Clayton didn’t move either.
His gaze flicked up and met hers, and for one charged second everything went quiet. The chirping of the crickets outside, the air conditioning kicking on—it all faded. Even the space between them felt like it was holding its breath.
Her fingers curled around the glass, tightening before she forced herself to lean back. A slow exhale. A sip of tequila, the burn grounding her.
“How do you feel about Nolan and Ruth tying the knot?” Clayton asked like nothing had happened.
She hesitated, still aware of the warmth on her skin where his hand had been. She was still unsettled by the way her pulse had jumped but she’d had too many drinks to bullshit him. “I’m happy she’s happy, but I feel like I’m losing my best friend.”
“Know what you mean.” He took a sip of his drink, his eyes steady on hers. “Nolan’s always been single.”
“They’ll probably have kids right away.” She sighed. “I’d hate to look for another assistant. I guess that makes me a bad person.”
“You’re not a bad person.” Clayton’s gaze lingered, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I reckon you’re pretty fantastic.”
She scoffed, shaking her head. “Yeah, I’m a real winner.” She blew out a breath. “I couldn’t even pass my high school exam, and now I’m going to be without a place to live.”
His brows drew together. “A place to live?”
“Shorty rented his penthouse.”
“Were you planning on staying in Nashville?”
“Just for the summer, or until I can figure it out.”
“You can stay here.”
She blinked, taken off guard. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not? The girls love you, and you don’t hate me as much as you used to, right?”
She took another sip of tequila, stalling. “I don’t hate you, Clayton.”
“So you like me?” His lips parted slightly, his smile teasing.
“I didn’t say that, did I?”
He set his glass down on the table and leaned in a fraction, close enough that she could smell the warmth of the tequila on his breath, see the flicker in his eyes.
“Look, Jamie,” he murmured, voice dipping low, “I like you. A lot.”
She shrugged one shoulder, playing it off. “I guess you’re not that bad.”
But her hand was still tingling where he’d touched her. For the first time she wasn’t sure if she was in control of whatever this was anymore.
The room fell silent as his dark eyes gazed into hers, but instead of looking away she stared right back.
Why is he looking at me like that?
God, he was handsome, in that rugged, untamed way that set her nerves on fire. His shaggy auburn hair framed his face and his full beard only added to his sex appeal. He was all man. Yet here she was, swallowing hard, unsure where to look as he kept his gaze locked on her.
He took her hand, his callused fingers wrapping around hers, and heat traveled between them in a slow burn.
“Now, I’m going to ask permission,” he said, his voice rough yet careful. “Because I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.”
She nodded, catching her breath.
“May I kiss you?”
