Though it takes every bit of willpower I possess, I pull back. “Of course you’re a dreamgirl.” I keep my tone light. “Every girl is someone’s dream, right?”
“Oh.” She blinks, the gorgeous lust-filled haze leaving her eyes. “Oh, I thought you meant …”
I do mean it, I think at her. She’s the only one for me. She’s a fantasy come to life.
She puts a hand to my chest and pushes gently. “I guess I should get back to it. Thanks for coming to check on me.” Her tone is dull and soft.
I obey her touch and move back. Agony shoots through me. I hate that she’s looking down, that she’s doubting herself this very second because of me. Shit. I have to fix this.
“Hey, I have an idea.”
“Oh?” She doesn’t look up.
“Come over to my place, and you can practice on my door--in the shade--while I get a locksmith out here to fix yours. Okay?”
“You don’t have to--”
“I want to.” I take her hand. “That--just now? That was real, okay? You’re special to me. Never doubt that. I’m just going through some stuff right now. That’s all.”
She doesn’t pull away. Just the touch of her hand is like a cooling balm on my soul. I want her so badly that I’m quaking on the inside, but I have to put her needs first.
I’m desperate to see her light again. “Come on, I’ll even rescue your pick from the spiders’ lair.”
“You’d do that for me?” She finally rewards me with a view of her beautiful eyes.
“I’d do anything for you, Jamie.” I mean every word. I always will.
Her lips curve, a smile returning. “Okay. I think that’s a good plan. Maybe it’ll be better for me to work on a strange lock anyway. More of a challenge, right?”
“Right.” I squeeze her fingers, then lead her to my back yard.
As we step up onto my porch, I hear a car engine start in the alleyway behind our houses. “Hang on.” I dart down the stairs and out to the white fence where the wild roses bloom by the lane.
A black car disappears at the end of the street, and I can’t make out a license plate.
I was right. Someone was watching. And my gut tells me that someone wants to hurt Jamie. My hands fist.
“Silas?” she calls. “What is it?”
“Nothing.” I return to her with a promise in my heart. No one will hurt my dreamgirl. I’ll spill a river of blood if necessary, and the person in the black car? They’ve already signed their death warrant. I’ll be coming for them. Soon.
10
Jamie
I fiddle with Silas’s lock and get nowhere. I’m in worse condition here than I was at my own place. With him so close, I can’t think straight. At least over here his back door is shaded and I’m protected from the setting sun. One plus. Oh, and I get to look at him.
I’m just going through some stuff right now.
I drop the pick again. I’m going through a lot of stuff, too. People are dying around me! I’d told him that we weren’t a good idea right now. So why does it hurt so much when he says it back to me? I snatch the pick back up and try again. I push harder this time, taking my anger out on the lock. Still nothing.
Gah, it sucks, the first time I’m really into someone and the timing isn't right for either of us. He isn't even running for the hills when I explode into a mess. He gives me that soft sweet smile like he thinks I’m adorable instead of crazy. That’s a new one for me.
He might just be a nice guy and feeling bad for me. I noticed he didn't go into details about what his stuff is. Which only makes me think he doesn’t want to share those things with me. I told him all of mine. He also didn't deny his date. He changed the subject. What was up with that?
“Any luck?” he asks hopefully.
“Not yet.” I blow my hair out of my eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” I let out a frustrated sigh. It's partly due to the fact that I can’t get the lock to click open, but also because I can’t seem to figure him out either.
“You’ve been at it for a while. Maybe you should try again tomorrow.” My first thought is that he’s trying to get rid of me so he can get ready for his date. Who kisses someone as though they were starved for them and then goes out with someone else? I know I shouldn’t be jealous, but it takes root inside of me. I hate it. When I saw Trevor was dating other girls, I was excited about him moving on. With Silas, not so much. I know people can date more than one person at a time, but this stinks.
“I guess I can go back to my place and wait for the locksmith. Hopefully, he gets here soon and can get me inside quickly.” I get to my feet, well aware that I’m never picking this lock. “It’s getting late and I need time to get ready for my date.”
I toss that lie out there while giving him my sweetest smile. It’s childish to lie, but I don’t want him to think I’m sitting alone at home while he’s out doing whatever it is with his date. I look up at him just in time to see the small tick in his jaw. Why does he have to be so handsome? Of course he has a date. So no harm in pretending I have one, too.
“I was coming to tell you that the locksmith called and is running really late. He’s not even sure he’ll be able to make it today.”
“Oh.” I bite the inside of my mouth. What the hell am I going to do now? I don’t even have my wallet, so I can’t get a hotel or something. I’m going to have to call my dad. I inwardly groan.
“Are you hungry?”
“Hungry?” I ask, confused. I look over at my house.
“Yeah, food.” He grabs my hand, drawing my attention back to him.
“No, I’m not hungry.” I pull my hand back. “I’m going to call my dad. See if he can come get me.” I’ll never hear the end of this.
He snags my hand again.
“Don’t pull away, Jamie.” He gives my hand a tug. I fall into him.
He smiles down at me almost wolfishly. “I never said I had a date. You did.”
“You can have a date,” I rush to say. I can feel my face heating already. And it’s not just my face.
He tucks one of my curls behind my ear.
“Why would I go on a date with someone? Do I kiss you like I want to date someone else?” He leans down closer to me. His warm breath grazes my lips. I shake my head.
I don’t understand his kisses. They do things to me. They make me feel things I’ve never felt before.
“Did you really think I was going to be okay with you going on a date?”
“You seemed unbothered by it.” I try to toss the words out there nonchalantly, so naturally they sound rushed and irritated.
His lips twitch. It’s the same smile he gives me when I’m being a total nutcase.
“You can’t go on the date, Jamie.”
I don’t know why, but I feel the need to push. “I can do whatever I want.” I tilt my chin up, trying to be defiant. All I actually do is brush my mouth against his.
“How are you going to do that when you don't have his number anymore?” I start to reach into my pocket, but he pulls me more into him. “You’ll never find it.” He took it. When and how did he do that?