Had I heard him right? Was he saying he felt something for me? Butterflies danced in my stomach.
Ridiculous.I broke my stare from his and peered at our reflections in the dresser mirror. In the glass sat a chubby girl—her hair a crazy mess, her clothes wrinkled—next to a tall, lanky-legged boy with long hair and an easy grin.
“Aren’t you going to say it, CC?” He nudged my foot with his knee, his fingers still strumming the guitar and repeating the melody.
I shook my head and bit my lip.What does he see when he looks at me?
He laid the guitar on the bed and rose to his knees, leaning down to place his arms on either side of my thighs, the added weight dipping the mattress.
I raised my head. “What are you—”
His body was only inches from mine, trapping me between the headboard and his face.
For a few seconds, I couldn’t breathe.
“Terri, you have to stand up for yourself. Don’t let them ruin your life. The only opinion that matters is yours.” He shifted onto his side and sat next to me, leaning the back of his head against the wall. “And mine, of course.”
I snickered and turned to look at him. “And whatisyour opinion?”
He reached out and gently tugged on a curl. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known.”
Blushing, I glanced at my lap and picked at my nails.
Paxton moved his fingers to my chin and pulled me closer. “That there’s no way in hell I can ever see you as a foster sister.” His stare moved to my mouth. He rubbed a thumb across my chin. “And I think you’ve got the most kissable lips I’ve ever seen.”
I leaned in, entranced by his intense gaze and sweet words. At that moment, I felt like a queen.
He lowered his head to mine and our lips touched.
I clenched the bedspread and opened my mouth, giving him silent permission to go further.
Bang-bang!
Paxton and I jumped at the sound and pulled away from one another, both of us wide-eyed for a second.
“Let me in, Terri,” shouted Lana from the other side of the door.
I scrambled off the bed, flustered and embarrassed.
I kissed him.Well, I didn’t know if it could be counted as real kiss, since our lips barely brushed against each other, but still…I kissed Paxton Ross, and he kissed me back.This thought kept circling in my head, around and around and around, the dizzying sensation terrifying yet exciting, too.
The doorknob rattled. “Please, Terri?”
I sprinted to the door, desperate to get her inside before someone heard her yells and came to find Paxton in my room. With a quick twist, the lock gave a pop as it released.
“Hey, Paxton,” Lana said as she skipped into the room, her smile wide.
I peeked down the hallway. Gratitude flooded through me at seeing no one rushing upstairs or toward my room, I shut the door and relocked it.
Frustrated at Lana’s intrusion, yet also relieved in a weird sort of way, I pivoted to face my nosy little sister with my arms crossed over my chest. I forced my attention to focus on her and not the intriguing boy lounging on my bed.
“Whatcha doing? I heard music.” Her attention riveted to the guitar on the bed. “Oh, can you teach me how to play?”
Heaving a sigh, I slogged to the desk and pulled out the chair, keeping a careful distance between Paxton and me.
For a moment, our eyes met, and he flashed a secret smile.
A tingle of excitement and hot desire zinged from my belly to my chest. If I wasn’t careful, Paxton Ross would capture my heart and never let it go.
