When we reach the entrance, his left hand finds the small of my back as his right arm pushes open the glass door. It’s sucha simple, familiar touch—something he’s done a thousand times before—but it makes my breath hitch.
The second his hand falls away, a cold draft rushes in, making me shiver.
I glance back, catching Connie watching us with a way too amused smile.
We walk in silence at first. Tate skips ahead, his blue reflective coat catching the sunlight, sending golden flecks dancing in my line of vision. I step wrong—stupid uneven sidewalk—and before I can stumble, Corbin’s hand catches mine, threading his fingers through mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Um.This is dangerous territory. Too dangerous.
But I don’t pull away. And I hate that I don’t.
“You’ve never done well on uneven concrete,” Corbin murmurs, his voice laced with quiet amusement. “Don’t worry, Jules. Once we’re safely on the grass, I’ll let you go.”
I glance up at him. He has the audacity to smirk.
“It’s the sun,” I mutter, trying to sound unbothered. “Too… shiny.”
His thumb brushes the back of my hand. Slow. Soothing. My pulse stutters.
Seriously, what is wrong with me?
Desperate for a distraction, I blurt, “How’s work?”
He shrugs. “It’s my dad. It’s… work.”
A beat of silence stretches between us before I find myself asking something I’m not sure I want the answer to.
“And Susan?” I swallow hard.
Why am I asking this? I don’twantto care. But I do. And that’s a problem.
Corbin exhales slowly. “She’s pissed at me.”
“Why?” The question slips out before I can stop it.
He glances down at me, eyes unreadable. “Told her I thought we should keep things strictly professional. Apparently, she didn’t take it well.”
I blink, processing that. “But… I thought you were dating.”
He shakes his head, then lifts our joined hands slightly. “This?” His voice is low, almost intimate. “This is more intimate than anything I ever did with Susan.”
Wait.What?
I frown, trying to make sense of everything. “She seemed to know the house pretty well,” I counter. “And she justrandomlyshowed up after our…” I trail off. I don’t even know what to call that night.
Corbin huffs a dry laugh. “She’d been to the house once before to go over a contract she ‘didn’t understand.’” He makes air quotes with his free hand. “Although, now I’m starting to think it was just an excuse to stop by.”
Despite the awkward topic, I find myself smiling. “So, you didn’t cheat on her with me?”
His smirk vanishes, replaced by a look of pure disbelief. “Why the hell would you think that?”
Before I can answer, Tate wiggles with excitement. “We’re here!”
His eyes drop to our hands, his whole face lighting up like he just witnessed Santa Claus in the flesh.
Ishouldpull away. Ishould’vepulled away minutes ago.
But I didn’t.
