His neck burned with self-consciousne
ss. Was she implying he couldn’t handle it? “Yeah, I know.”
“Well, let me know if you need help with anything.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She bumped her hip against him. “You’re right.”
Maybe she did think he could handle it. Maybe she saw something in him. “Am I?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “It is an amazing view.”
Ah. Of course. He leaned against the railing and took it in, aware of her arm only a millimeter away from his. When goose bumps swept up her skin, he had the perfect excuse to hook her arm into his and ease her closer. A whisper of a breeze swept her hair from her neck.
“I’m glad you brought me out here,” she whispered. “But we forgot to search out Victor.”
“He saw us.”
“He did? Do you think he could tell?”
He slid his thumb along her wrist. “Oh, he could tell.”
“But how?”
Jamie met her questioning eyes. She looked absolutely puzzled, and he felt simultaneously amused and dumbfounded. “Your mouth,” he said, letting his gaze fall to her lips. “Your eyes.”
She shook her head as if she didn’t understand.
Jamie smiled. “You looked aroused,” he clarified.
The muscles of her arm jumped as a blush washed over her face. “I don’t know… I’m sure that…” When she started to pull away, Jamie wrapped his fingers into hers and held her still.
“There’s nothing wrong with arousal, Olivia. Is there?”
“I just—” She shook her head again, and when she pulled away, he let her go. “I don’t even know you.”
Alarm sparked in her wide eyes. She didn’t seem to know that it was part of the excitement. Part of what had made her cheeks flush and her lips soften when he’d kissed her. “It’s chemistry,” he murmured. “Nothing to do with common sense. The opposite of it, in fact.”
“Chemistry,” she murmured. Her eyes flickered, traveling down his body, and Jamie felt those chemical reactions begin to burn again. Her mouth curved up on one side, before she shook her head and banished her smile. “Well, thank you.”
“For the chemistry?”
“For playing along.”
He was playing, all right, but it wasn’t a part. Still, if that helped her feel better about it, Jamie could let it go.
“Can I get you another glass of wine?”
“No, I think we can go now.” She winked. “Your work here is done.”
“Olivia—”
“Thank you again. For everything. But I think you should just take me home.”
Jamie sighed. That didn’t sound like an invitation. But at least he’d gotten a kiss. He’d bring her an apple on Thursday and see where it went from there.
CHAPTER FIVE