Page 102 of Into These Eyes
My heart comes to a complete standstill. Then takes off like a rocket as his fingers brush stray strands of hair behind my ear like I might shatter if he touches me with too much force. And I just might. The kindness and compassion of this man is heartbreaking.
Our eyes hold and, as his palm cradles my jaw, his pupils swallow his irises until only a ring of the deepest blue remains.
There’s nothing I can do but sink into his touch. When he inches closer, my pulse stutters. The fraction of air between us sparks and sizzles. He’s going to kiss me. And oh, God, I want him to.
So.
Fucking.
Badly.
From the kitchen, my phone shrills, wrenching me out of the moment.
“That’s my boss,” I say, and his hand drops away from my face, leaving a ghost of an imprint behind. I almost whimper at the loss.
Disappointment flashes in his eyes. “You can tell from here?”
“The ringtone.” Reluctantly getting to my feet, I hurry around the couch.
I regret it the moment I answer, but part of my employment contract demands I’m contactable outside office hours. Listening to my boss ramble on about the court case tomorrow, I watch Gavin head down the hallway to the bedrooms. Without glancing my way.
Is he pissed at me? Why wouldn’t he be?I’mpissed at me. While my boss drones on about urgently needing a document prepared before tomorrow, I wish I’d let it go to voicemail. I wish I was sitting on the couch kissing Gavin right now.
I also know my boss would have kept calling and calling until I picked up.
As much as I regret answering the damn thing, I’m glad my boss’s ringtone isn’t the soundtrack to the moment my lips first touch Gavin’s.
Though I’m not so sure he feels the same way.
After I tune into Eric’s voice and understand what he wants prepared and sent over to him tonight, I unpack my laptop at the dining table and get to work.
When what seems like seconds have passed, a warm hand gives my shoulder a gentle shake. “Jamie?”
I grumble and press my eyes deeper into the curve of my inner elbow. It can’t be time to get up yet.
“Come on, sleeping beauty. It’s two o’clock,” that deep, soothing voice vibrates close to my ear. “Let’s get you to bed.”
He guides my arm across his shoulders, then I’m weightless, crushed against his chest as he lifts me from the chair. “Hold on.”
I burrow my face into his neck and cling to him. I love the way he smells, the warmth of his skin against my forehead. Memories flood through my half-asleep brain, pulling me back to the taste of him, the feel of his skin on my lips, on my tongue.
Then my head touches softness. Cool sheets slide against my skin.
“Thank you,” I murmur, not sure if the words slipped from my mouth.
“Goodnight, Jamie.”
As I cross the threshold between consciousness and sleep, I swear I feel soft lips touch my forehead.
Chapter 30
Gavin
Although I’m out of bed and heading into the kitchen at the usual time, Jamie’s already dressed, travel mug in hand as she hurries over to the dining table.
“Morning,” I say to her back, taking in the deep plum dress that clings to her figure and stops a few inches above her knees. But it’s the zip traveling from the back of her neck all the way to her thighs that has my mind filling with all sorts of inappropriate scenarios.
“Hey.” She shoves her laptop into its bag, hooks the strap over her shoulder and picks up her coffee.
