“Yeah.” I nod, agreeing. “But last time you were here, I was drunk, so I didn’t care as much.”
“Are you saying you care now?”
My stomach does that thing where it somersaults at least a thousand times when we’re together.
“No.” I laugh, playfully shoving his shoulder. “But I don’t think I’ll get over the shock of seeing you here.”
He catches my hand before I’m able to pull it away.
My smile drops, and breathing becomes difficult. Especially when he presses his lips to my knuckles.
After he plants a kiss to every single one, he says, “I thought I’d find you at my place when I got home. Can I be honest?”
I swallow thickly. “I get the feeling you’re going to be honest with me regardless of my answer.”
He smirks. “I was disappointed when you weren’t.”
I inhale a deep breath as he lowers my hand. He holds onto it, just barely, keeping the tips of our fingers tethered.
“I needed some time to think in my own space,” I tell him.
“Can I be honest again?”
I pop a brow, not giving him a verbal answer.
“I know you don’t do feelings…”
I drop my hand, the fear from earlier creeping back in. I take a hesitant step back, but Holt doesn’t relent. He maintains our distance, matching me step for step.
“Don’t say it,” I warn with a whisper.
“But I’ve caught them for you, Selene.”
My breath catches in my throat, and I feel like running in the opposite direction. This doesn’t feel the same as when Adam was standing in this same place covered in Dorito dust, telling me he wanted to marry me.
This time it’s different. My feet feel like two lead weights. All the blood in my body has drained to them, and I feel lightheaded. Panic sets in the longer I stare at Holt’s gorgeous face. The way his brown hair rests just above his brow. The way his eyes won’t stop staring at me. The way those eyes make me feel like my entire body is bursting into flames.
“No, you haven’t.” I shake my head. “You’re only saying this because our fake relationship is doing so well in the media.” I gesture toward my phone. “I’ve seen all the headlines.”
“This was never for the headlines.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why?” He continues stepping closer to me. “Why do you not believe me?”
We’ve somehow made it farther down the small hallway toward my bedroom. The floor creaks under my every step, reminding me of how my apartment is literally falling apart, and so am I.
“Because you’re you.” I gesture toward him with my hand. “And I’m me.”
“That’s exactly why you should believe me.” He grabs my hand again and pulls me to his chest.
I relax against him, gasping with the electricity between us. It’s as if we’ve completed a circuit, his touch coursing through my veins. “Holt, I’ve seen you with other women. You talk about me not wanting to be in a relationship, but you’ve never seemed to want to be in one either.”
“Right.” His nostrils flare as he takes a heated breath. I can tell I’ve hit a nerve, but it needed to be said. “Sounds exactly like what Julianna says to me.”
“I’m sorry,” I start. “I didn’t mean to hurt you by saying that, but it’s the truth. You’re Holt Capuleti.”
“I know.” His eyes find mine again. This time, it’s like I can see straight into his soul. “I may have jumped from woman to woman in the past, but what else was I going to do? You were my sister’s best friend, and no one ever had faith in me to ever be loyal to anyone, especially not you. But the truth is, I never fell for any of them because I had already fallen for you a long time ago.”
