Page 112 of The Holiday Clause

He stripped off her socks so he could better work his knuckles into the tight tendons of her feet. “You have the tiniest toes.”

“They’re horrible little sausages.”

“I love sausage.” He lifted her foot to take a bite, and she squeaked, pulling her leg to her chest. He laughed and continued massaging.

For several minutes, they said nothing, but soon enough, her curiosity got to her. “What did you tell Soren?”

He wouldn’t meet her stare. “I told him it was over between you two.”

“He yelled at me.”

Greyson stilled, the flames from the fire reflecting in his eyes when he looked at her. “What?”

“At the parade. In front of everyone.”

“I’ll kill him?—“

“Greyson, don’t. He was upset because of the way we handled everything. It was wrong.”

“That doesn’t give him the right to yell at you.”

“He’s hurt.”

His eyes rolled with little sympathy. “That’s not an excuse. Soren needs to accept reality.”

She lowered her gaze. “He’s not the only one.”

He tugged her leg. “Hey, what does that mean? I told you I was ready. I’m all in, Wren.”

She reluctantly met his stare. “I meant me. I think you were right. It’s safer if we’re just friends.”

“I don’t want to be your friend anymore. I told you that.”

“I know, but?—”

“But nothing.” He tugged her leg, pulling her until she lay flat on her back, then he pinned her down. “I’m ready to talk.”

Her brain ached from overthinking. “I don’t feel like talking anymore, Grey.” She softly touched his cheek, and he studied her.

“Acting like our feelings don’t exist isn’t going to make them go away. Trust me.”

“Is that what you did, pretended your feelings for me didn’t exist?”

“Longer than I care to admit. And all it did was make them grow stronger.”

She smiled. “Yesterday, when I felt like everything was falling apart, do you know what I wanted?”

“What?”

“One of your hugs.”

His arms tightened around her like a protective cocoon. “You can always come to me, Wren.”

That wasn’t true. She couldn’t go to him when her issues centered on him. “You were right. The whole town’s gossiping about me.”

“I get no satisfaction out of hearing that.”

He trailed his fingers from her neck to her cheekbone, making it difficult to think clearly. The roughness of hisfingertips against her skin sent tingles racing along every nerve ending. When he brushed his lips over hers, she didn’t have the strength to resist him.