Page 36 of Fight from the Heart

I glance at Pam with her head down, suddenly feeling uncertain about this New York visit for some reason.

“I better be going as well. I’m on deadline.” I stand and step toward the front door, taking my coat off a hook near it and reaching for Pam’s. I hold it open for her as if we planned to leave together. Her brows pinch, but she gives me her back and slips her arms into the coat. I catch another whiff of her as she stands so close to me. I ache for her.

We say our goodbyes with hugs and handshakes, and then Pam and I leave. More painful silence follows us out the door once Ethan and Ella close it behind us. Pam walks ahead of me, as her car is in the street and mine is parked in front of hers. As she walks, I lean forward and scoop up a handful of snow remaining from the storm. With perfect aim, I nail her luscious ass, smashing the snowball and forcing her to finally turn and look at me.

Chapter 14

Snow Deals

[Pam]

“Hey!” I turn and yell at Jacob as a snowball hits me square in the backside. After another one hits my midsection, I lower for my own ammunition. Whipping off a ball of snow, it goes nowhere near Jacob. I lower to scoop up another ball when I’m tackled to the ground before I can fire it off.

“What’s your deal?” I holler at him as he’s pressing me into the wet snow.

“What’s yours?” he counters, looking into my eyes until I have to look away.

“What are you doing, Jacob?” My gaze falls on the house where the front porch light remains on, but the rest of Ethan and Ella’s place has gone dark.

“I hurt your feelings.” The truth in his words returns my attention to his face. “I’m sorry.”

Do I thank him for the apology? What about the rest of the night?

“You’re mad at me,” he adds. “I don’t like it.”

“I’m not mad,” I state, huffing out a breath that hits him in the face. His eyes remain fixed to mine, and my steely resolve is melting under his gaze. I’m not strong enough to resist him, and that’s been my problem lately. I’ve given in to temptation too easily.

“For more than two years, I’ve resisted you,” I whisper, staring up at him with the dark sky behind his head and the cold snow against my jeans. “Why now? Why is this happening now?”

I don’t even know if I’m asking him directly or just wondering out loud.

“Resisted?” Jacob questions. “What do you mean, resisted?”

I roll my head to the side, but Jacob grips my chin with his glove-covered hands, forcing me to look at him. Do I tell him how attracted I’ve been to him? Do I tell him how I feel? It all seems like too much.

“You’re always teasing me, and I’ve just fought the . . .” Attraction.

“Fought what?” His voice grows rougher, his grip tighter, but his eyes say he’s desperate for the truth.

“The pull, okay? I’ve fought the pull I feel to you. I’ve done everything in my power to keep us professional, but the other night . . . I don’t know what happened.” Frustration comes out with my words. Was it the atmosphere? The candles, wine, and dinner? Was it the hand holding and falling asleep? Or was it just that my resolve had finally broken? I couldn’t fight how strongly I wanted to be with him, even if for one night.

“You’re drawn to me?” His midnight eyes soften, moving back and forth across my face. He can’t seriously not see it, not feel it. I’ve always felt as if it’s written on my face, and he knows it, thus torturing me with tempting taunts and innocent flirtation.

“Yes, okay. Yes, I’m . . . drawn to you.” My arms attempt to flare out but don’t go far with the bulk of my winter jacket and the press of his body over me.

“Are you going out with that other guy?”

“Not this again.” I sigh, tugging free of his grip. Spencer actually did call me, but he has a wedding to attend this coming weekend, and we both agreed a first date at a wedding seemed like a predilection to disaster. He was sweet as he teased that he’d be all emotional and want to marry me on the first date, and that might be a big turn-off. He has no idea how it might be a turn-on if someone so easily wanted to marry me, but a wedding does ramp up the emotions. I’ve attended more weddings than I care to count. Not to mention, there’s the whole awkward history with Spencer being one of Brendan’s friends, which leaves me wondering why Spencer would even want to go out with me in the first place.

Perhaps he’s lonely like I am.

“Well?” Jacob growls.

“It’s none of your business.” If I told him the truth, would he be jealous? Or would a competitive spirit cause him to react?

“Come to New York with me.”

“What?” My forehead furrows as I gaze up at his dark eyes. He can’t be serious.