Page 23 of Into The Rabbit Hole

Taylor gazed up at him and felt the warmth of that feeling she’d only felt withhim.

“Thank you,” she breathed, sincerely appreciating hissupport.

“How are you holding up?” Concern spread across his fine features and deepened when she shook her head. “I should have come bybefore.”

“It’s okay.” She pressed her lips together and looked away as she felt close to tears again. Every time Wes had seen her lately she’d been crying. She didn’t want to do itagain.

Warmth seeped into her heart when he reached out and touched her face. She returned her gaze to him and now found herself lost in the deep hues of brown in hiseyes.

There was no mistake about her growing feelings for him, none whatsoever. What she had to be mindful of was that she was always being watched, and anyone who got close to her could be in danger. At that thought, she stepped back and tried not to look too panicked. “I shouldn’t. Youshouldn’t.”

“Why not?” His cheeksflushed.

“It’s not safe to be around me.” She shook her head. “If you know everything, you know it’s not safe. They’ll, whoever this person is, will come for anyone I careabout.”

It was the classic strategy. To hurt the people you were targeting, hurt their loved ones and anyone they cared about. That was the worst punishment. She’d never done anything to anyone, but that didn’t matterhere.

If anyone was watching her and Wes now, they would be able to see quite clearly that they looked more like a couple than anythingelse.

“You care about me?” he asked, completely glossing over everything else she cautionedabout.

“Wes, I just said you could be indanger.”

“I don’t care about that.” His lips slid up into a soft smile and he held her gaze. “Taylor, do you care aboutme?”

“Yes,” she replied, feeling her own cheeks flushnow.

“Is that in a cupid, adorable, teddy bear sort of caring way? No one wants to see something happen to cupid, or an adorable teddybear.”

Humor, always with the humor. “How can you joke so easily?” She couldn’t help the smile that played on the corners of hermouth.

“It helps. So, Taylor, in what way do you care about me?” The seriousness returned to his face. He looked at her as if he was desperate to know, to hear heranswer.

“I…like you. A lot. I know I’m so far below yourleague.”

She paused for a moment to think about what she just said. She’d never thought that about herself before. Probably because the men she tended to date had about the same academic background as her. She’d gone to UCLA to study fashion, barely attended the classes that interested her because she was always tending to her Kappa Alpha Theta events and other sororitymatters.

Things like having a strong academic background didn’t matter when you were the daughter of a renowned fashion mogul and a Vanderville. Men flocked to her in hoards and she’d never worried about impressing anyone. Untilnow.

The man before her was so intelligent just looking at him and speaking to him made her want to make sure she pronounced her wordsright.

A surprised laugh escaped his lips and it nearly threw her off her confidence a little. Her skin warmed and she felt her face go hotter. Of course it would. She’d just told him she liked him a lot, then drew attention to herflaws.

He was probably thinking of how far below him she was. Maybe that’s why helaughed.

She frowned and moved to go, but he caught her arm and pulled her back towards him. Before her next words could form in her mind, he smoothed his hand across her cheek, bringing her closer so he could lower to herlips.

The connection stunned her soul. If she thought she’d ever felt anything for anyone when she was kissed before, or if she thought she was in love previously, what she felt just then eradicated everything before thatmoment.

It was difficult to describe, but she would have to say that it felt like a new life force had entered her body, filling it with pure, raw happiness. It was like receiving oxygen after being deprived of it, air into her lungs revitalizing her being. The energy from the kiss rushed over her body, rushing over her skin, seeping through its layers and making its way to every fiber of her being, every cell that formed her, everything that washer.

She melted against his chest where he held her, and even that produced its owneffect.

When he pulled back, she gazed up at him, searching his eyes. He continued to hold her, and it was a good thing, too, because she didn’t think she’d have the strength to stand on her own, and definitely not when he was looking at her likethat.

As if he thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world and he wantedher.

“I like you, too, a lot. The joke is totally on me. You couldn’t possibly think you’re below my league.” He narrowed his eyes ather.