Page 72 of Known By You
And right now, looking at her from across the room was torture.
Well, okay, no. I had a friend or two who had actually been tortured, so I didn’t like using that word, but crap if it didn’t feel like I was crawling out of my skin to get closer to her.
Ironic since we’d spent inordinate amounts of timeclosethese last two weeks, and yet I hadn’t taken any real shots with her. I’d failed completely to make a move, and I had a blaring green light.
Like, honestly. Who stays stopped at a stop line when the light is green?
This guy, apparently!
We’d sat on her couch and watched movies. We’d sat on mine. Playing with Kit had entertained us for hours. We’d eaten like ten meals together, just the two of us and a handful of others with various combinations of friends. I’d snuck us up the gondola to the top of Silver Ridge peak thanks to my ski lift friend Jiff, and we’d been to see a depressing Oscar-contender movie at the theater which we both lightly pretended to appreciate until we both realized we hated it, then gleefully returned to my place to binge half ofTed Lassoseason one in an effort to apologize to ourselves.
We’d also checked in with Jack and Evie often, who were both doing well. The baby was reportedly growing well and healthy, and I could admit, I couldn’t wait to meet her little one. Not that I expected to hold it or anything, but it made me even more excited for Beast and Jess.
And maybe a touch wistful.
Liz and I had been all over town, my quest to show her Silverton and how delightful it could be continuing in earnest amidst our… whatever this was. Because as much as some of it felt like a date, it also very much didn’t.
We’d gone sledding with friends. We’d gone on a jog together. We’d done so. Many. Things.
Except kiss.
Or any other fun activities that might accompany kissing.
And I couldn’t tell if it was me holding back or her or both of us or some messy mix of miscommunication brought on bynotcommunicating about such things. Whatever the case, it was getting old, and I was struggling to keep my hands to myself and yet also succeeding maybe a little too well.
“Any questions about the assignments in the next fewweeks? Hijack’s joining us soon, Cookie’s out, and we have our VIP in place for another little bit.” Bruce checked his notepad, then looked up in search of anyone who needed his attention.
Thankfully, no one did. We’d been here for a quick twenty-minute debrief on a situation that’d come up overseas, though fortunately the Washingtons had it handled, as usual. Then we’d reviewed the next few weeks’ schedule due to a change up with a few personnel, and then… well, honestly, I’d spaced out because Liz had worn her hair in a long braid today instead of her usual bun at the back of her head and I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more than to just… mess it up.
Well, mess it up with my hands while I kissed her into oblivion, preferably naked. With her gorgeous hair cascading around us, I’d slide my tongue down her?—
“Barbie? You raised your hand?”
My head snapped to Bruce and found his eyes on me, brows raised.
What? What?! My hand was not raised. No raised hands. No hand-raising. “Wh-at? No. I’m good. I’m all good.”
He winked. “Good. Have a great week, everyone.”
Cookie’s breathy chuckle confirmed my suspicion. Bruce had totally caught me staring at Liz and had called me out in front of everyone.Super.
Hopefully, she hadn’t noticed my eyes had been on her. Also here’s hoping she didn’t realize what I was thinking about because that would be so deeply less than ideal.
“You going to make it? Need a minute before you stand up?” Cookie asked between laughs.
I sent him a glare but couldn’t hold it, so I shoved hischair away. “Shut it. I’m just fine.” But also, was itthatobvious I’d been mooning over Liz?
I grabbed my coffee mug and notepad, refusing to look at her again despite the gut-deep desire to. A hand on my shoulder halted my progress right as everyone else slipped out of the room.
“Gotta cool it with that, Barbie.” Bruce squeezed, then released me.
Wilder, Bruce, and Adam all stood side by side when I turned back into the conference room.
“Sorry. I know. I’m genuinely sorry.” And now, a little embarrassed, despite rarely feeling embarrassment.
“Might need to tell her that. Can’t imagine she didn’t notice you.”
Wilder’s unamused expression made me shrivel up a little. He was Liz’s stepbrother, after all, and he wasn’t the type of man to let thestepdeter him from exercising his protective instincts.
