Page 46 of Things We Hide from the Light

Lina dropped her arms to her sides and let out a sound of aggravation. “Now, how’s a girl supposed to hold a grudge against the whole broody, wounded hero routine?”

“I’m hopin’ she can’t,” I admitted.

She drew in a breath and let it out. “Fine. Iamin town looking for something.” She held up a finger in my direction when I opened my mouth. “I didn’t come here because someone put a bullet or two in you. I’m looking for something someone stole from a client. A couple of leads pointed me in this direction.Nolan and I crossed paths years ago on a different job. I didn’t know he was in town and vice versa.”

“Are you planning to cross paths with him while you’re both here?”

There was about two feet of space between us and I swear I felt the air crackle like lightning was about to strike.

“I’m wondering why you would think that was your business,” she said.

“I’ll tell you if you say you accept my apology.”

“Fine. Apology accepted.”

“You’re quick,” I observed.

“Quit stalling,” she ordered.

“I’m gonna be honest here and you’re probably not gonna like it.”

“Only one way to find out.”

“I like stirring you up. I provoked you, and for that I’m mostly sorry,” I admitted.

“Why?”

“Why am I sorry?”

“No. Much as you acted like it this morning and tonight, you’re not an idiot. You know I could be a scary neighbor to piss off. Why did you provoke me?” she asked.

“You make me feel things. And after going long enough without feeling anything, feeling something—even if it’s anger or adrenaline—is better than the nothing.”

The spark of light in her eyes turned to a smolder.

I took a slow step toward her. “Every time I’m near you, every time you laugh or look at me like you’re looking right now or get pissed off, I feel something.”

“What kind of something?”

I took another step and closed the distance between us.

“Good,” I said, taking a chance and cupping my hands loosely around her biceps. She didn’t pull away. “Though to be honest,good is pretty much anything other than what I’ve been feeling. I might be working up the courage to fight for the right to stay close. I can’t do that if you’ve got another man in your bed.”

She pursed her lips and considered. “There’s no one occupying that space at the moment,” she said finally.

“Does it bother you when I touch you?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “I take it Knox opened his big mouth?”

“He may have mentioned you had a problem.”

“Yet here you are with your hands on me,” she pointed out. “Pretty ballsy of you.”

“My brother was surprised you’d let me get this close to you with said balls attached. It got me wondering. What if?”

“What if what?”

“What if you like me touching you as much as I like touching you?”