Page 124 of Ice Princess

“Wow.” Rebel’s eyelashes flutter and she leans against the railing, soaking in the view. “I’d forgotten how peaceful it was out here.”

I stand beside her, looking at the canopy of trees and the scattered leaves across the forest floor. The sky is a deep shade of blue that’s almost as pretty as her eyes. A gentle breeze cools us down.

My pulse settles the longer we stand in silence.

Until Rebel whispers, “About what happened in the garage…”

I turn my head to her.

Rebel draws her lower lip between her teeth and the need to capture that plump lip with my own teeth awakens within me.

“…I assume April told you about what happened this morning?” she finishes.

I stare at her, waiting.

“I was upset about a few things, but that’s no excuse for kissing you without… um… you know. So yeah… I’m sorry if you were upset by it.”

I frown. Upset?

I’m upset that we had an audience.

I’m upset I couldn’t tilt her head back and swallow her whole.

I’m upset the only reason she kissed me was because she’d had a bad day and needed another guy to take a hint.

Forcing myself to stay away from her is shredding me into ribbons, but I’ll never be angry at an opportunity to taste Rebel Hart’s lips.

“So yeah.” She squares her shoulders. “Glad we cleared that up.”

I watch her spin in her fuzzy slippers and hurry inside the treehouse.

I follow her in.

“You should have done this at the garage,” I mutter, annoyed that I can’t kiss her. Or tell her about my family. Or admit that I like her.

She goes still.

The frustration eases into my voice. “Be angry when you feel wronged and clear things up when you calm down.”

Rebel looks at me with surprised eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t owe the world a smile you don’t feel.”

Her eyebrows cinch tight and I can tell she’s feeling exposed. And annoyed about it.

“That’s rich coming from you,” Rebel accuses.

I fold my arms over my chest.

“You’re a Kinsey. You have the luxury of scowling at everyone andstillbeing waited on hand and foot. These ‘insincere smiles’ you hate so much? I’m proud of them. I earned them by constantly taking the high road, by making everyone in the room comfortable despite being the most uncomfortable one there.”

I blink in surprise, having never thought of it that way.

“And why are you so obsessed with my smiles anyway? What’s it to you?” Her chest rises and falls as she stares me down.

I like you.“It’s just… an observation.”

“An observation?” She repeats the words slowly, like she’s giving me time to take it back.

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