Page 24 of Sin Bins and Second Chances
“Thank you.” I take the flowers. “Do you want tocome in?”
He nods and follows me inside. “I hope this is okay, me just showing up.”
I sit the flowers down on the table and spin around to find him standing directly behind me. Heat floods my body and I know if I looked in a mirror, I’d appear as flushed as I feel. The red is probably creeping across my chest and up my neck now. I look up at him.
I don’t know what to say. Is it okay he’s here? Yes. No. Hell if I know. I spin back around, not wanting to face him. “You seemed in a hurry to leave last night.
“No, it was just getting late, and I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.”
I laugh and move away from him. “I invited you in.” Did he not understand? Did I have to spell it out for him?
No.I argue with my thoughts. This whole situation is only confusing me more and more. The problem is that I don’t know what he’s thinking while also not knowing myself. I don’t know what I want.
Something is happening here. It feels different and new. This doesn’t feel like we’re picking up where we left off, but it also feels like no time haspassed. It makes zero sense and only confuses me more. How can something feel like this?
Feelings like these, they never went away. I buried them deep, covered them up even faster. But the door never fully closed—I just held it shut with fucking bandaids. And if I’m being honest with myself, that’s probably why none of the casual dates ever worked out. It would’ve taken something massive to seal that door for good.
It was easy at first. I had the distraction of focusing on my dad and then my mom. We were so focused on family, when it fell apart—it all fell. I found some solace in baking, but it could only do so much. It couldn’t occupy every spare moment.
“I don’t want to rush this,” He blurts out behind me.
It’s not what I want to hear, but it is what it is. If I turn around and he looks at me like he did before… I won’t be able to say no. This is crazy. Especially when I think about how he acted around me that first day back at Andrew’s house. All I can do is laugh.
Ethan asked if I felt it too, like some mystical energy between us. I did, but I wasn’t ready to admit it to him or even to myself. Was thisour second chance? And if so, what happens if it goes wrong?
If I’m honest with myself, I’m terrified. I want to see where this can go. Part of me always wondered, but I can’t change the past. What happens if he finds out? I should tell him, be honest, but I also don’t want him to know. I don’t regret my decision, but it doesn’t make thinking about it any less difficult.
It’s an internal battle that feels like it will never end. What if something starts, and it goes well—and then he ends it? It would serve me right. I would deserve it. I’m scared of making a mistake and getting hurt again. Even if the first time is my doing. More than that, I think I’m nervous about hurting him again.
I should keep him at a distance.
I swallow, then slowly turn around. Nothing can happen here. I need to face this head on. Be strong.
Too late.
The way he’s looking at me, the unspoken connection lingering around the edges until it forms a bridge. His eyes feel like they’re looking into my soul, tempting fate.
Chapter Thirteen
ETHAN
Her red wavy hair has fallen from her messy bun, framing her heart-shaped face. I have the urge to tuck some of those pieces behind her ear and pull her close. But if I pull her close, I’ll never be able to let go. I wouldn’t want to. Fuck, I don’t want to.
Our gazes lock. I’m under her spell, and she’s oblivious. I was always captivated by her mesmerizing blue eyes. Dark and light blues swirling together.
I can’t resist any longer. My hand reaches out slowly. I tuck a loose strand behind her ear. The touch is light, but it feels like fireworks in thesilence. Her lips part in a silent gasp. For a moment, it’s as if everything outside of us ceases to exist.
She swallows, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. I can feel everything building between us. I want to lean in and press my lips to hers, but I can’t. That first day had been such a shock, I couldn’t help myself. Then last night, the look she’d given me. Even now, the pull is undeniable. But I need her to want me as much as I want her.
With a gentle smile, I take a step back. Her eyes, shadowed by dark lashes, looked up at me, pleading for me to make the first move. I can see her fighting it. It would be too easy to throw her over my shoulder and run around town with her, mark my claim. Never have I felt so primal, so caveman-like, as I do around her.
She licks her lips, and I swallow back a groan. We can’t rush this. I won’t risk losing her again. And I can see it on her face, the struggle. She wants me to make a move, but I can also see how easy it would be for her to push me away and make a run for it. To deny the obvious. No, I’ll take this slow.
The next time my hands are on her, it’s over. Daisy has always been petite, but these curves. Fuck, I want to caress them with my hands andlips. I want to worship every beautiful inch of this woman. She doesn’t know it, but I’m hers. Always and forever. Those feelings never went away. They were just buried, and poorly at that. There is no way in hell I’m letting her get away again.
Every breath I take feels like it’s weighing me down with her scent. My chest heaves too quickly. Daisy is standing just two feet away, with her gorgeous eyes, luscious lips, and a body that commands worship. I have a strong urge to reach out. I’m aching to bridge the gap between us.
She made her intentions known last night, but I’d stopped us from going further. Her confusion and inner turmoil were clear as soon as she walked up onto her porch. I can’t let her remain confused about our relationship. I’m not going anywhere, not without her. Never again.
