“Oh, so what, you can put yourself in danger, but I can’t do the same? Well, I’m not asking for your permission, Theo. If you’re staying, then so am I. Don’t try to talk me out of it.”
As always, Theo put everything on his shoulders. His responsibility. His duty. The weight of everyone else’s expectations weighing him down.
She needed him to understand that he wasn’t alone in this. He never was.
“We’ll find it together,” she said, taking his hand and squeezing.
He then pulled her in for a hug, wrapping his long arms around her body. Her mind floated back to that kiss, but she quickly pushed it to the back of her brain.
“Don’t tell Eddie,” he said, his voice reverberating through his chest, “but I thinkyoumight actually be my best friend.”
Dani smiled and pressed her cheek into his pecs. Even if she couldn’t have Theo in the way she wanted, at least she still had this.
“You’re right. Eddie would have jumped ship back at the museum,” she joked.
“Eddie wouldn’t have been in a museum in the first place,” Theo retorted, and they both started laughing.
Dani looked up at Theo, still with his arms wrapped around her, as he looked down. Her heart pounded. She wished things were different. That he was feeling what she was feeling because, damn, she wanted to kiss him again.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered.
“I can’t say I’m glad I’m here,” she said, and they both chuckled again, “but I’m glad I’m with you.”
He scanned her face, his eyes jumping from her gaze to her lips. For a moment, she thought maybe…just maybe…he might kiss her again. But instead, he rested his chin on the top of her head, and the silence returned.
Sigh.This would have to do.
Chapter
Fifteen
Theo
The sun started to creepinto the room, but it didn’t matter. Theo was already awake. Wide awake.
It was quickly becoming a habit for him.
And it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that Theo’s mind raced, trying to remember everything his papou had ever said about Crete and the eye, and calculating their next moves. His thoughts were just a distraction from the fact that Dani was sleeping beside him on the tiny twin bed, her body curled up into his side. Her hand rested on his bare stomach. He wasn’t sure when she’d snuggled into him, but when he woke up an hour ago with his arm already completely numb from being wrapped around her, he became increasingly aware that it must have been a long time.
That kiss. That fucking kiss. It replayed in his mind all night. The way she pulled at his shirt. How she repositioned her body over his lap. The way her impossibly soft lips played with his.
It was everything he’d wanted out of a kiss with Dani—except that it wasn’t real.
Like she’d said, they’d been caught up in the moment and playing their parts. It didn’t mean anything. She didn’t feel that way about him anymore. If she ever had.
It’s always been you.
God, he felt like an idiot getting that tattoo. The ink burned, searing against her skin pressed against him.
Dani sucked in a breath, stirring. Theo tipped his head, watching her through his eyelashes as Dani rose into consciousness and realized where she was positioned. Slowly, she pulled away from his body, clearly thinking he was still asleep and not wanting to wake him. But as she separated their bodies, she stopped and studied his tattoo. Her fingers grazed over the letters, sending a warm buzz across his skin. He fought to keep from reacting to her touch, not wanting her to stop. But his body couldn’t be controlled, and he impulsively flinched.
She shot her gaze up to his and pulled her hand away.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
“How long have you been awake?” she asked, not even bothering with the morning pleasantries.
It was obvious why. She wanted to know if he’d noticed her touching his tattoo.
