“I don’t?” I searched his eyes, unsure what he really wanted. He was so adamant that I delete them earlier.
“I overreacted before. I’m sorry. I just—” Beckett looked away when we stopped in front of the couch, facing each other. He shook his head and sighed. “I don’t do well around other people, Emilia.” He ran a hand over his buzzed hair. “But for some reason…with you…” Beckett stopped again and sighed. When his eyes grabbed mine and held me in an intense stare, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t speak.
“I’m okay when I’m around you. As if you take away all of my pain without even trying,” Beckett revealed, and I swallowed hard.
We stood mere inches from each other, my chest heaving at the same rate his was—way too fast.
His eyes fell to my lips and back up again.
He’s going to kiss me…
My hands shook as the world around me fell away, my body humming, my knees weak and ready to give out.
Kiss me, please, kiss me.
Beckett blinked, and the moment was gone. A stone mask, the one he wore so well, the one I was finally breaking through, quickly spread across his features. “Are you hungry?” His voice was steely yet husky.
He feels it too. He must.
I shook my head, and Beckett moved his lips closer to mine.
My breath hitched in my throat.
Kiss me…
Meow!
T-Bone pranced at our feet and broke the moment. Beckett stepped away, nearly tripping over his cat. “Shit, sorry, T-Bone. I’m starving. Are you? I think I’m going to go make something.” He scampered off to the kitchen, leaving me desperate for more.
“Can I use the bathroom?”I called.
“Of course. No need to ask.” Beckett popped his head out.
“Thanks.” I hurried to the half bath on the first floor that he showed me earlier, nestled between the foyer and the library.
I still couldn’t believe how many books the man had.
After washing my hands, I fetched my phone from my pocket. I needed to tell my mom how my afternoon had shifted from taking pictures to exploring a hot mountain man’s cabin, where I almost kissed him. Would she even believe me? I wasn’t sure I would believe me.
Maybe I was dreaming.
But a quick pinch to my arm told me I definitely wasn’t.
Emilia: You won’t believe this
Mom:?
Emilia: I’m in a hot mountain man’s cabin right now!
Immediately, my phone rang, her name coming up on the screen. The sound echoed around the room, and I cursed the tile. I silenced it and waited a beat before answering. “Mom. I can’t talk right now,” I whispered, cupping my hand over the bottom of my cell phone.
“Where are you? Emilia, this is not funny. Are you in danger? Do I need to come get you?”
“Mom, relax. It’s okay. I’m fine.”
“Then what the hell do you mean you’re in a hot mountain man’s cabin? What does that even mean?”
I rolled my eyes, but only because she couldn’t see me. “You know the cabin I sent you pictures of?” I half whispered.
