“It’s not important.”
“Chiara.” A warning in my voice.
“Jaaaack.” She drawled out my name.
“Don’t make me push more things around.”
A tiny smile tugged at her lips. I felt absurdly proud of that small smile. That I could lighten her mood at a moment like this . . .
Her expression faded back into impassivity. “I would tell you if I thought it was significant.”
My eyes narrowed, studying her in the sunlit room. Something about her complexion . . . “Are you blushing?”
“Shut up.”
“Youareblushing.” There was no other description for the pink cast flaring up her neck and cheeks. It was absolutely adorable.
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
It hit me in a breathless flash. “It’s about me. Your dreams are aboutme.”
Her jaw hinged open, flapping soundlessly for a second. “No. No, they’re not. Why would you even think that?”
“You’re lying.” I could feel it in my nonexistent bones. She wasdreamingabout me.
“Not everything is about you, Jack.” She made a decidedly cute butveryfrustrated sound. “I think your over-grown, lordly head has a hard time remembering that.”
True, but I wasn’t wrong in this.
Emotion rushed through my chest. If my heart beat, it would have sped up. She was putting up a valiant fight, but Chiara liked me. You don’t dream blushing-dreams about someone you don’t like. Even if she hadn’t admitted liking me to herself, yet.
I smiled.
It might have been a rather male, smug sort of smile.
“Good grief.” She threw her hands up. “You’re going to be insufferable now.”
“Well . . . youdidtell Candy White that I’m sexy, so this doesn’t come as a complete surprise.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I hate you.” Her words were harsh, but her tone lacked heat. She was more wistful than anything.
I chuckled. “I am not entirely sure that you do, Chiara mia.”
“You didnotjust call me that.”
“What? Chiara mia?”
It was a slight pun oncara mia—my dearest one.
She may have growled. A cute kitten sound.
“Moving on.” She went on the offensive. “How did you knock over my orange juice?” She made a beckoning motion with her hand. “And don’t you dare say, ‘by watching too many cat videos.’”
Damn. Thathadbeen my inspiration.
Fortunately for her, I wasn’t as reluctant to talk about this. “I’ve discovered that I can push myself into physicality if I concentrate.”
