Page 45 of Reckless Liar

“It isn’t up to me, Xan.” I replied quickly, the words tumbling out of me before I could take them back.

He chuckled at me, scrubbing his hand across his face. “Fuck.”

He picked up the hammer and another nail and turned back to the fence. I watched him work, trying to decipher what he could mean by that four-letter word. I wanted it to be up to me, but at the same time I didn’t want to feel the weight of that. If I had to power to tell Xander I didn’t want him seeing someone else, that meant we were moving on to something more, that we could be more than we had been. That meant a commitment to something I wasn’t sure I trusted in myself.

In the minutes it took him to finish, my fingers and toes were tingling from the cold. He gathered all his stuff up and headed to the back shed. I silently followed him.

I stood back, watching as he put everything back in its correct place before locking the shed up with a heavy-duty padlock. He didn’t invite me inside his father’s house, but I followed him in anyway. When we were growing up, I hardly ever spent time at Xander’s house. We ended up Max’s most of the time because he was constantly having to watch Eloise while Dana was off doing other things. Xander’s dad never outwardly complained about us spending time there, but he was a quiet man who had little tolerance for teenagers infiltrating his house. Walking in after being gone for so long I couldn’t help but notice how little the place had changed. The chairs and couch were in the same place. The same round dining room table with its three mismatched chairs sat in the kitchen.

I walked over to the wall where Paul had taped up a newspaper article featuring Eberhardt Landscaping and Gardening a few years ago. “You should have this framed for him.” I motioned to the picture.

Xander glanced at it. “You think? It’s three dumb lines and a picture.”

I glanced back at the picture. In the picture Xander and his father are the exact same height, their faces wearing the same look of annoyed compliance with the picture taking. “It’s three years old and it’s still up? He wants it kept.”

Xander stepped closer to me, looking at the paper. “Maybe you’re right.”

I could feel him next to me. Without thinking I reached down and took his hand in mine, squeezing it. “It really is amazing what you’ve done for the company, Xander. In such a short time you guys went from barely able to pay a single bill to having an actual crew.”

“We hired some new guy the other day too. Cocky kid, but he seems like he’ll be a hard worker so who cares if he runs his mouth a little.”

“It’s because of you. I hope you know that.” I assured him, tilted my head so he had to look at me.

He shook his head at me. “Nah.”

I looked from him, dropping his hand, and walked over to the table sitting in a chair. “I wasn’t very nice to Sherie today.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t remark as he opened the fridge and grabbed a soda out and cracked the top. He took a long drink before offering me the can.

I took it, studying the bargain brand label as I talked. “She has a knack for saying the wrong things. I know I shouldn’t be bothered by her, but I can’t help it. Something about her just...” I groaned shaking my head.

“She’s harmless, Ana,” Xander told me, sliding into the seat next to me. “She doesn’t mean anything by it.”

“I don’t appreciate hearing her talk about you like she knows you.” I cast my eyes down, the admission stinging.

Xander sat back, his arms crossing against his chest as he appraised me. “But she doesn’t know me. We only went out a few times.”

“It doesn’t matter. Xan. She wants to know you. That’s enough.” I glanced at him for a moment before looking away, the strength of his stare too intense for me.

“She’s not the one for me, Ana. I think we’ve already established that.”

His words brought a tremor through me, sending a heat in my chest. Breathless, I leaned closer to him. “Then who is?”

He leaned closer to me, taking my cheek in his hand. “You know the answer to that.”

“I need to hear it,” I admitted.

He didn’t say it, instead he leaned closer to me, his lips getting closer to me. He ran his thumb over my jawline, sending shivers down my spine.

“I want to kiss you so bad right now.”

My breath hitched at the words, my eyes flickering to his lips. I wanted to tell him not to, I knew I should tell him to wait, but instead my traitor body leaned closer to him, my hand finding his free hand. Slowly, I nodded my head.

“Tell me to stop, Ana. Tell me to stop and I will.” He stared into my eyes, allowing me the time to respond before slowly coming forward until he was so close, I could count the flecks of gold in his eyes. His eyes flickered down to my lips, and I closed my eyes as I leaned into him.

Xander dipped his head down, pressing his lips to mine. Unlike the time in our doorway, I didn’t freeze. I ran my hands through his hair, pulling his face closer to mine. Not breaking away from our kiss, I rose slightly from my chair to climb on his lap. I straddled him, both of my hands in his hair, our lips fused together. He grasped at my waist, pulling me into him. Our bodies melded together as he kissed me. I could feel him all over me, his heat pulsing through me. I was on fire from his touch. His hands ran up my sides, his strong arms wrapped me closer and yet I wanted more. I pulled away and his kiss trailed across my jaw to my neck. I tipped my head back and a loud groan escaped my mouth. The sensation was intoxicating. He shifted under me, and I could feel all of him, strong and hard.

He moved his hand under my shirt, the difference in temperature a shock against my skin. That was the reality check I needed.

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