Page 33 of Stopping Short

His brows raise and a smirk slowly spreads across his lips. He watches me with amusement dancing in his eyes. He looks so adorable and it just makes me angrier.

“Are you saying this is awkward because I'm… cute?”

“I mean cute isn’t the word I would use.” I roll my eyes at the childish term.

“Oh, then please enlighten me. What word would you use?” His tongue peeks out and wets his bottom lip, drawing my attention away from his eyes.

“Handsome? Attractive?” I meet his gaze again and he arches his brow, silently calling me out. “I don’t know! Hot? Sexy? Any of those words would be my choice long before I’d use cute.”

“Man, Harper Bradley thinks I'm hot and sexy,” he murmurs more to himself than to me.

“Stop it!” I swat at his chest, making him chuckle. He takes my hand in his free hand and lifts my fingers to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles.

“So, is it more or less awkward now that I know you think I'm drool-worthy?” His eyes twinkle with mischief, making it impossible for me to hide my grin.

“I think I should go back to Pittsburgh and take my chances with Evan.” I try to push off of him, but he wraps both arms around me and locks me against his chest.

“Nah, that’s not happening. I’ll lock you in my house before I’ll let you go back to Pittsburgh alone.”

“More awkward,” I whisper.

“Well, it shouldn’t be. I think you’re hot.” He lifts his shoulder in a shrug like this isn’t a big deal.

“Oh, yeah. I'm sure.” I roll my eyes, refusing to meet his gaze. I know he’s just saying this to make me feel better, but it doesn’t. It makes me feel like even more of a loser to get a pity compliment.

“Look at me,” Jackson whispers.

“No.”

Before I even know what’s happening, I'm flipped onto my back and Jackson is hovering over me. His face only a few inches from mine. He’s staring into my eyes with so many emotions playing in his features.

“Let me make one thing completely clear to you, babe. I’ve always been drawn to you. Even when we were younger. You’ve always been special to me. Do you know why I dropped everything and begged Owen to give me the weekend off to see you?”

I shake my head, knowing I won't be able to find my voice. At this point, I'm shocked I even have control over my head movements. My mind is spinning with him being so close and from the things he’s saying.

Maybe I'm dreaming. I’m still in his car and we’re still driving home from Pittsburgh. This is all a crazy dream and when I wake up, we’ll still be friends with no hope of anything else ever happening between us.

“I had this entire weekend planned out. We’d have tons of fun, then I’d take you out for dinner. I was going to tell you I was in love with you and beg you to give me a chance.”

My eyes widen with his words. There’s no way Jackson’s in love with me. This really has to be a dream. A really good one. One I don’t want to wake up from.

“Evan ruined all of that when he told me you were engaged… and when I punched him… and when he kept showing up at your place. He’s a huge annoyance.” He frowns to himself like he’s just realizing how frustrating Evan really is. “But that doesn’t matter. After you came to my hotel room and explained everything, the plan was still in place, but I chickened out.”

“Why?” The single word squeaks out of me.

“Well, I felt like Evan ruined everything and our weekend started off pretty rocky.” He swallows hard as he continues to watch me. “But more than anything, I laid eyes on this amazing woman. She was so far out of my league and I figured I didn’t have a shot with her. There’s no way she’d want me. She probably has dozens of guys trying to get her attention.”

“She doesn’t,” I whisper. “But even if she did, she’d pick you every time.”

“I find that hard to believe.” He rolls his eyes.

“Which part?” I slip my hand around to the back of his neck and toy with the hair at the nape of his neck.

“All of it.”

“That’s dumb.”

“Yeah, well… I was kinda caught off guard by how stunning you were.”