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that thought as something he said finally triggered. 
    “You knew I was in love with you.” Embarrassment colored her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes. He inhaled sharply at her words as if it was still news to him. 
    “I didn’t dare to hope,” was all he said, and she gaped at him. It almost sounded as if that was something he would have liked. 
    “Jamison,” Aly started, not sure where she wanted to go with that sentence, but he made that irrelevant anyway since he leaned in, catching her off-guard. 
    She had been kissed before, and she knew she’d be kissed after this, but for Aly, Jam’s kiss was the only one she’d always remember. It was tentative, hesitant, yet the sweetest thing ever. She’d never forget the way his stubble scratched her skin, or the way he tasted like heaven to her, unique in a way no one else had before. 
    Neither had moved much, so she still had her arms wrapped around her legs and he still had his hands buried in his pockets, but she swore she felt him all around her. His scent wrapped around her, making her head swim and her heart soar until he pulled back. It was as if she was tumbling from a cloud or reaching the surface after a deep dive. Aly was confused because one kiss seemed to have transformed her whole world. One kiss made her realize what she was truly missing in her life—a partner to share cold nights and happy moments with. She needed romance, and she hadn’t even realized it.

“We should head back, Alessia,” Jam told her even though it was the last thing he wanted. Their kiss had put him in a kind of bubble where no past existed and no future loomed over the happy horizon. In that bubble, there was only the present; the only time he’d ever allow himself to admit he still wanted her. Maybe even more after seeing her with his son and hearing about the life she had created.
    “Alessia,” she repeated, her own name dripping with venom as if she hated nothing more. He ignored it, getting up. As much as he wanted to help her up, he didn’t trust himself enough not to pull her into his arms right away and hold onto her as if she’d be able to make his world right again.
    They made their whole way in silence, and as much as he was itching to apologize, he didn’t. Aly wouldn’t understand why he was apologizing. The kiss was something he’d never apologize for in a million years, yet she would think that way. The only thing he was sorry for was never having done that when she was still all doe-eyed about him. When their feelings had been innocent and untamed. 
    There was nothing doe-eyed about Alessia Rhyme now.
    “Where are you staying while you’re here?” she finally asked as they reached her house. Jam looked at her, but she didn’t meet his eyes any longer. Her voice was cold and distant.
    “Miss Rome has a spare bedroom, and she told me I could use it. I hadn’t planned on anything else. I didn’t think I’d be staying that long, so my car it was. I can’t exactly pay rent, so she told me I could fix things in her house in exchange for food and a bed.” He shrugged, actually looking forward to some manual labor. He wanted to exhaust his body so he would have a dreamless night. He needed to get Aly out of his system, even if it seemed a futile intention.
    “I need to talk to Dorly. She can’t just take strangers in. What if you’d been a killer? I happen to like that woman.” Aly tried to joke, but the humor got lost since she couldn’t even bring herself to smile.
    “Jamison, why don’t you come over? I need something from the top shelf,” the object of their talk called from the porch next door, waving. 
    Aly laughed quietly, shaking her head. Jam loved seeing her like that. “Come over tonight and hang out with Alessandro. I’m sure he’d love that,” she offered, softening her words with a wink. 
    “I sure can come back here, but remember it will be just you and me then? Do you want that?” He turned to her, looking at her