Sapphires and Secrets by Katerina Simms

Author:Katerina Simms [Simms, Katerina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paper Planes

Twenty-Two

“I’ll take it.”

Blaine’s tone held a solid edge of finality, those three short words unashamedly direct within the open space of his workshop. He stepped up to her, his palm landing on her overly hot cheek, making her heart thunder in her chest. “I’ll take you, and whatever it is you say is making you an ‘impulsive mess.’ I want the mess, Emilia.” His irises lit up like lime citrine caught in the sun, the skin around his eyes creasing with a smile. “Besides, you didn’t do all that much leading the other night.”

An inescapable wobble took over her mouth, and a broken sort of laugh rushed through the taut muscles in her throat. “I’m pretty sure you saved my life the other day, and all I did was flip out on you. I should have let you stay. I should have canceled my plans with Ally. Should have let you talk. I don’t know why I—”

“You’ve had enough on your plate with your move and the accident.” His thumb continued its gentle brush over her cheek, that simple gesture enough to make time stand still.

Another laugh burst free of her. He didn’t know the half of what filled “her plate,” though she couldn’t blame him for his ignorance, not when there was so much she kept unsaid. “My faith in men is rotten to the core.”

He held a stillness she only wished she could have too, but all he said was, “I’ve figured that much.”

Her thoughts darkened, and she focused on the dip at the base of his throat. “Sarah told me about the breakup. I’m sorry.”

When she lifted her attention, his gaze didn’t meet hers, the strain on his face returning. “I didn’t want to hurt her.”

“I don’t think you did, not really. She’s smart enough to know that sometimes you have to disappoint others, no matter how unintended. In fact, she said pretty much exactly that. It’s a lesson I should have mastered a long time ago. Also, she said something else.” Emilia lifted her hand and pressed her palm over the wide expanse of his chest, the soft fibers of his shirt and his warmth slowing the fevered rhythm of her heart. “She wants you to be happy.”

Blaine gave a slow nod, his focus flicking back up to her. “And I want her to have the same.”

“Also…” Acute awareness rippled over her skin, a tingling that felt like an electric current bringing attention to every inch of her body. Now that Blaine had forgiven her, it was her turn to take a chance. “She wants us to be together.”

His sharp stare narrowed as if his emotions balanced on a knife’s edge. “And your thoughts on that are?”

She sighed, her own emotions teetering on a precipice, one that lead to an almighty fall into unforgiving, stony territory. How many more chances could this relationship take? There wasn’t any room for her to fail Blaine again, but she couldn’t promise she wouldn’t fail, either way. Not with all the chaos in her life.

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