Close to You (Fusion #2) - Kristen Proby Page 0,16
get a cat, but rather he got a human?” She chuckles and shakes her head. “Wait. I’ve always felt like that. I’m his slave, for God sake. Thanks for bringing that by. You can just leave it on the countertop. I don’t want you to step on glass.”
She’s not looking at me. Come to think of it, she’s avoided looking me directly in the eyes since I got home. I lay the iPad on the counter, shove my hands in my pockets, and lean against the doorjamb, watching her sweep, scoop, and dump the glass.
When she’s finished, she turns and her eyes widen as she comes to an abrupt stop.
“You’re still here.”
I nod. “You know, Cami, it used to be that we had a great friendship. We could talk for hours, just about anything. We laughed. We weren’t uncomfortable around each other.”
“I’m not uncomfortable now,” she lies, and bites her lip.
“We never lied to each other,” I continue calmly. “You once knew more about me than anyone else in the world.”
“Yep, I was your ol’ pal Cami,” she says sarcastically. “And I’m still your friend, Landon, but you’ve barely spoken to me over the years.”
“I’ve spoken to you,” I reply.
“Not the way we used to. And I get it.” She holds a hand up. “You made it clear that you didn’t think it was right to have a close friendship with a married woman.”
It was a cop-out. I just couldn’t stand hearing about the new husband.
“I should have kept in contact,” I murmur, suddenly regretting my cowardice.
She frowns and leans her hips against the countertop. “That was a long time ago.” Her voice is soft as she stares at Scoot. “But I missed you.”
“I did too,” I reply. “I’ve missed you for a lot of years.”
“I’ve always been right here.” She holds her hands out at her sides.
“And I’m the one who went away,” I finish for her. “But I’m home now, and I don’t want to keep having this uncomfortable distance between us, Cami. We’re better than that.”
“So, you want to be friends again?” She tilts her head to the side, her dimple winking at me as she bites her lip. “Not that we were ever not friends, but you know what I mean.”
“No.” Enough of this talking-in-circles bullshit. I begin to walk toward her, slowly. “That’s not what I mean.” Her shoulders straighten as I approach. Green eyes widen and are fixed on me now. “I want. To take you. On a date.”
Finally, I’m inches from her, but I’m not touching her. My hands are braced on the countertop next to her hips and I’m leaning in. She licks her lips. Her pupils dilate.
She’s not immune to me, and damn if I don’t want to boost her up on this countertop and take her, right now.
“A d-d-date?” she stutters.
I nod slowly. “A date. Dinner. Conversation.” My eyes skim over her, from her hair to her lips. “The kind of date that might end with a kiss.”
“What kind of kiss?” she whispers, staring at my lips.
“The good kind,” I reply, also whispering.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
I frown. “Why?”
“Because you’re Mia’s brother.” Her eyes find mine. There’s heat there, but there’s more. Fear? Uncertainty?
“I’ve been more than that for a long time, Cami.”
Redness fills her cheeks, and I suddenly feel like a grade-A asshole.
“Hey.” I tip her chin up so I can see her eyes. “It’s just dinner.”
“And maybe a kiss.”
“Probably a kiss,” I say with a grin. “I could just kiss you now to get it over with.”
“No, that’s okay,” she says quickly, placing her hand on my chest to push me away, but instead she grips my shirt in her fist. “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”
God, she’s so fucking adorable.
“Tomorrow, then,” I whisper before I lean in and kiss her forehead. Her skin is so damn soft. Everything about her is welcoming and sweet, and I want to stay and soak her in.
So I’d better go.
“Have a good night.”
She nods, staring at my shoulder.
“Cami?”
“Yeah?”
“You have to let go of my shirt so I can go.”
“Oh!” She lets go and tries to smooth out the wrinkles, which only makes me hard as a damn rock. Her small hands rubbing all over my chest—covered in a shirt or not—should be goddamn illegal if I don’t get to strip her naked as a result.
“I’m okay.” I take her hands in mine and kiss her knuckles. “Make sure you got all that glass.”