Page 47 of Merry Mayhem
She doesn’t say anything for a long moment. But she doesn’t deny that something is happening here.
Finally, she takes a step closer to me. “And you really do like frosted sugar cookies, better than plain?”
“Without a doubt.”
She presses her lips together, her eyes roaming over my face. Then she nods. “I do too.”
“Wait, what? You like frosted sugar cookies better than plain?”
“Every single time.”
“So,youlied.” I grin.
“Yeah. Otherwise, we would’ve answered all five questions exactly the same, and I thought that seemed weird, since you are my sister’s boyfriend. We shouldn’t haveeverythingin common.”
I take the final step closer, which puts us toe-to-toe. “But I’m not your sister’s boyfriend.”
“No. You’re not.”
Heat is arching between us like I’ve never felt before. The hallway is hotter, and there is a humming in the air, almost as if someone has plugged in a generator.
“But we also haven’t messed around behind Violet’s back,” she says softly.
“Right. I just?—”
“Yet.”
I stare at her. That one word takes a moment to sink in. Then satisfaction courses through me.
Yet.
“Yeah,” I say, my voice gruff. “Yet.”
“But…do you want to mess around? With me? Or do you want…more?”
Oh, fuck, I like this woman and how direct she is. “More, Thea,” I say firmly. “Definitely more.”
She pulls in a deep breath and tips her head back, looking up at the ceiling. “Dammit.”
“Dammit?”
“I think knowing you’re not her boyfriend and hearing you say that makes it worse.”
“What? Why?”
She meets my gaze again. “Because the entire town still thinks you’re Violet’s boyfriend. My whole family does too. Violet thinks you’re here at least pretending to be her boyfriend. If we act like there’s something between us, we look like terrible people. My family is beloved in this town. My grandfather is the mayor. I have a business?—”
“Wait, Bruce is the mayor?”
“No. Harley.”
“Harleyis themayor?” But it only takes a moment to sink in and then, it doesn’t surprise me.
“Yes. And I can’t let people think I’m cheating on my sister with her boyfriend.”
Fuck.
“And the town seems thrilled that Violet has a boyfriend,” I say, thinking back to theoohs¸, aahs,and applause we got when Nora explained who I am to the town during our introductions tonight.
