Page 113 of Contentious

“That might make things worse.”

“How’s that?”

“That’s a story for another time. How about I get you that sandwich?”

“Don’t go yet.” He gave her hand a tug that had her inching closer and sighing with pleasure when he wrapped his arms around her. How did he smell so good after spending a week in the hospital? “Talk to me.”

Cresley took a moment to collect her thoughts while wallowing in the pleasure that came from having his arms around her. It was hard to concentrate with him so close and when she could hear the strong beat of his heart, something she’d never again take for granted. “I keep thinking about what we were doing before the floodlights came on that night.”

“I recall some rather excellent kissing.”

“Do you remember when I told you that if you wanted out, you needed to go?”

“I do, and I didn’t leave.”

“Right.”

“Did you want me to?”

“No, and that’s sort of the problem. We keep getting more involved when you said you didn’t want that, and I’m worried that you’re going to suddenly change your mind and⁠—”

He tipped her chin up, compelling her to look at him. “I’m not going to change my mind.”

“If you’re looking for something casual, this isn’t feeling like that for me.”

He caressed her face with the light brush of his fingertips. “How’s it feeling?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to speak the truth. “Significant. Important. Big.”

“If it makes you feel any better, it’s the same for me.”

“It is?”

He nodded. “Even more so than it was before I got hurt, and that was pretty big. But the way you’ve shown up for me every day since, and I don’t think that was just because you felt like it was your fault…”

“It wasn’t. Of course it wasn’t. But, Carson, you were pretty adamant about wanting to steer clear of things like entanglements with single moms who have adorable seven-year-old sons. You’ve been so upset about Julian settling in with Isla and her kids…”

“It’s a complicated topic for me and my siblings.”

“For good reason.”

“When I said what I did to you the night of the premiere, I want you to know that I meant every word about there being no way I’d ever get into something serious with anyone, let alone a single mom.”

“Ouch.”

He tightened his hold on her so she couldn’t escape. “I’m not finished.”

“It’s fine. Really. You don’t owe me anything. In fact, it’s the other way around. If you hadn’t been there that night, I might’ve gone outside to see what he wanted and met the wrong end of his knife.”

“If I saved you from that, it was well worth getting stabbed.”

“Don’t say that!”

“It’s true. And what I wanted to add is that things have changed for me since that first night when I said that.”

“What’s changed?” she asked, feeling breathless.

“Everything.”