Page 16 of Big Mistletoe

His jaw tightens, and I tense, wishing I’d never asked. But now that I’ve started, I can’t seem to stop myself. “You haven’t kissed me since I moved in.”

He frowns at me. “Joy.”

My chest tightens. “Have I misread all this? Have you changed your mind?”

7

NICK

I stare down at Joy and can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Changed my mind?”

She starts to pull away from me, but I tighten my hands on her shoulders. “Joy, no.”

Her eyes search mine. “Then I don’t understand.”

I blow out a breath and try to figure out how to explain this without sounding like an idiot. “I’m trying to respect you.”

Her forehead creases. “Respect me?”

I nod. “Yes.”

She stares at me like that makes absolutely no sense. I drop my hands and take a step back because having her this close isn’t helping me think. “You’re staying in my house because your apartment flooded. You didn’t ask to be here. I brought you here.”

Her forehead creases. “I agreed to come.”

I nod. “I know that.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Then what are you saying?”

I lift my hand and run it through my hair. “I’m saying I don’t want you to ever think there are strings attached to you staying here.”

Her expression changes from confusion to curiosity, so I keep going. “I don’t want you thinking you have to kiss me, sleep with me, or do anything else because I’m giving you a place to stay.”

Her mouth falls open. “Nick.”

Shit. I’m not doing this right. I’m making it worse. I put my hand back on her shoulder and squeeze. “No. I need you to understand.”

She goes quiet, and I look into her eyes. “You’re young.”

She rolls her big, pretty blue eyes. “Oh, here we go.”

I almost smile, but this is too important. “You’re twenty-four, Joy.”

She thrusts her hip out and puts a hand on it. “I know how old I am.”

I nod. “And I’m thirty-five.”

She looks at me as if I’m crazy. “You told me that on our first date.”

I nod. “I’m aware.”

She throws her hands up. “Then why are we talking about it again?”

I blow out a breath. “Because you’re younger than me, you’re living in my house, and I’m trying very hard not to put any pressure on you.”

Her face softens for half a second, but then she shakes her head. “You’re acting like I don’t know what I want.”

I blow out a breath in frustration. “That’s not what I’m saying at all.”