Page 93 of If It's You

“Maybe.” She begged her eyes not to look at him. But they betrayed her. He slid closer, and she experienced the exhilarating sensation of wanting to shove him off the roof and kiss him at the same time. Her pulse thrummed, and all thoughts of the cold disappeared with the warmth of his arm around her. The contact of their bodies sent a ripple of butterflies through her.

“Your grandmother really likes her romance novels, huh?” Christian asked.

“Uh, yeah. She’s always writing or watching something super cheesy.” Maizie nodded her head one, two, three times. Did she turn into a bobblehead when nervous?

“It must be in her DNA to scheme things like this.” He was so close, the warmth of his breath brushed her lips.

“Like what?” she breathed.

“Like you and me, up here, alone.”

“Please, Grandma knows we hate each other.” Even as she said it, she felt the lack of conviction in her words.

“Really? Because she seemed to know exactly what would happen for me if I came up here with you.” He placed a hand on her waist, and something dangerous erupted inside her.

“And what’s that?” Her words were breathless.

His eyes searched hers. “She knew I’d be tempted to kiss you.”

Maizie’s heart beat rapidly in her ears.

“A-are you?” she stuttered.

He looked away, and Maizie’s heart dropped to her stomach. Maybe if she could just kiss him once, then she could get over this weird excitement she felt whenever she was with him. That’s all it was. It had to be.

“What did my Grandma say to you?”

“What?” He scratched his jaw, looking like he was ready to escape.

She placed a hand under his chin, lifting his face up to hers. “What did she say before she gave me the key?”

He swallowed. “She said no one can see us up here.”

She brushed the welt beneath his eye with the tip of her thumb. “She’s right.” Her eyes met his, then fell to his lips.

Instead of answering, his lips met hers, closing the chasm between love and hate. His lips barely moved against her own, but it didn’t stop her heart from racing. His hands encircled her waist, and she fell into him as he deepened the kiss.

The fireworks had completely disappeared, and all that was left was him. This moment. No kiss had ever felt like this.

She let out a soft moan and found his lips again, matching his intensity with her kiss.

He pulled back abruptly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

“W-what?” Maizie fell back, confusion filling the space between them.

Christian pulled at his collar and looked around. “I’m sorry. I came to the farm because I was running away from all my problems. I didn’t want to make more. I want—”

“I’m a problem?” The blood boiled in her veins until all she saw was red.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Christian reached for her hand, but she pulled it away.

Her eyes were cold and narrowed, and she refused to feel anything even if it killed her. She stood on shaky legs and headed for the ladder. “I know exactly what you meant. And I think we have finally agreed on something. You’ve brought nothing but problems here.” She took a steadying breath before she lost it.

“No, Maizie. I just meant that I didn’t want it to happen like this,” he said, following close behind.

Did he think he was helping his case here?

“Just stop.” She turned on him with a glare she’d never realized she was capable of before now. “That kiss meant nothing. It was all a game. The same game we’ve been playing since you got here.”