Page 177 of No Headlines Please

I suddenly felt warm and trembly all over. But there was no way I was turning back.

And besides, if I stopped now, I'd probably chicken out.

I rushed forward and dove onto the bed – not quite tackling him, but close enough. The mattress bounced, and I lost my balance, nearly toppling off the side before Maddox caught my arm and pulled me back from the brink.

As I fell into him for real, I tried not to laugh as I whispered, "You know, that worked a lot better in my imagination."

66

Not Playing Fair

Maddox

For one impossible moment, I simply held her. She'd actually done it.

One minute she'd been on the other side of the connecting bathroom, threatening to make me talk. The next, she'd launched herself onto my bed with more gusto than grace.

Thankfully, I'd caught her before she'd tumbled over the opposite side.

Now she was pressed against me, muffling her laugh against my neck like she was afraid of waking the whole house.

And me? I wasn't letting go.

I couldn't remember the last time anyone had surprised me like this. Sure, I had never been hurting for offers, but holding someone who'd been haunting my thoughts for months? Yeah, that was new.

Then again, Delaney had been surprising me from the start.

I smiled in the darkness. "Funny, I was picturing this differently, too."

She groaned against my neck. "I know. But at least you caught me."

"Not that," I said, leaning back for a better look. In the darkness, I couldn't make out much beyond the faint outline of her face and torso, silhouetted against the barely-there, dim light spilling in from the direction of her bedroom.

Still, I had to tease her. "I just mean…I was kinda hoping for the scuba thing."

She sagged against me with another laugh. "Oh, so you're one of those?"

Sure, I couldn't see much in the shadows, but I could feel the warmth of her skin through the soft cotton of her shirt as she settled against me.

As I nuzzled her neck, I asked, "And what's so horrifying about a T-shirt?"

"Nothing," she said far too quickly.

Now I was even more intrigued. "Should I turn on the light?"

"Don't you dare."

I suppressed a chuckle. "If you say so."

I felt her relax. "I do, actually."

"But I am curious." I ran a hand along her bare arm. "What's on the shirt?"

She said nothing.

I smiled. "Don't tell me it's a mustard stain."

She scoffed. "I don't even like mustard – well, not on anything except hot dogs." She paused. "And burgers, too. I guess."