Page 112 of Dream House
“And even after all of that, you still want to work underground?”
His grin is like a jailbreak. “Yeah, especially if I’m the one keeping an eye on things like salinity distribution, erosion patterns, groundwater creep, and destabilization.”
I double blink. “Yeah, when he says shit like that, he don’t sound twenty-three at all.”
Lark booms a laugh.
Crap. I said that out loud, didn’t I?
His shrug is good humored. “Tried telling you.”
I roll my eyes, hoping my cheeks aren’t as pink as they feel. My only course of action is to shift the attention his way, but he’s earned it.
“And you give me grief about taking care of everybody.”
He’s still smiling, but he eyes me sidelong. “Huh?”
“Helping your mom? Taking care of your dad? Giving Nina rides?” I nod to my laptop. “Helping me set up shop? You think I’m the only one around here who looks after everybody?”
My characterization of him comes as a surprise, I see.
A pleasant surprise.
Squeezing my hand, Lark leans in until our mouths are just inches apart.
His sudden closeness sets my heart pounding.
“Nobody’s around.” His breath and his gaze fall on my lips.
On instinct, I lick them. His pupils expand.
“Yep,” I squeak.
“I’m gonna kiss you.”
The rough way he says it has my nipples tightening to rosebuds. “Okay,” I manage.
His lips brush mine once, twice, with a barely there hello. And I open for him, awaiting the velvet of his tongue—
The front door crashes open. We jerk apart.
“Nobody betta come near me!” Livy shouts, slamming the door behind her. “I’m liable to do some stabbin’!”
ChapterNineteen
LARK
Stella’son her feet and headed in Livy’s direction when I snag her by the wrist.
“You did just hear her, right? Stabbing? The woman wants her space.”
Stella tugs at her arm, giving me an exasperated look when I don’t let go. “Yeah, but she doesn’tmeanthat. Something must be wrong.”
We hear fast, angry thumps make their way upstairs. And then another slam.
But this one, I recognize, is the bathroom door. Not Livy’s bedroom. I know because the bathroom door has a brass skeleton key that rattles every time anyone closes it.
“Trust me on this,” I pledge. “You don’t want to disturb Livy while she’s in the bathroom.”
