Page 12 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
She aims a laser stare at me. “Moderating your alcohol intake isn’t exactly your strong suit, Theo.”
I open my mouth to object, but she’s right. “Okay, fair point.”
“Plus, you’re gonna be rehabbing your knee, right? I figured staying away from all alcohol would be a good move for you in that case.”
“Fine. What’s rule two?”
“No parties.”
“That’s fair.”
“Rule three: no bringing people over for hook-ups.”
I bite back a smile. “Wow. We’re going for full-on Puritan vibes, huh?”
Maya tilts her head at me, her glare positively lethal. “If you don’t like the rules or you break them, you’re gone. Understand?”
I exhale sharply. “Understood.”
“Good.” She shoves her notebook back into her bag and grabs her suitcases.
“What’s the rule about kissing?” I tease.
She stills at my smart-ass question, then looks at me. “No kissing in the house.”
“Oh, come on. Not even a peck on the cheek? When I’ve been to Europe that was like saying hello.”
She rolls her eyes.
“I’m just saying that if you have the urge to grab me and kiss me again, you have my permission to do that.”
“Shut up, Theo.”
She grabs the fish bowl and sets it on the side table next to the entryway. “This is my fish, Mr. Pudding.”
“Cute.”
She glowers at me.
“What? I’m being serious. That’s a really cute name.”
The fury in her gaze dials back the slightest bit. “You don’t have to worry about him. I’ll take care of him while I’m here.”
“Sounds good. Guess I should send back those three cats I just adopted from the animal shelter.”
“Hilarious,” she bites.
I try and fail to hold back a laugh as she starts to walk past me in the direction of the hallway.
“Oh, come on.” I gently touch my hand to her arm. She stills instantly, her gaze fixed on where I’m touching her before she looks up at me.
I probably shouldn’t have touched her. Actually, IknowI shouldn’t have touched her. She can’t stand me and would clearly rather be anywhere other than in this house sharing a living space with me.
But I can’t bring myself to take my hand away, not when I can feel the heat from her skin burn through the fabric of her sweater. Not when we’re standing this close together—the closest we’ve been since we kissed on New Year’s Eve.
Not when it feels this good to be near Maya.
I take in the dazed look in her eyes as she stares at me, how it’s shock and something else. Something I can’t quite put my finger on.
