Page 30 of Perfect Liar

“What is Eastridge?”

“The name of my family house.”

I nodded.

“And how long will you give me to consider it?”

“There’s no time for that. I want your answer by morning.”

Time.

I closed my eyes, and the word echoed through my head. The thought of anything beyond that moment overwhelmed me. I didn’t want to think about the future yet.

His fingertip traced over the butterfly-shaped birthmark on my neck.

“What’s this?”

His touch was so unexpected my eyes flew open.

“It’s a butterfly. I mean, the shape is, but it’s a birthmark.”

He traced over it again, sending shivers along my spine.

“It’s not a butterfly,” he said.

He moved his fingertip away from it, gently pulling it over my cheek, stopping on my bottom lip. His gaze met mine. He removed his finger…and replaced it with a soft kiss.

I reached up and touched his cheek.

“Do it again, Will.”

But he didn’t kiss me again.

No, he abruptly sat upright and gave me his back.

“Goddamn it. Go back into your room and stay there.”

“What? No.”

He lowered his head into his hands.

“I said go inside.”

I got up and took my time folding the blanket.

He didn’t move, but I understood what he would do next, so I went inside and stared at my stupid fucking bed again.

The door between us stood wide open.

He can just close it himself…when he locks me in.

CHAPTER 9

Will sprinted along the shoreline on his way back to the house.

He came up the hill and kept his back to me while crouching with his elbows on his thighs. The muscles in his back expanded and contracted as he caught his breath.

For whatever reason, seeing him like that set me off.