Page 152 of The Holiday Clause
She shrugged. “It could have all been a dream.”
He took a step, crowding her against the racks of toilet paper in the already cramped pantry. The heat from his body enveloped her, and she could feel the steady thrum of his pulse where his chest nearly touched hers. “It wasn’t a dream. It happened.”
“Did it?”
“You know it did.”
She lost her courage and lowered her gaze, fearful that he might have regrets. Maybe she pushed him further than he wanted to go. Maybe she used her body to seduce him into a situation he otherwise wouldn’t have chosen.
Shame softened her voice to a rasp. “It doesn’t have to stay this way, you know? We could just…go back to the way things used to be.”
Another step. He gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. The rough pad of his thumb traced along her jawline, sending shivers down her spine.
There was too much reality in his stare. Too much feeling.
That’s how it always was with Greyson. He gave her the most intense looks but never validated his emotions with words.
Claiming he loved her didn’t excuse him from answering for other things. She was tired of guessing how he felt, and it wasn’t fair of him to walk out on a conversation when she had questions.
“Is that what you want?” he whispered, his chest heaving slowly as he commanded nothing short of honesty.
Her chin trembled, and her vision wavered. “No.”
“Me neither, Wren.” He took another step, pressing his front to hers. The solid wall of his chest trapped her against the shelving, and every nerve ending sparked to life. “I told you how I felt. One little argument isn’t going to undo those feelings.”
“You walked out.”
“I’m sorry.” He brushed a kiss to her mouth.
She softened and closed her eyes. The tension that had been building inside her all day slowly subsided to a gentle hum.
Tracing the backs of his fingers over her cheek, he rasped, “You asked me a question I didn’t know how to answer.”
Her heart dropped and unease returned. If it was that difficult for him to answer, did that mean his actions actuallydidrevolve around his dad on some level? “Oh.”
“Before you get ahead of yourself, let me make myself crystal clear. This—us—it’s happening because we want it to. No one else has anything to do with it.”
She looked up at him, needing to read the truth in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Very.”
“Then why did you get so defensive?”
“I wasn’t angry, Wren. I needed time to think. I went to get soup, and the next thing I know, I’m being questioned about my future career plans and how my dad’s death might play into that. It’s a lot.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
“Well, what the hell am I supposed to say, Greyson? I am sorry. I never meant to upset you.”
His mouth formed a flat line. “We’re both coming off of whatever bug we had, and neither of us was thinking clearly. My fucking brothers aren’t helping matters either.”
As much as it might seem like Logan said those things to spite Greyson, Wren understood his warnings were more out of concern for her. “I don’t like fighting with you.”
“We’re not fighting.” He stepped back, giving her space to breathe. “I came by to tell you something.”
She looked up at his intense blue eyes. “What?”
