What If You & Me (Say Everything #2) - Roni Loren Page 0,58

up a warning flare in her brain. The last time she’d gotten to this place with a guy, he’d seen it as an automatic invitation to her bed. When she’d stopped him, he’d been pissed and called her a fucking tease. His anger had scared the hell out of her, setting off her anxiety like a forest fire.

She didn’t want to stop, but she also didn’t think she was ready for more than this yet. She broke off the kiss, pressing her forehead to Hill’s. He stayed in that position, panting softly.

“Sorry,” he whispered.

She lifted her head. “For what?”

His eyes met hers, his pupils dark. “I should be able to kiss you without getting a hard-on. I wasn’t trying to push you into something further. My body just…really appreciates you. On a survey, it would give you five out of five stars.”

She grinned at the unexpected response. “You don’t need to apologize for getting turned on. Just because my response isn’t visible doesn’t mean my body’s not a big fan of yours right now, too.”

His eyebrows arched and a wicked little smile touched his lips. “Yeah?”

“Andi’s girl parts give you two thumbs up.” She slid her hands to his shoulders. “But Andi’s brain is hitting the Pause button for the moment.”

He nodded and cupped her face, placing a kiss on her forehead. “Understood.” He stepped back, giving her space, and headed back to the kitchen island. “Let’s make some steak. I’m starved.”

The thick outline in his jeans was goddamned distracting, but something tight and nervous in her chest unfurled a little more. Hill was keeping his promise. He was obviously turned on, clearly wanted her, but he was going to respect her boundaries with no judgment or cajoling.

That felt…magical.

She took a steadying breath, her body still coursing with her own arousal, and headed back to him. “I’m ready to learn, Chef.”

He reached out and took her hand. “Let’s talk about how flank steak is your friend.”

Chapter Fourteen

Hill draped his arm over the back of Andi’s couch as they watched Happy Death Day. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this content being in the moment. Normally, his brain was filled with images from the past or grim thoughts of the future. But right now, he was just happy to be there, having a movie night with Andi.

He’d always enjoyed movies, but watching a movie with Andi was a whole different experience. He had no doubt that she’d seen this film countless times and already knew what happened in the plot, but she watched it with such full-body commitment that a stranger observing would’ve sworn this was her first time.

Andi was currently biting her thumbnail, her knees to her chest, sock-covered feet on the couch, and her gaze glued to the screen. He was starting to recognize this as her pre-jump-scare position. She shook her head. “Don’t do it, girl. Don’t go in there.”

Hill bit his lip, trying not to laugh. Andi was a talk-to-the-screen person, which he found enormously entertaining. “She’s totally going to do it.”

Andi turned to him, eyes glittering with light from the screen. “Yeah, they never listen. They really need a best friend like me to warn them. But I don’t wanna be a best friend in a horror movie. Things usually don’t end well for the BFF.”

“No?”

“You have to be the star or, at the very least, the love interest, or you’re screwed.”

“At least she’ll get another do-over.” The heroine of the movie kept dying over and over and reliving the same day. “I’ll hold out hope for the love interest.”

“I’m sure he appreciates your support.” Andi glanced at the arm Hill had draped across the back of the couch and then back to him. He could almost see her mental Should I or shouldn’t I wheels turning. After a beat, she scooted closer and settled against his side. The little vote of trust sent a dart of pleasure through him. He moved his arm, curving it a little so that he was holding her. He could feel her shoulders tighten a bit, but then she rolled her lips together and seemed to breathe out the tension.

A sharp pang went through him at her reaction. Even something as simple as an arm around her made her tense up.

What did he do to you, Andi?

The question whispered through his mind—not for the first time tonight. Hill didn’t know who the he was or what specifically had happened, but in that moment, he wanted to physically harm