Del: We’re back to using principal again? Hmm, was it something I said? Or he said…?
She follows this with a kissing emoji that makes me want to toss my phone into the sand. The woman is downright incorrigible lately. With a snort, I pocket my phone, ignoring her comment. Sometimes, I wonder if she’s trying to encourage something happening between Payton and me, but that would be ridiculous. She would never do that. At least, I don’t think she would. Sheisa bit of a wild child.
“Problem?”
I catch up to where he’s standing, shaking my head. “Nope.” I pop my ‘p’ for emphasis. “We better get to it, though. The light’s fading.”
He takes my hand again.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Believability, remember? Someone we know might be here or recognize me. Our fans are very generous with their attention.” He chuckles.
I should argue that’s a great reason NOT to take a walk out in the open like this. But I want to see the sunset and the feel of Payton’s skin against mine is making it difficult to think and make good decisions.
Observation #8: Payton Maxwell is trouble.
Chapter Twenty
PAYTON
I think the memory of Lily watching the sunset will live in my head for the rest of my life. As she took in the shifting colors and reflections on the water, I memorized every facet of her. The delicate slope of her forehead and how her nose tips up at the end. That adorable indent above her chin, just below her full bottom lip that I can imagine kissing and nipping until she sighs.
Never has a woman intrigued me the way she does. It took great effort not to pull her against me and make my imaginings a reality. Didn’t help that she continued to let me hold her hand as we walked the beach. I suppose I can only blame myself for that.
At one point, when the sunset reached its peak, blazing the sky like a bonfire, she squeezed my hand. But I’m not sure she realized what she did because of how enraptured she appeared.
Now we’re back in the safety of my apartment, and I’m trying to think of a way to prolong our evening together.
I’d like to believe tonight helped set a precedent for the possibility of us, but she’s so difficult to read. I’ve never met anyone so controlled and downright stubborn. Most likely partof her job, but the way she challenges me…this crazy dynamic between us is driving me crazy.
Somehow, I have to convince Lily that this attraction we share is just a precursor to something bigger. Something better than either of us has known before, I suspect. If she’d only give it a chance.
Give me a chance.
“Can I interest you in a game, perhaps?” I’m loathe to let our evening end just yet. Her reports can surely wait another hour or two. It’s not even that late yet.
“I’m not really a game person.”
“We can watch something on the telly?”
She shakes her head. “Not a TV person either.”
“Don’t care for it?”
“Don’t have the time, usually.”
Well, all work and no play haven’t made Lily a dull girl, but I can’t imagine a life without fun and adventure. However, I do recognize the irony since my job isplayinga game.
“What do you do for fun?”
Her gaze shifts to some faraway place in her mind. “You’d laugh at me.”
I’d fully expected her to say nothing or that it was none of my business, but this…this feels like a door she’s allowed to open just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the Lily inside.
“What if I promise not to laugh?”
Her supple lips lift on one side. “You have to do better than that.”
