Page 43 of Holding You
Susie’s role is to make sure that all the things are sorted into the right room.
“Perfect, but this box here is actually plates, cups, and silverware, so I’m headed to the kitchen.”
She makes a waving motion with her arms. “Right this way! Please follow me.”
I hear Ruby’s laughter before we reach the space.
“I love how seriously you take your role, Susie.”
“Well, Dad and I like an organized house, and he told me that living with you is probably like living with a drill ser?—”
“This is great. I can take it from here, kid.”
“Okay!” She bounces out of the room, stopping at the front door to wait for the next person.
“A drill sergeant?” Ruby asks, arms crossed and hip leaning onto the counter.
I slide the box onto the counter, ignoring her.
“It just occurred to me that moving my dishes here is pointless since your house is full of them. I’ll go put this in the trailer.”
“Smart.”
I move to grab the bottle of water with my name on, courtesy of Max, whose job is to make sure no one becomes dehydrated.
But Ruby moves left at the same time.
“Oops.”
Then right.
“Ah.”
Then left again, as if we’re in some sort of dance.
“Declan,” Ruby snaps.
I grab her at the waist with both hands and hold her still. Then I move her in the opposite direction of my goal, but of course, Max chooses that same moment to race into the kitchen, announcing that he needs a new water for Luca. He bumps me from behind, forcing me to fall into Ruby.
I’ve now got her pinned between me and the counter, my front flush against her. The moment my chest brushes hers, I glance down.
She gasps and looks up.
My hands are still on her, and we freeze.
I know I should move, but the way her green eyes look up at me, the way they lock onto mine for the smallest of a second with not an ounce of distaste in them has me in a trance.
She takes a breath, and like me, doesn’t move.
The tips of my fingers, the ones still holding her at the hips, tingle, and my heart pounds with a sickening feeling.
One that says if I don’t dip my head and press my lips to hers, I’m going to regret it.
But that’s crazy, right?
To have a feeling that consumes you this way.
To one moment be thinking of all the ways you can stay out of a person’s space to suddenly never wanting to leave it.
