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“It doesn’t matter.”
My breath escaped with a little laugh. “You’re doing it again.”
His eyebrows went up in askance.
“You’re holding something back.” It was beyond frustrating because I couldn’t gauge how he felt about me. I wanted to know so I could avoid making a fool of myself by telling him that I was into him… as more than Lincoln’s friend who had become my friend, too.
“Maybe I am, but why does that bother you so much, Charlotte?” he asked.
I held his gaze. You know what? To hell with it. Carpe diem. If there was indeed something sizzling between us, I had to seize the moment because we only had days left together.
“Because I like you, Jamie. You know… like you…” My face felt as if it would melt off. I probably blushed from the root of my hair to my toes.
He swallowed hard. “I like you too,” he said, his voice low and husky. However, he stared at me with a frown, which had me floored.
“And you’re not happy about it…?” I asked, cautiously and utterly confused.
“Fuck, no,” he said. The words almost sounded like a groan of agony.
My heart dropped into my stomach. “You know what? Let’s just forget this whole thing, Jamie.” I shot up and took a step to dash out of the cabana before I wilted away from the heat of my embarrassment.
“Dammit!” he hissed as he snagged my wrist. He stood up and tugged me back so I was forced to turn around and face him. “Charlotte, wait… I’m sorry that I keep… I didn’t mean… It’s more complicated than you think…”
“What are you going on about?” I tried to break free of his hold, but it was futile.
Before I could take my next breath, I found myself pressed against his chest. His breathing was almost as labored as mine as he peered down at me. I swore that when I looked into his eyes, I saw him fighting something. He then stopped battling with whatever it was and pressed his lips to mine.
Instantly, I melted and let out a soft sigh as I wound my arms around his shoulders. His movements were tentative at first but not for long. Soon, his kiss became demanding as his tongue slid between my lips to explore. I tipped on my toes, desperate to press my body closer to his.
I felt that tingling sensation again, the one I felt when I first saw him watching me from across the hotel lobby. The prickling sensation danced across my skin, hiking up my body temperature. The phenomenon was crazy and unlike anything I’d ever felt. I inched my hands up to thread my fingers through his hair. The strands were just as silky as I’d imagined.
A low, rumbling moan vibrated in Jamie’s chest, the sound echoing with need. It made my heart race because I was glad to know that he also felt whatever had been sizzling between us since day one.
His hand tightened around my waist as the other cupped my face. He touched me with a desperation that I felt too. It seemed like our kiss went on forever, yet it ended too soon. When he pulled away, an involuntary sound of protest escaped me.
Jamie rested his forehead against mine as we caught our breath. His hold on me gradually loosened until he no longer held me. He took a step back and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Fuck…”
His eyes were cloudy with passion and… regret?
What? I could practically read the remorse on his face. But he was so into our kiss. He initiated it. I didn’t understand.
“Jamie, what’s wrong? That was?—”
“That was a mistake, Charlotte. It can’t happen again.”
Fighting through the haze of my arousal and then shock, I scoffed. “Excuse me? A mistake? You didn’t kiss me like you didn’t mean it, Jamie.” Hurt pierced me in the chest. I barely knew this man, and I’d allowed him to hurt my feelings so many times in just two days. What had gotten into me?
His jaw tightened and a muscle ticked on one side. “It doesn’t matter.”
He kept saying that about every damn thing. “Does anything matter to you?” I scoffed.
“Lincoln wants you back,” he hissed. “That’s why he came here so we shouldn’t be kissing, Charlotte.”
“Say what now?” My jaw hung on its hinges as I stared at Jamie.
His eyes widened. “He hasn’t told you yet. I just kissed his girl and ruined the big conversation… double fuck.”
I threw my arms out. “If I was Lincoln’s girl, I wouldn’t be here sucking faces with you, Jamie.”
