Page 68 of Just One Season
Energy surges through me. I have to make sure this works for Kellen. That we really convince Paul he’s not a threat and deserves to stay on the Blizzard. I can’t bear it if Kellen were to be separated from his daughter. It’s so much more important than me proving something to my father.
I don’t understand what Kellen’s going through, but I know what it’s like to feel a little lost. With me, it’s about proving I’m good enough to do things on my own, to achieve things without the unwanted help of men in my life.
“All that to say, sorry I missed the real photographer.”
“You don’t think I’m a real photographer?” I attempt to smile, but he just stares at me, all serious. “Sorry, not a joking time. You don’t have to explain.”
“Thank you.” He nods.
“And you can trust that I’m not going to freak out about something so minor. As your fake girlfriend, of course.”
His throat ripples as he swallows.
Kellen runs his hand through his wavy hair, and instead of messing it up for the pictures, he manages to make himself look even hotter, if not slightly rumpled. He’s now a handful of steps away. My eyes fall to his tie and the three remaining buttons of his shirt. This man is throwing me completely off-kilter. Why? Because he’s hot?
Feeling moved by the emotion in Kellen’s voice, I close the gap between us and lift my hands.
I’mnotfalling for the hot guy.
But I also don’t have a heart of stone, and this man is struggling right now. I want to be there for him.
“May I?”
He nods, and I touch the button that hits mid-chest. Myfingers brush his skin, and his chest rises with a breath. I keep my eyes focused but can feel the heat of his stare on my face.
One button done.
I swallow, and I’m sure he hears it. I move to the second button and fumble, my fingers touching his bare skin again, this time at the section of his chest where his collarbones meet. It’s a hard, smooth spot, warm to the touch, and my traitorous brain imagines kissing it.
Second button done.
At the top, I’m touching his neck. There’s no way I’m imagining that his breath is speeding up, or that mine is.
Third button done.
I look up at him, and our eyes meet. I reach for the tie and tug it until it’s the correct length on either side to knot. I cross one end over the other. Slowly, because my hands are shaking again.
“You’re a great dad. A good person. Not that you need me to tell you that.”
There’s a buzzing between us. In this room. The hum of electricity, building up to something, a generator shaking with energy, about to sputter and explode.
Kellen lifts a hand and pushes an escaped curl off my forehead, letting his fingertips skim my skin, but doesn’t say anything back.
I meet his eyes.
He looks at my lips, and my heart stutters.
I don’t even know what I’m doing with the tie anymore. Am I trying to braid it? Turn it into a friendship bracelet? His hand is gently pulling on the curl, then moves down my hair, not quite touching me, not letting go.
“I have to start over.” I unloop the tie and let the ends lay flat, smoothing the silky fabric down with my hands. My palms freeze against his chest in a position that’s much too intimate. I stare at my fingers splayed on his shirt, trying to steady myself, because I’m not sure I can meet him in the eye again without my knees giving out.
“Lucy.” Kellen reaches up and wraps his hands around the tops of my wrists, and the touch causes my insides to flutter. I stare at where our skin is together, marveling at how it feels to be connected to him in a circle like this. Heat spreads across my skin.
I look up.
I know he’s waiting for me to do so.
Our eyes meet, and we’re close. His gaze flits down to my lips and a rush of desire roars inside me.
