“I think you’ve filled my data card enough, thank you very much.” She holds her hand out, wiggling her fingers for the camera.
“Sorry, not sorry?” I chuckle and hand it back to her. “How often do you get to be on the other side of the lens?”
“Never. And I prefer it that way.”
“Huh. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”
She takes her bag back and crouches down to pack the camera in its special case. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I squat down in front of her, which puts my head above hers and close enough to take in her sweet scent. Her ponytail slides over her shoulder, impeding what she’s doing. I didn’t plan to do it. Just made sense to move her hair out of the way. But my callused fingers linger on the soft, silky strands.
“What are you doing?” Her voice sounds hushed. Almosthusky.
She lifts her face, studying me. Of their own volition, my eyes drop to her lips for a brief second. “Your hair was in the way. I was trying to be helpful.”
And totally worth it.
Her gaze drops, yet seems to linger on my mouth. “You have chiseled lips.”
That’s unexpected.
“Chiseled?” I touch my fingers to my mouth as I stand.
She rises. “Yeah. You know, well defined. I took a couple of art classes in college to feed my creativity, but I found it super helpful for my photography. Lips kind of fascinate me.”
“That’s…interesting.” I’d love nothing more than to press mychiseledlips to hers right now and find out if they’re as soft as they look.
Even in the lamplight, I note the crimson color tinging her cheeks when she glances at me. “It’s getting dark. We should go back to the hotel.”
“Sure. No problem.” I take her bag to carry it for her.
“Bags, too?”
“What?”
“You always open my door, and now you’re carrying my bag.”
I offer her a slight smile. “My mother made it a point to teach me good manners.” Something I wish I could thank her for now that I’ve met Sophie. Mom would have loved her.
We share a taxi back to the hotel and then an elevator up to our floor. I hand over her bag when we reach our doors.
Her fingers brush my hand as she takes the straps. “Thanks.”
Affected by her touch, my voice rasps out, “No problem.”
She unlocks her door but pauses before going in. “Aren’t you going into your room?”
I lean against the wall between our rooms. “I will once I know you’re safely inside.”
Her eye roll reminds me of Kinsley. She steps inside but peeks out. “See? All safe and sound.”
Seeing her eyes framed like that sends my pulse into high speed and brings a smile to my face. “Good night, Sophie.”
She lingers before shutting the door. Did I imagine we had a moment there?
Once inside my room, I fall back onto the bed. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I debate whether to look, but what if it’s my sister?
I groan and roll my eyes as I read the text.
