“Yes. And ALL the food. You won’t believe the spread. I might have already eaten cheesecake, but you’re sworn to secrecy.”
She leans back against the seat, smiling, the dash lights playing on the strands of her hair.
“This isn’t how I pictured my holiday.”
Her hand is still in mine, and it’s impossible to ignore how right this feels. Liberty holding my hand. Her in my truck, warm and safe.
“Me neither.” I say with a self-deprecating laugh. “You know I wasn’t coming, right?”
“I saw the messages in the group text. I figured you needed your space. I’m glad you came.”
“Me too.”
Her gaze is palpable on the side of my face, sliding down my neck, across my chest.
I can’t think about whether those pretty golden-brown eyes slide lower.
“What changed your mind?” she asks, rattling me out of my dirty thoughts.
I glance her way before pinning my gaze back to the road.
“You.”
I said that.
A tight sensation curls in my gut, and I hinge on the sound of her breathing. Waiting.
There was a slight twitch in her fingers. But that was it.
“Does that upset you for me to say that?”
“No. It’s just surprising.” She’s smiling, worrying at her eyebrow with her fingertips.
“I’m not good at keeping my thoughts to myself,” I warn.
She laughs. “That’s perfect, then. Neither am I. Try being raised by Justice and you’ll know what it’s like to have to speak your mind.”
The tension in the truck eases, and my eyes keep trying to go to our clasped hands. Seeing her small fingers intertwined with mine is enough to cause me to drift too close to the edge of the road.
Shit. Drive, Spence. You have one job.Do it.
“So explain this,” she says, leaning her elbow on the console, angling her body toward me. “I always felt like you were running away from me at the other company parties. It was pretty comical. “
She was paying attention.
This sends a rush of pleasure through me, alongside regret for making her think I was avoiding her.
“Your brother was running block 24/7.”
With a groan, she laughs. “I thought he might be. He’s probably losing his mind right about now that we’re going to be all alone in that monstrous resort with just each other for entertainment.”
When I look over, she’s looking at me. There’s definitely a challenge in her gaze.
CHAPTER 6
The resort’s underground parking deck is empty—exactly like when I left an hour ago.
Too empty.
