Page 18 of Touchdown
I shook my head, jaw tight. “If I kiss you again, I won’t leave.”
Her breath caught. Then she whispered, “What if?—”
“No.” I didn’t let her finish the sentence. “Not yet, baby.”
I bent, brushed a kiss against her temple instead, then stepped back again. “Good night, sunshine.”
She smiled, small but real. “Good night, Saxon.”
I watched her walk inside, waited until the lock clicked, then turned and embraced the cold air like it might cool the burn still running through my body.
Later, as I lay in bed, replaying every second of what happened in my SUV, my phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Ivy
You’re hard to read, Powell.
I stared at the screen for a long second, thumb hovering before replying.
Me
Nah, I’m simple.
There was a pause.
Ivy
Simple doesn’t usually come with smoldering silence and eyes that could melt metal.
The corner of my mouth twitched.
Me
Are you saying you think I’m sexy, sunshine?
Another beat passed.
Ivy
Don’t pretend you don’t know that women think you’re hot.
Me
I only care what you think.
A moment passed before her next message came through. It was two emoji—the melting face and the upside-down smiling face. Playful, funny, and a little flustered. Exactly her.
I huffed a quiet laugh, the first real one all night, and made a decision. We’d been in this holding pattern long enough. It was time to move forward.
Me
I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow night.
A full minute of silence. Then the three dots appeared. Just as quickly, they were gone. Then back again before a message popped up.
Ivy
Okay.
