Page 373 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
I lift my eyebrows and look around the room. “There’s not anyone else here for us to fool, Audrey.”
She drops onto the couch with a tiny, adorable huff. “I know that. But I guess I figured you were just, I don’t know, practicing?”
I sit down on the opposite end of the couch, angling myself so I’m facing her. “There are probably things that weshouldpractice,” I say. I lean forward and clasp my hands together, resting my elbows on my knees. “But Audrey, if we’re alone, if there’s no one else who can see us or hear us and interpret our interactions, it’s important to me that you know—I won’t lie to you. I won’t pretend.”
She nods and bites her lip. “Okay. That’s good to know.”
“I really do think you look beautiful right now.”
She takes a deep breath. “My eyebrows are still sore from the torture they put me through at the salon. I’m surprised I have any eyebrows left.”
I grin. “Does it make you feel better or worse about the suffering to know I thought you were just as beautiful before?”
She raises one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. “You really thought I was beautiful before? Even when I was wearing my bush hat?”
“Especially when you were wearing your bush hat.”
She shakes her head and lifts her hands to her cheeks. “That feels like a lifetime ago. So much has happened since then. I mean, for me, anyway. It probably doesn’t feel that way for you.”
I hold her gaze for a long moment. “No, it feels that way for me, too.”
There’s a question in her eyes, and I wish I had some way to answer it. But I don’t have any more clue what’s happening between us than she does. I just know I really like sitting here across from her.
“Flint, thank you for today,” she says, her voice soft. “It was pretty magical. And your family was amazing.”
Heat spreads through my chest. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you had a good time.” My hand twitches with the desire to reach out and touch her, and I curl my palms into fists. If this keeps up, I might have to sit on my hands.
“So,” she finally says, her fingers curling over the tops of her knees. “Do you want to take the picture first?”
“Right. Yes. Let’s do that.” I grab my phone off the coffee table, happy to have somewhere to direct the energy coursing through me.
It’s just past eight, and the sun has finally disappeared, leaving a sky streaked with red, yellow, and orange. “Actually, this is probably the perfect time to do it. Look at that sky.”
Audrey moves to the window. “It’s beautiful.”
“Wait. Stop right there. Can I take your picture?”
She turns and looks over her shoulder, her lips curving into a soft smile.
My heart might as well beout of my body and on the floor.
“Looking out the window?” she says, turning back to face the sunset.
“That’s perfect.”
I watch her a moment, and she lifts her hand to her hair, brushing it to the side so I can see the long column of her neck. One arm rests on top of her head, her hair cascading down from her hand, and I snap the picture. When I pull it up to see if it works, I almost start to laugh. With the fading evening light, the sunset view over the mountains, and her silhouette in front of the window, it looks like a shot out of a magazine.
I walk over and stand beside her, showing her the photo. “You’re a natural.”
She takes my phone. “What? That’s not me. How did you even do that?”
“You did it,” I say, taking the phone as she hands it back. “All I did was push the button.” I pull up my Instagram account. “Are you okay if I post this?”
She nods, so I upload the photo and add a quick caption.“Enjoying the view of her enjoying the view…”I say out loud as I type. I show it to her. “Does that work?”
She lets out a tiny chuckle. “I like the hint of word play.” She licks her lips, and I force my eyes away from them. I can’t startthinking about kissing this woman. Not when we still have so much that we need to discuss.Including kissing.Will she be willing? Do I even want her to be if it isn’t real?
“There. Posted.” I toss my phone onto a nearby chair, determined not to touch it again. Simon will see the post and know how to field any questions or inquiries it triggers. For now, my part is done.
