I don’t know if my answer will be right or wrong, but there’s no hesitation in my response. “Yes.”
And just like that night we got ourselves into this mess, she shoves me against the wall, pinning me in place with nothing more than her palm. Only this time, the fire in her eyes has morphed from one that wants to destroy me to one that wants to consume me. My pants feel tight as hell as she utters one final word, ‘Good,’ before she slams her lips to mine.
My hands instinctively wrap around her waist, pulling her tight. Feeling her body against mine is everything I’ve ever wanted. She opens her mouth, and our tongues collide, feverish and passionate and so much more explosive than Dallas. I have never been more turned on in my life.If she leans into me any more, she’ll feel just how into her I am. She runs her hands through my hair, her nails scraping my scalp.It’s hypnotic.Kennedy Kramer has me in a trance I don’t ever want to end. She’s kissing me. Here. Alone. No cameras, no media. Just us. She runs her hands down my back, dragging her nails around to my abdomen, my hips jerking at the fire she leaves behind. She reaches for my belt, pulling my tight-ass pants toward her.Goddammit, I want this.Want her. But fear of the past rears its ugly head. I gently grab her wrist, stopping her from going any further.
“Kennedy. I…it’s…it’s been a while.”
She steps back. “Does it look like I care?”
I huff out a laugh. “No. But…my life is really…complicated.”
“I think we’ve already passed complicated. Is there more you’re keeping from me, pretty-boy?”
I flinch. “Kinda, yeah.”
She breaks the connection, her curious eyes not leaving mine. “Then stay here tonight and let’s get it all out in the open.”
“What? You wa…want me to stay? Here?”
She turns to walk into the kitchen as a soft laugh escapes. “To be honest, part of me really wants to be pissed at you for not letting me in on all this sooner. My brain is telling me to kick you out and find a way to call off this whole fake dating thing right now. But another part is telling me to hear you out. Besides, after a creepy stuffed bear, the photos, and everything else, I really don’t want to be here by myself.” She grabs a glass and some ice from the freezer. “And…I’m honestly interested in getting to know the real Jordan Boucher. Not the one in the press. Not the hockey player. I want to get to know the guy who helped my best friend start her own business. The one who has Beverly at the diner wrapped around his finger. The one who made me laugh uncontrollably tonight. Because, despite my better judgment, I’m attracted to him too.”
38
kennedy
Sitting in my T-shirt and sleep shorts on the couch, Jordan walks back in after grabbing his phone charger and his toiletry bag out of his car to stay the night. I am still unclear what is happening to my body here. Part of me feels like I should be…pissed? More upset? Angry? But the part of me that starts to see behind the cracks of the facade he wears every day is strangely drawn to him. He mentioned magnets, and dammit if that didn’t send goosebumps running across my skin. God, I sound like a teenager having a goddamn boy over when my parents are gone for the weekend.Goddammit, Kennedy, control your ovaries.
This could never work. I’m in my freaking thirties, and he’s in his twenties.Earlytwenties.What the hell am I thinking?!I need to stop this before things get more complicated. But as he shuts the door behind him, his eyes run up and down my body, leaving behind the fucking goosebumps again. He sets his bag down by the front door and slips his shoes off, never taking his gaze off mine. My thighs clench together, once again at war with every rational thought. Christ on a cracker, this man is hot.Well, there goes the stopping this right now part.
He sits on the couch ridiculously far away from me.Again.How is this guy, who is a total playboy in the news, a trulyrespectful gentleman in my apartment? This is not what I was expecting. He was the one who stopped our kiss. He was the one who pulled back. I pick at my cuticles—this entire situation is making me need a manicure. I’m not used to this. Most guys are more pushy. Is he…is he scared of me? Does he not like to take the lead? I guess Ihaveinitiated both of our kisses. Not that I’m mad about it. I’m used to being in control and, to be honest, it turns me on, especially with him.
“Are you scared to sit close to me? You know I don’t bite.”
“You have attacked me with your mouth twice now.”
I smirk. “Are you complaining?”
“No,” he says with a wicked smile. “Just…stating a fact. I thought you wanted to talk and get everything out in the open; if I sit closer to you, I’m afraid I’ll be too much for you to resist.”
I let out a loud laugh. “There’s the extremely humble Jordan Boucher I see around everyone else. Glad he showed up tonight.”
His cheeks flush as he shifts on the couch. “Happy to oblige.”
“Do you want something to drink?” I ask as I swirl my heavy pour of gin.
He sucks his teeth. “I could probably use a drink for this.”
“You got it. I have…gin, gin, oh, and some gin,” I say as I get up to make him a drink.
“No…you stay there. Relax,” he motions to me to sit back down. “I know how to make a drink. Especially with your many options.”
I don’t stifle the smile creeping up my face as I hold my hand up in surrender. He quickly sees the bottle of gin I have on the counter and finds the tonic water in the fridge.
“Glasses?”
“Cabinet to your right,” I say, gesturing with my head toward the correct door.
He makes his drink and returns to the couch, sitting a little closer to me than before. I’m not mad about it, but there’ssomething in his eyes as he knocks back half the drink that dampens the thrill running through me. His hand shakes just a hint as he sets his glass down and leans back in his seat.
