Huge Deal - Lauren Layne Page 0,46
Why haven’t you let us be easy?”
Her eyes locked on his face. He was as intense as ever, his trademark scowl firmly in place, but there was something else at work as well. Something she’d never seen, and she thought for sure she’d seen it all. The thought that there were facets of his personality she hadn’t yet discovered was both daunting and thrilling.
Kate swallowed. “I don’t know why.”
“I think you do.” His eyes were blazing with emotion. “What word?”
She shook her head. “Did I just black out and miss part of our conversation? What are you talking about?”
“The word you’d use to describe me. From that night at dinner.”
She let out an exasperated, frustrated laugh. “Not that again. Just—”
“What word!” he shouted.
She froze in shock at the emotion she heard in his voice. It was more than frustration; he sounded nearly . . . desperate.
The two of them stood there, with nothing but the sound of their breathing, his every bit as heavy as hers. Kate refused to look at him as her heart beat one confused, frantic beat after another, her gaze locked on the door that would end whatever this was.
This wasn’t the Kennedy she knew. He didn’t look at her like this. He didn’t shout.
And yet here they were.
Kennedy’s head turned slightly toward her, and though she told herself he was too tall for her to feel the heat of his breath on her cheek, she swore she felt it. Or perhaps that was just the heat of his gaze . . .
“What. Word.” His voice was quiet again, and his hand reached for her.
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to handle his touch, she reared backward. “Blind!” she shouted, moving away from him. “You want to know what word I’d use to describe you, Kennedy Dawson? You’re completely blind. You can’t see what’s right in front of you, and you never could. You’re so damn controlled and completely oblivious to . . . to . . .” Her brain caught up to her mouth, and she stopped herself just in time.
But he didn’t let her off the hook, his gaze dark and unreadable. “What am I oblivious to?”
“Nothing.” She licked her lips nervously.
“Don’t chicken out now, Kate,” he said, moving steadily toward her.
“Please,” she whispered. “Don’t.”
Kennedy froze.
“I just . . .” She pointed awkwardly around him toward the door. “Can we just go back to the party?”
His eyes dimmed slightly, the heat fading as he watched her closely, as though studying every feature, trying to read her. “Just . . . one more question.”
“What?” Her voice didn’t wobble, but it was a close call, and she fixed her eyes once more on her escape route, torn between the safety beyond and the thrill of whatever was happening in this room.
“When you kissed Jack . . .”
Her eyes flew back to his.
“Was it awkward like you feared?”
“No,” she answered immediately.
His eyes narrowed. “No? Why’d you break up with him, then?”
“Kennedy.”
“Kate.”
She forced herself to meet his eyes, remembering her conversation with Sabrina. She realized that her friend was right—that she’d never really be able to move on with Jack or anyone until she got this man out of her system.
“It wasn’t awkward,” she said quietly, watching his face. “But it wasn’t special. And I’m holding out for special.”
She meant it as a challenge and saw from his too-quick blink that he knew as soon as he heard it.
She held his gaze. Waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Then she saw the moment he decided to turn down her challenge and stepped away from her.
Her heart crumpled. “I’ve got to go,” she said, brushing past him.
“Kate.”
She ignored him. Thank goodness it was a small space, because she was across the room in seconds, feeling the heavy weight of her hair finally pulling free of its tidy knot. But she didn’t pause to fix it, didn’t pause at all as she fumbled with the stupid ship doorknob, wrenching it open—
It slammed shut again before she could leave the room.
“Would you just give me a goddamn minute?” he growled behind her. “This is new to me. I’m trying to think—”
She whipped around to face him. “That’s your problem, Kennedy,” she snapped, trying to shove his big hand away from the door so she could get out. “You’re all thought, no action—”
She gasped as Kennedy reached out, his fingers tangling roughly in her hair, tugging back so her face tilted up to his.
Then his mouth took hers.
17
Saturday, April 20
Kennedy’s kiss was hard and unapologetic. Kate could