Chapter 36
thirty-six
QUYNH
“ Q uynh. Let me up.”
She tried to suppress the shiver going through her at the sound of his low voice. With a deep breath to steady her nerves, she pressed the button quickly before she could change her mind. She heard the faint click as the lock disengaged.
Oh, God. He was really here. What do I do?
Quynh bit her short nails and paced the small walkway. She lived on the third floor, so it would take Griffin some time to find her apartment. She was thankful for the extra time, using it to take deep breaths and shake the tremor from her hands, hoping to calm her racing heart.
Suddenly, she realized how disheveled she appeared.
Her hair was a hopeless mess of tangles on top of her head.
She was in the most unattractive outfit she owned—an oversized sweatshirt riddled with holes that drowned her petite frame.
A relic from her nursing school days. Her stained sweatpants hung loosely around her hips.
Unfortunately, it was much too late to make herself presentable.
She was not expecting visitors. At least she remembered to brush her teeth this morning.
All too soon, there was a loud knock on the door, making her jump. The sound seemed to echo in her otherwise quiet apartment.
It was now or never. Time to face the music. The impending encounter sent a jolt of adrenaline through her, making her heart hammer against her ribs with a frantic rhythm.
Another loud knock at the door made her jump, and her muscles tensed. She padded toward the door on socked feet. Her shaky hands, trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation, were inches from the deadbolt when another, more forceful knock rattled the door frame, making her jump back.
“Alright, alright!” So impatient. She let out a puff of air in annoyance as she unlocked the door and yanked it open.
Nothing could have prepared her for what came next.
Standing in front of her was her grumpy mechanic.
He looked worse for wear, with his tousled hair and unkempt beard.
She never saw him look so tired before and briefly wondered what put the bags under his eyes.
Come to think of it, he seemed to have lost a bit of weight.
Still, she thought he looked like an absolute snack. And she was starving. Quynh took a moment to feast her eyes on the sight gracing her doorstep.
“Quynh. You’re drooling.”
Her head whipped back in indignation.
She was not drooling.
“I was not drooling!” Her face heated when she realized he was joking.
God, it was so good to see his grumpy face light up as a small smile stretched across his face.
A smile she caused. It did dangerous things to her heart and made her want to jump into his arms and profess her undying love and devotion to him.
“Are you going to let me in?” His eyebrow quirked up at the question. Though she didn’t kid herself into thinking she had a choice in the matter. She knew if she didn’t let him in, he’d likely kick the door down.
Griffin must have driven the whole night to get here, judging by his wrinkled appearance.
Instead of answering his rhetorical question, she slowly stepped aside and pressed her body into the wall.
Quynh held her breath as he walked past so she wouldn’t get a whiff of his intoxicating scent.
It was dangerous to have a predator in her safe space.
She’d have to keep her guard up, or else she’d fall prey to his tricks.
She shut the door hesitantly before turning around to face her new visitor.
Leaning against the closed door, she watched as Griffin looked around her small apartment.
The living room was separated by a counter, which led into the small kitchen.
Her tiny bathroom was nestled between her bedroom and the living room. It wasn’t much, but it was hers.
She tried not to gasp in outrage when Pickles emerged from her bedroom and sauntered right up to Griffin. He wound his fluffy body around Griffin’s legs, demanding attention. She barely got the same greeting from the furry traitor.
Quynh watched as Griffin bent down on one knee to give Pickles a chin scratch in greeting.
Pickles's purrs of pleasure could be heard from across the room as Griffin continued to shower him with affection. Quynh’s knees became weak from watching the two males in her life reunite.
She probably would have ended up on the floor in a puddle if not for the door holding her up.
After a couple of moments, Griffin cleared his throat and looked up at her from his kneeling position.
“Wha-what are you doing here?” she asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
With eyebrows furrowed in confusion, she shook her head slowly.
“I came here for you.” His gruff voice made her core clench with need, but his words made her heart stop.
“For me?”
“You left without letting me explain.” Griffin’s words were like a knife slicing through her chest.
She knew this was coming; of course, she did, but the reality of the situation made her nervous. Quynh resisted the urge to run out the door and not look back. Instead, she took in a deep breath and squared her shoulders.
Griffin stood up from his crouched position and took a step toward her.
His steps were slow and measured as he advanced, as if he was aware of how much she wanted to retreat.
She watched him warily, resisting the urge to press further into the door.
He approached her like she was a wounded animal, giving her time to adjust to his presence, letting her know she was safe with him. She would always be safe with him.
Finally, after what seemed like hours but was only seconds in reality, they stood toe to toe.
Her breath hitched in her throat at having him within reach after so long.
She clenched her fists and glued them to her side to stop them from reaching toward him.
The urge to run her hands up his hard chest to reassure her this wasn’t a dream was nearly impossible to resist. Instead, she focused on her breathing as her eyes trailed up to meet his eyes.
His green eyes collided with hers. She was caught in his trap. Helpless. Transfixed by the intensity of his gaze on her. The storm that had raged around her for weeks finally calmed to a quiet dullness, as if they were now in the eye of the storm.
She suddenly forgot why they were separated for so long, or why she was upset with him. Captivated by his gaze, she experienced the disorienting feeling of falling. He saw too much. It made her vulnerable.
The air crackled with tension between them.
The air grew thick with anticipation as they studied each other.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as he slowly raised a hand.
She closed her eyes in anticipation of his touch, but nothing could prepare her for how her skin erupted in goosebumps when his hand cupped her cheek.
She leaned into his touch and almost whimpered in relief.
Finally, she could take a deep breath for the first time in weeks. His touch paradoxically soothed her and sent her pulse soaring.
Griffin’s thumb brushed over something wet against her cheek. She wasn’t aware she’d started crying until he wiped away her tears. His other hand came up to grip the back of her neck in a gentle hold. She opened her eyes and looked up at him beneath her wet lashes.
“Please don’t cry, sunshine. You’re breaking my heart.
” The rumbling of his voice resonated deep within her chest. “Shh. It’s okay.
” He bent his head until his forehead touched hers.
The tickle of his breath across her lips was a teasing caress.
Quynh watched as he licked his lips as if he was itching to kiss her but held himself back. “I’m sorry.”
What was he apologizing for?
Griffin must have seen the confusion on her face as he cleared his throat and lifted his head, giving her some much-needed space from the temptation of his pouty lips.
“Nothing happened between Delilah and me. Nothing.” He took in a fortifying breath as his grip tightened at the base of her neck, as if he was willing her to believe his words through his possessive touch.
Her eyes roamed over his face, taking in his pinched expression, lines bracketing his eyes as if he were in pain. His jaw was clenched so tightly she could see the muscle ticking as he fought for control.
She believed him.
She ignored the voice in her head whispering she was an idiot for believing him.
Instead, she listened to what her heart was telling her for once.
The same bleeding heart that wept for the man whose strong arms cradled her so gently, as if she were made of fine China and he wouldn’t dare to break her.
She knew in the deepest parts of her heart he would never intentionally hurt her.
She’d always known that about Griffin, but she let her insecurities about being vulnerable drive her decisions, letting her fears of being abandoned take her away from this man who likely drove all night to get to her.
With shaky hands, she reached up and gripped his forearms. Her throat was tight with emotions, and words escaped her, so she nodded as a fresh round of tears spilled over her lashes.
Her lower lip quivered as she tried to get a handle on her raging emotions.
Her breaths were shaky as she leaned her head back against the door; the contact grounded her in the moment.
“Sunshine, say something.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Please.”
“I’m sorry, too.” She sniffed, licking her dry lips as his face scrunched with confusion. “For leaving without talking to you first.”
His face morphed into anger at the reminder she left him without a word.
“Never do that again. You hear me?” His grip on her tightened as he brought their bodies closer together. Her peaked nipples grazed his chest. She gasped at the sensation.
I should have worn a bra.