“What? Want one?” Izzy shoves a ghost at my chest.
I lean against the railing, tucking it away for later in my pocket. “Want me to leave?”
She stills, key in the lock. “I didn’t say that.”
“Didn’t ask me to stay either.”
She pushes the door open but doesn’t go inside. Just stands there, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Finally, she says, “I don’t know what I want.”
Yes, she does. But I’m not going to push her.
“Izzy.” I wait until she meets my eyes. “If you want me to go, I’ll go. But if you’re asking me to stay…”
She swallows. Then steps inside, leaving the door open, so I follow her.
Izzy immediately starts buzzing around the kitchen, setting her clutch on the table, reaching into the cupboard for glasses.
“You want something to drink?” she asks. “I might have some wine?—”
“Izzy.”
She stops, hands on the counter, her back to me. “Yeah?”
I close the distance between us, stopping just behind her. “You don’t need to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Stall.” I reach out, fingers barely grazing her hip, and she sucks in a sharp breath. “I’m not going anywhere unless you tell me to.”
She turns around, pressing back against the counter,pinning me in place with narrowed eyes. It’s impossible to think straight. “You staying is not a great idea.”
“No, probably not.”
“We have rules. We agreed.”
“We do… we did.”
“And if we break them—” Her voice cracks. “Jack?”
I plant my hands on the counter on either side of her, not quite touching but close enough that she’d have to duck under my arm to escape. Giving her the choice. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want…” She closes her eyes. “God, I don’t know.”
My heart is drumming in my ears. “Yeah, you do.”
“Jack—”
“Say it. Because I’ve been losing my mind since I went back to Boston, and if you don’t tell me to leave right now, I’m going to?—”
“That sounds like a dare.”
“If you need it to be.”
I should back off. Make a joke. Give us both an out. Instead, I cup her face in my palm, my thumb dragging across her cheekbone and the glitter dusting across her soft skin.
Her breath catches. “We said no kissing,” she whispers, but her eyes drop to my mouth.
I lean in, lips brushing against her ear. “So I won’t kiss you.”
