Page 96 of I Think He Knows

As her heartbeat moves through me and I feel the heat of her skin against mine, I’m turned upside down and inside out by a realization that hits me square in the chest: I’m not just in love with her. No, a simple ‘love’ isn’t enough. I’m hopelessly, entirely, absolutely, unequivocally, go-to-the-ends-of-the-earth-for-her, head-over-heels in love with Lana Mae Donovan.

She’s all I’ve ever wanted. All I’ll ever want. And I’ll do whatever I need to do to prove that I’m the man who can make her happy. Which means that I no longer need to be nervous about my meeting tomorrow morning. Because the answer’s been there the whole time: If they don’t offer me the part, great. If they do,I can say no.

I don’t need this role to prove myself or my achievements. Those aren’t what’s important.

She is.

Lana Mae looks up and our eyes meet. “Hi,” she whispers.

“Hi, yourself.” I hold her gaze, and then, I take the plunge. “I have a confession to make.”

“Oh?” Her lips part, and I slide a hand along her jaw, running rough fingertips over her smooth, silky skin. If only she knew how many times I’ve thought about running the pad of my thumb over her full bottom lip, coaxing a breathy sigh out of her before my lips find hers…

“I can’t stop thinking about kissing you.”

Lana’s pupils dilate, her pulse hopping erratically as she says, “Me, too.”

“In fact, it’s taken all of my self control over the last couple of days to stop myself from leaning in and doing this…” I brush my lips against hers. She tightens her grip on me, almost reflexively pulling me closer as I kiss her. Her reaction drives the need in me for more—more of this, more of her, more of everything—and our kiss goes from sweet to scalding in mere moments.

My hands move into her golden hair, and she moans into my mouth. I run the tip of my tongue over her bottom lip, eliciting a shiver from her as her lips part. I tilt her head backwards to deepen the kiss. Taste the peaches on her tongue. Pulling her closer still.

I pour everything I have into her with this kiss, communicating everything I possibly can with my touch. Because how can I leave again when everything I’ve ever wanted is right here in front of me?

I love you,my lips say as they move against hers.

I believe you,her breathy gasp replies.

You should,my hands insist as they slide down her arms and find hers. Squeeze.

Everything is more than okay right now.

32

LANA MAE

It’s perfect.

Everything is perfect.

Carter’s hands are on my body and his mouth is on mine and I’m on fire.

But yet, even in the feverish rush of our kiss, he’s watching out for me, checking on me. His hands suddenly find mine, and he squeezes.

It’s a gesture he’s made a million times. The one thing I can always rely on from him to calm me. Center me. Every time.

Yet this time, it almost undoes me.

A sob catches in my throat and he pulls back, his blue eyes flooded with concern.

“Hey, hey, hey.” His voices is low and soothing as he cradles my face and tilts my chin up so I meet his eyes. “What’s wrong? Is it something I did? Did I go too fast or—”

I shake my head in his hands, hot tears pricking at the corners of my eyes that I try—and fail—to blink away in mortification.

“No, you were perfect,” I choke out on a sob, my stupid, stupid tears now blurring my vision. “It’s just…” I trail off as my voice wobbles.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he says softly, his thumbs moving to wipe the tears from under my eyes. His forehead comes to meet mine. “I’m here. Take your time.”

I nod in response, leaning into his touch, and we stand there, my face in his hands, foreheads pressed together, until I finally catch my breath.