He’d been her friend. Her childhood crush. Her first love. Her first kiss. He’d held her this way lots of times that summer when life stretched out before them beautiful and full of promise.
But for him to hold her this way. Now. After all that had happened and all they’d been through. This was a grown-up statement. If she pulled away, he would let her go. She knew it. And she probably should pull away. Things were moving fast.
If they started this and it ended badly, it would crush her. Because this was Gil.HerGil. Nothing could be casual between them. After over a decade of her missing him, he was standing right here. They should take this slowly and make sure they didn’t mess anything up. And if she explained it right, he would understand that she wasn’t telling him no. Just suggesting they be careful with what they had.
Gil moved one hand and brushed her hair behind her ear. Hescrutinized her face, and she saw the exact moment when he realized she wasn’t ready. It flashed in his eyes. Awareness. Followed quickly by disappointment. But then it was gone, and a tender expression took its place.
He moved both hands to her waist and took a step back.
29
GIL HOPED HIS DISAPPOINTMENT wasn’t evident on his face as he released Ivy and walked back around the counter. He needed to put some space between them. He’d done it again. Pushed too hard, too fast, and at the worst possible time. He rolled his neck from one side to the other and opened the fridge. “Faith and Tessa should be here soon, and then you can get some rest.”
“Right.”
Was it his imagination, or did Ivy sound disappointed? He grabbed a bottle of water and pointed it toward her. “Want one?”
She shook her head.
He twisted the cap and took a long drink. When he lowered the bottle, Ivy had walked around the counter and was coming straight to him.
“Gil.” She whispered his name. Then she leaned into him, and her body moved against him as she came up on her toes, and her face came closer.
It was like watching a movie when the action is slowed, and the viewer sees it frame by frame. He saw her coming toward him, and then her lips brushed his. She didn’t step back, but her body moved down as she came off her toes. Her face was now several incheslower than it had been a moment before, her cheeks flamed, and she blinked several times in a way that made Gil almost certain she was as surprised as he was. She tipped her chin down so all he could see was the top of her head. With one arm, he kept her close. He pulled his other arm around and rested his hand on the side of her neck. “Ivy.” He didn’t recognize his own voice. It was rough and low, and he cleared his throat but didn’t try to speak again. He kissed the top of her head, and then she responded to the light pressure he placed on her chin and lifted her face to his.
What he saw on her face now gave him hope. There was still some fear, maybe some questions. But there was also the emotion he’d been looking for, and he knew he wasn’t imagining it.
He bent his head to hers and her eyes fluttered closed, even as her face moved toward him.
The doorbell chimed, followed by two quick, then three longer knocks.
Ivy leapt away from him, her face scarlet. Eyes to the door, the floor, the wall. Everywhere but him.
What on earth?
“You’d better get that,” she said. “I’m going to, uh . . .” She mumbled a few incoherent comments and all but ran into his room.
He wanted to chase after her, but he couldn’t leave Tessa and Faith standing at his door. They were sitting ducks out there. He pulled in two deep breaths and went to the door.
“We hope we got everything you need.” Tessa was talking before he’d even pulled the door all the way open. She stepped inside and scanned the room. “Where’s Ivy?”
“Bedroom.” Gil tried to keep his voice casual. “She’ll be out in a minute.” He hoped.
Tessa dropped her bags on the sofa.
Faith followed Tessa in. “Did she decide to stay here?”
“Yes.” She had, and at this point all Gil could do was pray she didn’t change her mind.
“Excellent. There’s been a change of plans for tonight. Zane’s still at Ivy’s. Tessa’s going to run me back to my house so I can get a few things. Luke and I will be back for the first shift. Luke said you would get up at four and hold down the fort until daylight. It doesn’t get any of us much sleep, but maybe enough to keep functioning.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Ivy emerged from his bedroom and didn’t make eye contact. Was she regretting what had happened? He knew she was scared. That’s why he hadn’t tried to kiss her in the first place. But then she’d kissed him. Maybe it had been a rare moment of spontaneity, and once she had gotten away from him, she had a chance to remind herself of whatever she was afraid of.
Who could understand women? He had no clue what was going on with her. She wasn’t sending him mixed signals. No, that would be too easy. Normal women sent mixed signals.
Ivy was sending him signals in encrypted code. She let him hold her hand, let him hug her, said yes to a date, but wasn’t ready to be kissed. Then she kissed him. And she was going to let him kiss her, he was sure of it. Until Faith and Tessa showed and Ivy retreated like a turtle, back into her shell, and all signs were that she wasn’t coming out anytime soon.
