She crossed her arms, bristling. “Is it a family trait, then?”
I frowned. “What?”
“Your brother yesterday, and now you. You’re both so direct.” Her mouth twisted. “But at least he was nice about it.”
“I’m not nice?” A short laugh escaped me as I glanced down at my tear-stained chest. “Jamie, you just cried all over my favorite shirt. How am I the bad guy here?”
Her expression cracked despite herself. Flustered, her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth, and my brain chose that exact moment to betray me.
I forced my gaze away. Focused on the exit sign. On anything but the delectable curve of her mouth and what I wanted to do with it.
“Look.” I reset, voice steadier. “I don’t need the details of your life. But you don’t have to lie to me about it either. It’s okay that you cried. And it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me why.”
She hesitated, blinking like she might lose it again.
Fuck, I couldn’t handle round two. Not when every instinct in me wanted to hunt down whoever had hurt her.
I took another step back. “We’re not doing this again.”
She frowned. “Doing what?”
I gestured at my shirt. “You crying. Me wearing it.”
A startled laugh escaped her, sharp and unplanned. It bounced off the stairwell walls, cracking something open between us.
“That’s better.” I couldn’t help but smile.
She laughed again, breathless this time, like something in her chest had finally loosened.
And somehow, the hospital didn’t feel like it was crushing me alive anymore.
Her laughter faded slowly, reluctant to leave us alone. When it did, the silence that followed wasn’t heavy. It was charged.
She swayed slightly, still catching her breath, and reached out without thinking.
Her palm landed flat against my chest.
Right over my heart.
The contact was innocent. The effect was fucking devastating.
I froze, every muscle locking as heat sparked beneath her hand. Every instinct in me snapped to full attention, demanding I hold her there, claim this moment and make it mine.
She didn’t pull away. Didn’t seem to realize what she’d done. Her fingers stayed splayed, grounding herself while I fought to stay in control.
It was simple contact. It was also the most intoxicating thing I’d felt in months.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I covered her hand with mine, fingers closing over hers and holding her exactly where she was. Not rough, but firm enough to make my intentions clear.
Stay. Right here. With me.
Her eyes lifted to mine, wide and searching, her breath catching as she held my gaze.
Something electric shot between us. A live thing, humming with possibility.
She leaned in. It was just a fraction, but it was enough to bring every memory of her pressed against me roaring back to life. Enough that my pulse kicked hard and fast, like it was trying to outrun my better judgment.
Fuck.
