Page 51 of Darlin'

"Is someone here?" the mystery girl asks. Shoot! What do I do? There's no way I'll make it to my room undetected. Not in these heels. "I thought I heard something."

Crap! Flight or fight kicks in double time as I spin around and bolt back to the front door like a maniac. As I'm twisting the doorknob, freedom in sight, my name's called.

Busted.

"Savannah." I turn around to find Jesse staring at me, head cocked and arms crossed. A smidgen of amusement tugs at his upper lip. His sandy eyes blaze with power play energy as he asks, "Coming or going?"

"I don't know," I state in a sharp tone, shutting the front door and nodding to the kitchen. I mimic his power stance. "You guys want some for time alone or...?"

"You're more than welcome to join us," Jesse says, smirking. "Amber's just making us a pot of coffee." He gives my face a quick sweep. "Looks like you could use some caffeine."

"You're right," I say, taking a step forward as I narrow my eyes at him. I lower my voice to a hushed rasp, "I did stay upfarpast my bedtime last night."Winking at him, I add, "You know how those things go, right?"

Jesse smiles down at me, licking his lips. "I sure do, princess." He motions toward the kitchen. "After you."

"Thanks," I state, digging my nails into my palm. Amber looks up from the two cups of coffee she's pouring. She blinks, giving me a little smile. I let out a tiny breath of relief. At least she's fully dressed. In jeans and a plain t-shirt, nonetheless. Herownt-shirt. "Hi there."

"Oh, hi," she says, circling the dining room table. She holds out her hand. "I'm Amber." She looks over nervously at Jesse before clearing her throat. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," I hum, shaking her dainty little hand. "You making coffee?"

Amber giggles. "Trying to, but you seem to be out of cream. All I could find was, uh—almond milk." She scrunches her nose. "I don't know how people drink that stuff."

"I imagine it's with a lot less guilt than those drinking milk from cows kept in captivity," I state. "But what do I know?"

Amber blinks. "Umm...maybe I should go home." She grabs her purse off the table, stopping in front of Jesse. "Thanks again." She pats his chest, which stirs up foreign emotions in my belly. "I owe you one." Before rushing to the front door, she waves at me. "Bye!"

"Well, she seemslovely," I say as the door shuts. I walk to the fridge and grab the almond milk, adding a few splashes to one mug while leaving the other one black. Ihand Jesse his coffee. "Y'all have a super fun night together while I was gone?"

Jesse chuckles, a smug gleam in his eyes. "Oh, you know it. It's always a fun night with me." He rounds the table, slowly closing the distance between us. "How wasyournight, princess?" He ducks down to my level and whispers, "Get up to anythingwild?"

"Wouldn't you like to know? But I don't—" I regrip my mug, knuckles whitening as Jesse releases a sweet breath that spins my head. Holy moly. Get a dang grip. I swallow, taking a step back from his sorcerer-like magnetism. "But I don't kiss and tell."

"Kiss and tell, huh?" he asks, taking two steps forward and backing me up against the kitchen counter. He sets his coffee aside, removing mine from my hand. My chest rises as he sweeps his fingers across my cheek and under my chin. "Interesting." He arches over, lips feathering against the soft shell of my ear. My breathing quickens, and I can freakingfeelhis smile against my skin.

"Who'd you kiss, princess?" He pulls away as I clutch on the edge of the counter for damn balance. A cocky grin spreads on his face. "Was it Pippa? Hmm?" He purses his lips as I frown, narrowing my eyes. "Or was it Marlow?"

"I—"

What ishappeningright now?!

He expels a devious chuckle when I don't respond. "Didn't we talk about this, Savannah?" he asks, lifting a brow. "About the dangers of lying?"

"I'm not lying," I lie like the liar I am. "I'm?—"

"Shh. Just stop." He places his index finger gentlyagainst my lips, the sleeve of his hoodie sliding down his wrist. "I know you didn't go out last night, Savannah."

How is he so certain? How does he know? I nearly go cross-eyed, my gaze dipping down to his scolding finger as he taps my lips with every syllable and says, "No more lying."

That's when I see it. A faded little mark on his wrist. Evidence of his own deceit.

"Fine," I admit, curling my hand around his forearm. "You got me. I lied." I tilt my head. "How'd you know?"

"I've got eyes and ears everywhere, Savannah." Jesse shrugs nonchalantly, thinking he's won this round. Silly boy. "But it's cute you think you can hide things from me."

"Eyes and ears, huh? Interesting," I hum, batting my lashes as I run my hand down his arm and latch my grip around his wrist. "There's just one thing I don't get..."

He smirks. "And what's that?"

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