Page 24 of Relentless Knight

And I don’t even bother to glance in Lance’s direction. Because after our conversation this afternoon, I’m sure he’ll be out the door as soon as dinner’s over. Not that I can blame him. He’s been spending the night here since I was taken. He’d probably like to spend some time at his house. Without having to think about me and my problems.

But as we finish up in the dining room and head toward my brother’s mostly unused home theater, I’m surprised to find him just a few steps behind me. And as Killian and Natasha take one couch, my sister-in-law curling up against my brother’s side, that leaves me and Lance to share the other couch.

Natasha scrolls through her phone, finding a movie and casting it to the TV, while Lance closes the door and turns the lights down.

And as soon as he settles onto the cushion beside me, the room charges with unexpected electrical energy. He’s careful to occupy the far end, resting one arm across the back of the cushions while his other leans against the armrest. But he’s so tall, his fingertips come within inches of my shoulder.

I can barely breathe, he’s so close. I tuck my feet up underneath me, wrapping my arms around my legs so I don’t do anything that might actually make me brush against him. But as the screen flickers to life and the opening song blares through the surround sound speakers, I can almost feel the body heat radiating from Lance.

His clean, crisp scent still smells vaguely of gunpowder and smoke, and I wonder how that could be when he’s spent all week following me around, doing completely innocuous things.Does he wear some kind of cologne labeled Badass Masculinity or something?

I’ve never been more grateful for the dark because it hides the flush I feel creeping into my cheeks. Because, while this isn’t the first movie I’ve ever sat down to watch with Lance, I’ve normally had a roomful of family watching with us, making noise and being rowdy. And usually, Lance and Killian are fighting over who gets what space on a couch. I’ve never watched a movie with Lance when it’s only us and another couple in the room.

And though I know it’s as far from a double date as this could possibly get, it stillfeelsdangerously close to becoming one.

I can barely focus on the storyline with Lance in such close proximity. Honestly, I don’t even know if Natasha picked a rom-com or a serious movie. Because I’m trying my best not to continuously watch Lance out of the corner of my eye like some lovesick puppy.

Still, I can’t help but steal glances of him from under my lashes now and again. And every time, he looks perfectly at ease, his shoulders relaxed, his deep-ocean eyes focused on the screen. His powerful jawline and the dark facial hair that looks like a five-o’clock shadow three days in the making only emphasize how masculine he is.

He could seriously be the love interest in a Hollywood movie. Girls would swoon over watching him in a meet-cute with some perky-breasted, lip-filler blonde. But the thought of Lance taking up acting nearly makes me laugh out loud. I can’t imagine for an instant the stoic man of so few words choosing to be a movie star.

Pressing my lips together to suppress the humor that bubbles up inside me, I keep my eyes locked on the screen for the rest of the movie. And by the time the ending credits roll, my body is stiff from how still I sat through the entire thing.

With a soft groan, I stretch my legs to put my feet back onto the floor, and I glance to my left, where Killian and Natasha are sitting. Despite this being her idea, Natasha must have fallen asleep sometime during the movie. Her cheek rests on the shoulder of the arm my brother has wrapped around her. And the look he gives her as he glances down to see her sleeping is so incredibly tender it makes my heart ache.

With a soft smile, he shifts carefully to sneak his other arm beneath her knees, and then he hoists her up off the couch without so much as jostling her.

Our eyes meet, and I can’t help but smile at just how damn cute my brother and his wife are. Talk about a match made in heaven. A pang of longing slices through my chest, and try as I might not to, I wish that Lance and I could be like that.

Unrequited feelings are the worst.

Not only are they frustrating and humiliating. They make me feel completely pathetic.

And still, I can’t seem to help myself.

Because try as I might, I’ve never felt for any guy the way I do about Lance.

Not even fractionally.

“Night,” Killian murmurs, and as Lance opens the door for him, my brother slips out into the hall to carry his bride to their room.

Sighing, I lean over to collect the remote and turn off the TV. Then I straighten and head toward the hallway and bed. To my surprise, Lance is waiting there for me. And without a word, he falls into step with me as I head down the hall.

The silence between us feels oddly tense. Awkward even. Not something I’m used to because Lance has always been quiet. It’s probably just me, and the fact that my feelings for him have gone completely haywire over the past week. I silently berate myself for allowing all the childish fantasies I’ve had about him over the years.

It’s so much easier to indulge in a crush when that person isn’t around twenty-four seven, reminding you that you’re the only one who wants more than friendship.

“Did you like the movie?” I ask when I can’t stand the tension any longer.Is it just me, or is my voice a higher pitch than usual?I swallow hard, trying to force the tightness in my chest to release.

Lance shrugs and glances down at me. “Did you?”

Seeing as I don’t even know what it was about, I have absolutely no clue. And now I wish I hadn’t said anything. “Yeah. Sure. It was…great.”

We fall into silence once again, and as my bedroom door comes into view, I experience the worst blend of relief and disappointment. I pause outside of it, my hand on the knob as I turn to Lance. He pauses, turning toward me, and for the briefest moment, I wonder if he might be thinking about kissing me.

What is wrong with you, Quinn?Of course he’s not.

“Good night,” Lance says, his deep baritone vibrating through my body and lighting my nerve endings up like a Christmas tree.

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