Page 67 of Spying Under the Mistletoe
For the first time in forever, I feel wanted and protected.
I feel more than I should, and that scares me.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s dangerous to feel this way.
It’s dangerous to bring my heart into things where it can so easily be broken. But right now, it doesn’t seem too concerned about that.
Maybe it should be.
What difference does it make? This isn’t a real relationship. Just enjoy the perks while you can.
They won’t last forever.
I have no idea how long Landon and I have been kissing when he finally pulls away. Possibly a few minutes. Possibly a few hours. I just know that the instant he steps back, both my body and mouth immediately miss him.
I also notice for the first time how cold the night air is. But I’m not willing to end this moment just yet.
I allow my gaze to drift to the sky as I search for that elusive shooting star.
If I could make a wish—a wish that would come true—it would be for this moment to never end.
It would be so that I’d never feel the bitter sting of rejection again from sharing my heart with a man.
But since the latter will never come true, I might as well hedge for something else.
Something that doesn’t matter which side of the law Landon is on—it’s only temporary.
I turn back to Landon and peer into his beautiful brown eyes, warm with flakes of gold. “I want you.”
18
Landon
It takesa second for Chloe’s words to sink in, and then I’m kissing her like we’ve just found out the world’s about to end—and this is the last kiss we’ll ever have. With anyone.
Eventually, we pull away and let everyone know that we’re heading home.
Like her, I’m eager to return to my place.
Eager to see what happens next.
But that’s the thing—nothing should happen next.
I’m an idiot.
Those three words keep thundering in my brain as I drive Chloe back to my town house.
Sure, we kissed. We had to—it was part of my cover as her boyfriend.
Or at least the kiss under the mistletoe was part of my cover. The kiss on the balcony? Not so much.
No one was watching us.
No one was expecting us to kiss.
The decision to do that was one hundred percent ours.
It’s wrong—but at the same time, it doesn’t feel wrong. Just the opposite.
