Page 56 of Pick Me This Time

“Clearly.” I glanced at her, my gaze searching hers for any sign of what she’d thought of me kissing her again. “At risk of offending you all over again, what are you still doing in Allisburg, Daphne? I don’t mean it in a bad way. I’m just curious.”

“I never wanted to leave,” she said simply, sliding her little purse off her shoulder and dropping it on the couch. “My family is here. My friends. I went to college, got my degree, and came right back.”

“Education, right?” I asked, sensing some nervous tension between us now.

My hands were in my pockets, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I wanted to kiss her again, but she seemed to be doing everything she could to stay busy—and away from me.

Fluttering around while we talked, she picked up random things and put them down, practically wringing her hands. “Yes, that’s right. Education. I taught at the elementary school for a few years. It was wonderful.”

When she came back around, fluttering closer to me, I stepped up to her, taking her hands in my own and holding them still. “It’s okay, Daph. Do you want to tell me what’s making you so nervous right now?”

Vulnerability shone from her bright blue eyes as she looked up at me, exhaling a deep breath. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“To you, maybe.”

“It’s you, Sterling,” she murmured. “You’re making me nervous.”

“Why?” I asked, sliding one hand up her arm and across her throat, my palm against her skin when I brought it to a rest on her cheek. “Do you not want this?”

She scoffed down a laugh, her gaze dropping to my lips. “Please. I’ve wanted this at least as long as you. Probably longer.”

When she brought her eyes back to mine, the tension snapped and I crashed my lips into hers again, unable to stop myself even if I’d tried, which I didn’t. I’d never felt this way when I kissed anyone else. That had to mean something.

The spark hadn’t been in my imagination and it hadn’t just been adrenaline. It’d been there when I’d kissed her at the garden gate and it was there now, so much more intense than it had been before.

Because this time, it was just the two of us.

Alone.

In her house.

With her bed much too close by.

I broke away from her as soon as the thought hit. “Do you want me to leave?”

“I want you to stay. Would you?” I smiled and pulled her closer to me. There was no way I’d have been able to force myself out of her arms, so I just nodded and kissed her again, groaning when her soft lips parted for my tongue and she opened herself up to me. I was in trouble here, and I had no idea how I was going to get out of it.