Page 49 of Finding Yesterday

“There you go.”

Meeting gazes, both our smiles fade again.

Our eyes lock, and this time he doesn’t look away. Instead, he moves a hand onto my face. Chills ripple down my spine from his touch.

I can’t break his gaze, and I don’t want to. His dark eyes pierce through me, like he’s seeing straight into my soul. I study him, the rugged planes of his face looking sculptured in the dusk light.

His fingers move along my cheekbone. “What is this? Between us?”

“I don’t know, exactly,” I say. “But whatever it is, I want it.”

“Me too. So much.”

I lean into him, moving my hands along the rail. The decorative knob pops loose again, and reflexively, I jam it back in place. When it pops loose yet again, I chuckle. “Why can’t I fix this?”

His voice is just above a whisper when he replies, “Some things can’t be fixed.”

My eyes whip to his, which have turned into shadowy pools.

It’s not very many words, but it’s a crack in Jack’s shell. And that’s everything.

I’m no longer one bit cold as every emotion fires inside of me. I put my hand to his head, running a finger across his soft hair. I can’t look away from his eyes, swirling and mesmerizing like a starless night. I whisper, “Some things shouldn’t be fixed.”

He leans in even closer, almost touching his nose to mine. “But see, when you say things like that to me, it makes everything okay.” He hovers his lips over mine, and the rest of the world falls away. All I feel is his breath on my cheek and his strong hand on my neck, warm and calloused.

Imperfectly perfect hands.

The way he keeps his mouth lingering over mine grips me like a vise, and I can barely wait another second to feel his lips on mine. “Jack,” I say his name, but it’s more of a plea.

Instead of kissing me, he pulls away ever so slightly to whisper, “You’re gorgeous, Claire.”

His words cover me in goose bumps, and I lean in, not able to take another second of this. My lips melt into his, and whatever was holding him back crumbles. He takes over, his mouth moving over mine, seducing me with subtlety, making me desperate for more. He continues, strong and smooth, with the perfect touch.

He tastes like cinnamon rolls and apple pie, a sweet confection that brings me back to the happiest moments of home.

I know it’s wrong, doing this with Jack. I’m risking serious heartbreak, but this feels anything but wrong. It’s the most natural feeling in the world.

It’s all-consuming, this sensation, exciting and terrifying, all in one. He kisses me with intensity, and when he moves his hand to the small of my back, the heat and pressure intoxicate me. His lips move over mine, caressing, teasing, and I think he murmurs my name.

I can barely hear it over the roaring in my ears, and this is even better than what I’d pictured in my head. There’s also something strange and electric in the air, like the static, crackling energy—the kind just before a thunderstorm.

But there’s not a dark cloud in the sky.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I STARE ATthe wall. It’s 9:02 p.m., and I’m in bed, but I’m not sleeping.

I left Jack’s room as soon as we finished eating on the balcony. We didn’t talk about the kiss, but it wasn’t awkward either. He has a way of making everything feel so casual and comfortable.

I left his room, giving him another peck before telling him I knew he had to catch up on his sleep.

And although that was true, I also needed time to process what had just happened. That was the best kiss I’d ever had, and now that I’m tucked into bed, I can’t stop thinking about Jack.

I need food. Those avocado rolls aren’t going to cut it for the rest of the night, so I hop up, deciding I’ll slip down to the restaurant. I don’t bother changing out of my T-shirt and sweats. When I make my way to the chic bar, it’s still popping with foodies, many from the chili and beer fest. I thought they would be gone by now after the long day, but that was naive. Restaurant folks can go all night, and it’s still early. Tugging at the clothes I’m wearing, I rush my way through the place, chatting with people I know or know about, wishing I’d changed clothes since I was going to end up mingling.

I walk to the counter, wondering how long it will take to get my food this time.

I hear Jack’s voice, and I’m sure I must be hearing things. He’s sound asleep in his room. My eyes roam the place anyway, my heart crashing to the floor when I see him just a few feet away.

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