“You might have a concussion.” His concerned gaze flits around my face as his hand continues to brush my hair back, sweeping over my cheek with a tenderness so sweet I could dip a piece of fruit in it like fondue.
“I’m okay. My butt took the brunt of the fall.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod, liking this worried side of him. I have to stop my mind from brainstorming other ways I can get hurt so that he can take care of me.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” He smirks.
“Me too,” I whisper.
“Summer, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Do I have blood spilling out from the back of my head?”
“No.” A soft laugh puffs over his lips as hetrails his fingers up and down my cheek again, but this time, the action is slower, more intense. “I’m actually an excellent ice skater. I just pretended like I wasn’t so I could touch you.”
My lips grow into a small smile. “The oldest trick in the book. I should’ve known.”
“It’s not like me to waste on opportunity.”
Charming. Caleb’s smile and his gaze arecharming the heck out of me.
Attraction warms inside my chest. It startsa low-lying simmer, but quickly gains intensity, and suddenly, the moment shifts. The weight of his body on me feels like a blessing instead of a burden. His touch turns from tender to sensual. His gaze from concerned to passionate. As if I’d trained my heart to do it, my beats speed up, building the moment into something bigger, something I want more of.
The second my eyes drop to his lips, Caleb’s off me, awkwardly climbing to a stand.
He lit a match inside my body and then immediately blew it out before the fire could spread. My chest drops, and I exhale a tension-filled breath.
I’m blaming the head injury for my two-second lapse in judgment.
The night’s over.
It has to be.
Time to go home to Justin.
twenty-six
CALEB
“You just madeshort ribs on a random Thursday night?” Summer sits at the bar in Justin’s kitchen. She’s dressed in a Christmas green jumper with Frosty the Snowman earrings. Her hand rests under her chin as she watches me pull the pan out of Justin’s oven.
After last night’s almost kiss—no, let me rephrase—it wasn’t an almost kiss. It was an almost thought. I almostthoughtabout kissing Summer. That’s way different than an almost kiss. It’s more innocent because I didn’t think about it. I shut the whole thing down like a mental ninja before my mind even went there. But after all of that, I’m glad that tonight’s activity is cookie decorating with Summer’s friend. Vivian can act as a chaperone and I can hold a cookie instead of Summer. Great plan.
“I didn’t make short ribs. I madedinner. It shouldn’t matter what night of the week it is.” I lift up the tinfoil, checking the tenderness of the meat. Perfection. “Do you want some before we go?”
“If you have enough, I’d love a taste.”
“Coming right up.” I cut off two slabs of the ribs, putting them on plates with a side of string beans.
“Do you like to cook?” she asks as I set her plate down in front of her.
“Yeah, I like cooking, and it’s a good thing, or else I’d just eat cold cereal and ice cream every day.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Justin cook anything.” She holds the rib on each end of the bone and takes a bite. Her eyes drift to me as she chews. I don’t even bother looking away or hiding my smile. “What?” she finally asks.
“I like how you went all in on the ribs with your hands. Most women would’ve used a knife and fork.”
