In England?
Thousands of miles away from me?
Is that why Lily seems so determined to reject my every flirtation unless we’re pretending? I’m almost certain she’s as attracted to me as I am to her, but she’s as elusive as a panther, and as strong, considering the way she flipped me over on the bed like a WWE wrestler. Although, I will defend myself by saying I was half asleep.
“Does she know this?”
“I mentioned I’d be looking for a replacement for John. He’s retiring next month, so the timing is perfect for both of us.”
A little too perfect and quite the quandary for me. I run a hand over my mouth and mumble, “Indeed, it is.”
“What was that?” Her brows pinch together.
With a shake of my head, I wave it off. “Nothing, sis. Just agreeing with you.”
Do I try to convince Lily that the spark between us is worth pursuing or let it fizzle so she can pursue this potential position on my sister’s security detail? Knowing my sister, she’ll make it clear Lily is off limits, which will make going home for visits, at the very least, awkward.
“Payton, are you all right? You look haggard. Are you getting enough rest?”
I blink back to reality. “I’m fine, Mother.”
“That’s not funny.”
Squelching my grin fails. What’s funny is how much her glare resembles our mum, but I definitely won’t tell her that either. Honestly, I should know better than to poke that bear, but somehow I can’t resist. Teasing my sister has always been one of my favorite things to do.
“Sorry, not sorry?”
“Ugh, you’re such a brother.”
“I love you too, sis.”
After I finish my conversation with Emalia, I head to the kitchen where Lily’s washing the pots by hand. I love that she remembered they don’t go in the dishwasher. Her attention to detail is one of the many things I find so fascinating about her.
I grab a towel and dry the one sitting on the drainboard.
She continues to soap up the matching lid. “I can take care of that.”
“I don’t mind.” As I reach for the next pot, her hand brushes mine. Barely a touch, but my body reacts like she just leveled me into the boards.
Heat. Awareness. A sharp, almost painful jolt of something I shouldn’t feel but do, anyway. She pulls away, pretending as if it didn’t happen. As if I didn’t feel it. Likeshedidn’t feel it.
And maybe I should do the same. Be sensible and ignore the way my pulse is still hammering. Act like the professional I’m supposed to be. There are rules, after all, and she follows them as if they’re stitched into her bloody DNA.
For the first time, I don’t give a damn.
Not in the reckless way. Not in a complete ‘let’s throw caution to the wind’ way. This isn’t just attraction, isn’t just something I can ignore and move on from. She’s under my skin, in my head, and has taken permanent residence in my heart. I couldn’t shake her even if I tried.
So maybe she’s right about the rules. Maybe I should be the one to let this go.
But screw it. I don’t want to.
“How was your chat with your sister?” As she places the pot on the drainboard, she tries to steer clear of touching me, which is almost as satisfying as watching her try to avoid what I know she’s already feeling.
But her question gives me pause. Is she asking out of genuine concern, or is this her subtle way of finding out if my sister mentioned her?
“Fine. I told her what happened. She thinks I should either come clean or go home.”
Lily turns off the water and faces me. “What do you want to do, Payton?”
