Page 57 of Better Hate than Never

Like I wasn’t turned around and off-kilter enough from yesterday, he has to come in here and knock me sideways even harder.

But maybe he’s not trying to knock me sideways. Maybe this is the emotional equivalent of those first steps on land when you still have your sea legs. I’m not used to standing still beside Christopher, quiet and peace wrapped around us as we search each other’s eyes. I’m used to sky-high swells and raging storms. Of course this would feel weird. And different.

And, frighteningly, pretty... wonderful.

IfI can trust it.Ifhe means what he says.Ifhe really doeswant us to, as he says, “get along.” Praying I hide it well—the thrill of curiosity, the tiniest, most tentative hope, humming through my body, I offer him my hand. “Deal.”

Christopher stares at me warily, his gaze dancing over my face. “Deal? That simple?”

The threat of a smile tugs at my mouth. I’m not the only one who doesn’t know what to make of this new dynamic, then. “I do have a few stipulations. We do it when it suits me, scheduled around my commitments here, but yes. Those are my terms. If you accept, then it’s a deal.”

Gently, he takes my hand. His thumb sweeps across my skin as he holds my eyes. “Then it’s a deal.” A bright, satisfied smile warms his face. “Pleasure doing business with you, Wilmot.”

I wage a battle inside myself to hold my calm expression, not to sigh at the warmth of his hand wrapped around mine. It’s a small concession to strike a deal. It would be too grand a surrender to reveal this little bit of business we’re doing actually feels like pure pleasure.

“Likewise, Petruchio.”

•SIXTEEN•

Christopher

“So.” Jamie clears his throat before sipping his green tea. “How are... things?”

“ ‘Things’ are fantastic.” Looking both ways, we stroll into the crosswalk, shoulders up against the biting December wind. “Kate walloped me with the flowers I sent the other day and nearly got herself run over by rushing into traffic just to get away from me.”

And you kissed her, that stern voice in my head reminds me.You can’t stop thinking about that kiss. You’ve had decadently filthy dreams replaying that kiss, taking things much, much further.

I don’t tell Jamie that.

“Then, when I pivoted and tried another tactic—extending an olive branch, asking if I could hire her to take new professional headshots at the firm—she just... agreed.”

He frowns in thought, sipping his tea again. “And that’s bad? Her agreeing?”

“It’s suspicious.” I take a long swig of my coffee, turning over my memory of the moment, that unreadable glint in her eyes as she peered up at me. “It was too easy.”

“Or maybe it’s just that simple.”

“Nothing’s ever simple with Kate,” I mutter.

Jamie frowns my way, examining me. “She accepted your offerto take photos for the firm, which you’re suspicious of, but that’s becausesheacted differently than she normally would, and that’s what you want from her, too, for things to be different—”

“To bebetter,” I remind him.

“Well, it takes time for things to get better. Different can be a good first step on that path.” He gets one look at my incredulous expression and sighs. “All I’m saying is, Bea told me—and from what I’ve witnessed the past few days when I’m around her, I agree—Kate’s seemedhappy. That’s a good sign, I think.”

My heart kicks against my ribs. “She’s seemed happy?”

Jamie nods, a grin lifting his mouth. “She has. And that means Bea’s been happy, too.”

Which means Jamie’s happy, a fact that’s obvious by the satisfied smile he wore when we met up, the kind of smile a man wears when his needs are being enthusiastically and frequently met. I’m well acquainted with that relieved, clearheaded look.

Not that I’ve seen it in my reflection the past three weeks.

God, if I could just get past this... block I have against my usual routine, if I could stop replaying every moment my mouth was on Kate’s, my hands gripping her, tugging her close—

I shake my head and draw in a deep breath, pushing away the memories. I’m taking a page out of Kate’s avoidant book.

I’m grateful that she’s ignoring those kisses, pretending they didn’t happen; that she acted as annoyed as always to see me when I walked into the store yesterday, with those little carnivorous fish on her shirt and a feisty glint in her eyes, and asked me to stop bringing up the incident in which I mauled her mouth outside her apartment and told her anyone would want her.

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