Page 34 of Tan Lines & Trouble
"Talk about a small world," I murmur, trying to lighten the mood, or at least break the awkward silence.
She snorts. "Talk about a mood killer."
I shift my hips a little, pressing my semi into her ass. She whips around to look at me, raising one perfectly arched brow in question.
I shrug. "What can I say? You telling him off was hot."
"Horndog."
"For you? Hell yeah." I pull her closer and press my lips against her neck, peppering it with kisses as we both fall silent.
Finally, I can't take it anymore and decide to rip the proverbial Band-Aid off. Only, before I can get a single word out, Blue speaks up.
"It's okay, you know, if you're having second thoughts. And I totally appreciate you having my back there, but I'm sure you're not looking for these kinds of complications. And yeah, it's cool. You know, if you're having second thoughts."
She tries to wiggle off of my lap, but I band my arms around her, holding her to me. "I'm not."
"Not what?"
"Having second thoughts."
"It's fine though, if you are." The tremor in her voice pierces my heart in a way I didn't expect. I've only known her for days, and yet, her pain is my pain too.
I loosen my hold on her and pivot her so she's straddling my lap. "Look at me."
She shakes her head and tries to hide her eyes from mine so I don't see the tears gathering along her lashes.
"Blue, shit. No, don't cry."
Somehow, my words only make her tears fall faster.
"Baby doll, listen please? You're killing me."
She mumbles out an apology, but I'm not having it.
"You have nothing to say sorry for. It's not your fault my dick-weasel cousin did you wrong."
Sniffling, she balls her fists and rubs at her eyes. "I knew this was too good to be true."
"That's one way to look at it. Or..."
"Or what?" she asks, hope painting her voice.
"Or, it could be fate. Seriously, what are the chances that right as I move to where you live my dipshit cousin cheats on you and we end up here together..." He leaps up from the bed. "Holy shit! Was this supposed to be your honeymoon?"
She nods, and despite her tears, her lips twitch like she's fighting a laugh.
"Stupid motherfucker," I mutter to myself before sliding my palms beneath her ass and standing. She wraps her legs around my waist and I walk us to the bed, keeping her pinned to my chest as I recline back against the headboard. "You really wanna know what I'm thinking?"
She says yes, but shakes her head no, finally settling on, “Maybe.”
So damn cute it hurts.“I’m going to tell you anyway.” I slide her off of me and wrap my arm around her, holding her to my side. “And I’m going to be honest.”
“Sounds ominous.”
“I think…with us especially…transparency is key. So, let me be really fucking clear. I like you, Blue. A hell of a lot. I like you and I want to see where this thing goes between us.”
“Really? You do?”
