“It might’ve been more than okay.” I licked my lips and watched his eyes follow.
Miller’s smile was nothing short of devilish. “It was unexpectedly amazing.”
An atom bomb of joy exploded in my heart. Shrapnel bits of lust and hope rained all around me in jagged pieces. Miller thought our kiss wasamazing? Had anyone ever used that to describe my romantic prowess? I did not think so. “It definitely left an impression.”
“And now you’re all tangled up in overthinking it.” Miller ran his hands up and down my arms, a slow glide across my flushed skin. “We were both pretty worn down Friday night. I hadn’t slept in a few days, and you were punch-drunk on reliving your Ned rejection.”
I ignored the way my heart levitated in my chest. “The kiss was an aberration, a one-time event, a random disturbance in the force.”
“Was it?” He stroked a finger under my chin. “I knew there had to be an explanation.”
“So obvious.” My words were nothing but breath, as if my oxygen supply was slipping away.
Miller tilted his head as his forehead wrinkled in concentration. “Unless…”
“Yes?” My whole world teetered on his one simple word.
“I’m a guy who likes to run comparisons.” He angled his face to mine. “Alter the variables, rule out randomizations.”
I could hardly think when Miller’s lips were that close. “What are you suggesting?”
His thumb etched a faint swoop across my collarbone. “I’m suggesting we verify our conclusion—that itwasjust a one-time response.”
“I’m listening.” I was not listening. All systems had shut down.
Miller’s voice was a fiery amalgam of fact-presenting CEO and pillow-talking Casanova. He hooked an arm around me and pulled my body flush with his. “I propose that I kiss you again.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Ipropose that I kiss you again…”
I could hardly hear any words after that. The blood rushed to my head, roared through my ears, and I fought to stay upright.
“Maybe we won’t feel a thing.” Miller’s voice rumbled low as the evening air shimmered over us.
I spoke to his lips, the ones I’d kissed with abandon. “You’re saying Friday night’s variables have been removed.”
“Right.”
Here was that plot twist I’d felt on the air. “Miller…”
He made a slow drag of his knuckles from my temple, to my cheekbone, and down the curve of my chin. “Yes or no, Hattie?”
“I—”
“Yes…” Miller’s thumb brushed against my bottom lip. “Or no?”
This was insane. Miller was all kinds of wrong. We were ill-suited and a disaster waiting to happen. He wasn’t my type, and I certainly wasn’t his. I was working on protecting my heart, guarding myself from devastation. Wall building. Gate locking. Tossing that key. Throwing away the spare.
I needed to say no. Walk away. It was the only choice.
“Yes,” I heard myself whisper. “My answer is yes.”
Miller’s lips curved in a smile. “I should warn you this is going to be good. Like real good.”
I was afraid of that.
I slipped my hands around his neck and anchored myself. “I’ll try to keep up. For the sake of research.”
