Page 53 of Unspoken Hearts
Anything to make her smile.
She slides the photo into the album before going to pick up the box.
I move faster, scooping it up with ease. “You won’t be able to carry this,” I say before placing it on top of another.
“What? Because I don’t have big, muscular arms like you do?”
I turn back to see her arms crossed in front of her chest, but a playful smirk covers her mouth.
I blink.
Wait, did she just compliment my arms?
My gaze holds hers, mouth slightly parted, unsure of what to say, when I blurt out, “I don’t think they would suit you.”
That makes her chuckle, light and bubbly, just the way I love to hear it. It’s full of life, like her when she’s this relaxed. “No, they wouldn’t. Not with my puny body, anyway.”
My throat works as I sweep over her tight top, shorts and boots. My pulse picks up, the energy surging between us, and I don’t want to screw up this moment with her. I have been so patient. The last thing I want to do is push her away now.
“You’re beautiful, Mae.”
Gazes colliding, I watch her swallow before flickering away, running her hands over her tank like she’s found a stain on it that I can’t see. “Youmight be the only one who thinks that. Everyone used to tease me for my red hair in school.”
“That’s only because they were jealous,” I counter.
Her pink lip tucks between her teeth. I move a little closer in the dim, enclosed space, my body towering over her shorter one. Her chin lifts to watch me.
“I never once thought it was ugly.”
Her body freezes at my words.
Before I can stop myself—not that I want to refrain myself—I reach out, tucking soft, copper strands behind her ear. Green eyes pierce through mine. My fingers stop on her neck, unable to move away. Her hair is as silky as I imagined it, and her skin…
“Reid,” she whispers. I hear the questioning, as well as a hint of longing.
Swallowing loudly, my pulse thrums wildly through my veins. My eyes stare into hers, feeling the intense pull inside of me drawing towards her. Inching closer, my gaze drops to study the curve of her lips, and my fingers go numb.
I want to kiss her.
My throat bobs when I hear their voices.
I turn right on time as Grayson and Cole walk in, laughing about something. Macie moves towards them, leaving my side, and I feel the void immediately, like a part of me is missing.
I see the flush of her cheeks, and the rapidness of her chest moving.
Gray frowns. “You got everything?”
Macie nods quickly. Cole sceptically looks between the both of us.
I glower his way, my eyes telling him to shut his mouth, and thankfully he chooses this moment to listen to me.
“Great. I just got back with Dad. Do you need a hand with anything else?” Grayson asks, clearly not realising how much she’s blushing, but maybe he’s chalked it up to the heat and sweat of us moving everything.
She shakes her head, no words coming out of her mouth, like she’s still too stunned to speak.
My stomach flips and I clear my throat. “Everything is packed away now. I’ll go take my ute around the front.” I move past the three of them, gaze flicking onto Macie’s for a second, and the longing deep in her irises.
Walking out into the glowing evening sun, I slide into my car. The passenger door opens and Cole jumps in.
