Page 56 of His Surrender

Lincoln snorts into his drink while I notice that Sawyer is watching me far too carefully.

“I was wondering when someone else was going to say it,” Sawyer says.

I stare at all three of them. “You’re out of your minds.”

“Really?” Roman asks. “You stopped breathing when she touched you.”

“I did not.”

“You absolutely did,” Walker says, grinning.

Jessie elbows him.

“I’m just making an observation,” he defends.

Sawyer leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Dean.”

I look at him.

“When she touched your chest”—he raises an eyebrow— “you looked like someone had unplugged your brain.”

A laugh ripples through the room … but mine never comes.

I replay the last thirty seconds in my head.

The warmth of her hand and how it felt like my pulse had slammed against my ribs. How much I wanted her to stay. Not because she is Liana’s nanny, but because I wanted her here—with me.

My stomach drops.

Oh hell. They’re right.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

AUBREY

I’m not a violent person, but for the past fifteen minutes, I’ve been staring at the wall, wondering if maybe I can bang the memory out.

What the hell was I thinking, rubbing my hand on his chest like that? That’s such an intimate gesture, and I went to town on him in front of everyone like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ugh …

I roll out of bed and begin to pace back and forth.

This is ridiculous. I need to do something to distract myself. There’s a pool here in the building. Maybe I could go for a swim or sit in the hot tub.

That’s it. That’s what I’ll do.

I open the drawer of my dresser and pull out the hot-pink two-piece bathing suit that Sydney bought for me for spring break. She surprised me by throwing away all of my one-pieces and replacing them with this.

After I have the scraps of fabric tied in all the right places, I throw a black swimsuit coverup over it and grab my phone. I assume this place provides some kind of towel service for what they likely charge their tenants to live here.

I stand by the door and take a deep breath as I gather the courage to walk back out in front of everyone who just witnessed me humiliate myself.

Maybe they won’t even notice.

Just as I step out, a loud chorus of laughter erupts in the family room. They are all still sitting on the couches with their drinks.

Hopefully, they don’t wake Liana.