Page 26 of Big Package

“Emmy. You’re stuck here.”

“I’m aware.”

“You didn’t come here for this.”

“I came here for a package. I’m capable of developing additional interests.”

I almost smiled. Almost. Through the windows, sunlight was starting to break through. The storm was ending. She’d probably be gone in a few hours. That should’ve made it easier to shut down whatever might be happening between us before it had a chance to start.

It didn’t.

“I’m not confused about why I’m here,” she said. “And I’m not going to wake up tomorrow and blame you because the roads were bad. So what’s the problem?”

Me. That was the answer. I’d gotten good at keeping things simple, because simple didn’t leave much room for disappointment. She’d been in my house less than a day, and nothing felt simple anymore.

She touched my chest, the same place she had in the garage. This time neither of us could blame a slippery floor.

“If you don’t want to kiss me, just say so.”

“No.”

Her hand started to drop.

I caught her wrist. “That’s not what I meant.”

Her breath changed. So did mine.

I slid my hand from her wrist to the back of her neck and gave her plenty of time to move away. She didn’t, so I kissed her.

The way her mouth felt under mine knocked every good intention out of my head. She rose onto her toes, one hand fisted in my shirt, and when I angled my head and kissed her again, she opened her mouth for me.

That was a mistake, but it was a damn good one.

My other arm went around her waist and pulled her against me until there was no space left. She made a soft sound against my mouth that went straight to my cock. I kissed her deeper, tasting coffee and something sweet, while her fingers slid to the back of my neck.

The house disappeared. The storm faded away. So did the fact that she’d be leaving as soon as the roads opened. None of it mattered until my hand found its way under the edge of the sweatshirt to a bare strip of skin. Emmy shivered.

I stopped. Not because I wanted to. Because if I didn’t stop then, I wasn’t sure I could.

Her lips were pink, her breathing uneven. She stared at me. “That was considerably better than the plate thing.”

A laugh came out before I could stop it.

Her eyes widened. “You laughed.”

“I can laugh.”

“Not like that.”

She smiled, and I knew I was in trouble. I didn’t just want to kiss her again. I wanted to wake up tomorrow and find her in my kitchen making fun of my bare mantel. Wanting tomorrow was what scared me.

Her smile faded. “What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s not true.”

I stepped back and looked at the tree. “The roads should open soon.”