Cross the Line (Lights Out, #1)

by Simone Soltani

But soon enough, Oakley will be gone, and the only thing holding me back from doing anything ill-advised will be myself. And I’ve never been known for my self-control.

“Hey, you said you liked them, right? Why wouldn’t I do something that makes you happy?” He drags a hand through his hair, his focus trained on me. “You’re doing me a huge favor, so this is nothing in comparison.”

“I should take a picture of this haul and send it to Mark,” I threaten weakly, but my brain is too busy repeating, He bought two hundred macarons because you said you liked them.

“You really have been obsessed with me forever.”

I can’t believe he’s throwing that in my face right now. I’m pretty sure my jaw is hanging open. Never have I wished more that I hadn’t let the tequila loosen my lips that night. Maybe we do need to have another conversation about this, because I’ll die of embarrassment before we can even begin to fix his reputation if he keeps this up. I’m about to scold him, but then Dev says, “Good thing it’s mutual.”

I shouldn’t have missed her as much as I did, but the week apart felt more like a month. And, admittedly, like a little part of me was missing the whole time. She’s only been back in my life for a matter of weeks, and yet she’s managed to brush the edges of my every thought. By the time we go our separate ways at the end of the summer, I’m worried she’ll have taken over completely.

I don’t want to ruin Willow’s career before it gets off the ground. The world is cruel to women in a way I’ll never fully understand, but if she got involved with me, it would follow her for the rest of her life. I can’t jeopardize that, no matter how much I want her.

It’s not like I plan to break Willow’s heart if we got involved, but I’m not a fortune teller. I can’t read the stars or predict the future. But if I had to choose between hurting her and never racing again, I’d walk away from F1 in a heartbeat.

We both know what we want. What we need. The only question is whether we’re reckless enough to go after it.

“If this is such a bad idea,” he says, his voice tight, “then tell me why I want to kiss you again. Why I can’t get you out of my head. Why, every time I see you anywhere near another man, I want to drag him away from you and make sure he never comes close to you again. Tell me, Willow. Tell me why I feel that way.”

Being with Dev in any form means opening myself up to another chance at heartbreak. I can’t imagine he’d ever cheat like Jeremy did, but I also can’t imagine being his forever first choice. Now that his reputation is repaired, he can have any woman he wants, so why would he settle for me?

“But just know that I’ll be here waiting, because I know exactly what I want—and it’s you.”

Fuck. Right now, I need to be the joyful brother of the bride, not the moping lovesick puppy who’s just been kicked by reality. But man, this is miserable.

My only goal is to find Willow. Now that I know there’s a chance we can truly be together, to not end up separated in the way we expected, I’m desperate to talk to her about it. But will she go for it?

“What’s wrong?” “You’re going to think I’m crazy,” he says. “But you make me nervous, Willow Williams.” “Me?” I have to scoff. “Why?” “Because I’m so in love with you that it hurts.”

it’s knowing that I get to have you with me through all of this that really takes the cake,” he murmurs, dipping his head so his lips ghost over mine. “I couldn’t do this without you, Willow. Any of it. Not after I discovered what it feels like to love you and be loved by you in return. It’s what gives me strength. You are my strength.”