Regardless.” She smacked his arm. “They deserve to suffer a little.”
He shivered and snuggled her close. “I’m glad you’re on my side.”
She laid her head on his chest. “Me too.”
Definitely not a dream. More like a dream come true. He rested his cheek against the top of her head. Maybe he shouldn’t push it. But …
“Do you think … we could continue the conversation we were having under the towel … before the spiders invaded?”
