Page 62 of On the Plus Side
The tips of James’s ears glowed a bright red to match the flush in his cheeks. “I’m gonna—” He scratched at his head for a moment. “I’m gonna go.”
He retreated toward the break room before Everly had a chance to respond. Which was fine, because she had no idea what to say.
Her insides swam, making her a little queasy. How had she never noticed that he was more interested in her help than anything else? How had she thought they were friends? Even withOn the Plus Side,he didn’t nominate her because he knew she loved the show. He did it to squash her feelings for him.
Everly was beginning to think that maybe she shouldn’t regret that kiss with James. Maybe it had needed to happen so she could see him more clearly.
She faced Logan. “You’re grumpier than usual. And that’s saying something, since you’re usually a ten on the grump-o-meter.”
“How do you expect me to act when you kiss me like that, then run away?” His gaze drilled into her. Apparently, it was time to get to the point.
Everly’s heart jammed into her throat. Kissing someone when you weren’t 100 percent certain they felt the same was a lot like showing a first draft of a drawing to someone. Raw and scary and way too revealing. She braced her hands on the desk as if they were the only thing keeping her from plummeting.
“Like what?”
“Spectacularly.”
Her surprised laugh filled the room. Her mother would have been mortified by her reaction, would have thought it was too much, too loud. But Logan only watched Everly quietly. The same way he always did.
She brushed her fingers over her keyboard, the soft clicks soothing. “I’m sorry I ran.”
“I thought you regretted it.”
Her head snapped toward him. “No way. It was how much Ididn’tregret it, actually. It scared me.” Their eyes met, and she tried to mirror the steadiness of his stare. “Youscare me.”
He frowned, a wrinkle appearing in his forehead. Her fingers itched to smooth it away. “Why?”
“You’ve been here this whole time. You’ve heard my mom talk about me, heard about what happened after my grandmother died, seen what a complete mess I can be. I can’t really hide from you.”
“You’re funny. You’re quick. You’re beau—” He stopped himself. “Striking. There’s absolutely nothing you need to hide.”
Goose bumps trailed up and down Everly’s arms. Everywhere his eyes touched her, shivers danced across her skin.
She didn’t know how to explain what it meant to her that he saw her so clearly. Not with words, at least.
He seemed to share the sentiment. Giving the empty room a furtive glance, he nodded to her desk. “Can I come back there?”
“Please.” Another shiver chased through her.
She didn’t have time to get up from her chair before his palms had cupped her face. They were warm and soft and smelled like evergreen.
His thumbs slipped under her chin to tilt her head up, so he could fit his mouth over hers.
Everly’s fingers dragged through the bristles of his beard. A groan shuddered at the back of his throat when she gave his facial hair a soft pull.
Their kiss deepened, and his whole body leaned into her, as if she were a magnet and every part of him were made of metal.
And this time, no one ran away.
CHAPTER 20
The storefront of Kisses and Hugs looked like the entrance to every boutique Everly had been afraid to step into her entire life.
Sleek, modern signage affixed to a pristine white building on Newbury Street. High, plate-glass windows that caught the sun’s rays. In each one, mannequins were displayed in loose, floral midi dresses; high-waisted, straight-legged jeans with strategically placed tears; cropped T-shirts; strands of beaded necklaces and bracelets; body-con dresses; wide-legged linen trousers over tightly fitted bodysuits. Around them, antique furniture functioned as stands for hats, pendant necklaces, scarves, and other accessories.
But unlike in those other shops, these mannequins were Everly’s size, and some of them were her shape. Everything in this store would fit her.
Her hands trembled hard enough to hurt as she stared at the entrance. Shaking them out, she fisted her fingers and pressed them to her thighs.
