Chapter 13 #2
She shrugged. “I was only kidding. Relax.” She paused for a second, like she was having a debate with herself, and sighed. “Do you get nervous doing these things?” She rested her hands on the doorframe of the bathroom.
The way she stood there in a white tank top and shorts, dominating the room, I couldn’t hide my attraction to her, and I wanted to throw up.
She was insufferable, rude, unprofessional, and she smelled better than anyone I had ever encountered. It really should’ve been a crime to smell that delicious.
I swallowed, clearing my throat. She had never asked anything about me if it wasn’t business related, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I knew we promised Cara to be nice, but to me, that meant ignoring each other instead of arguing.
“Sometimes. I still find it hard to believe there are so many people who have read and enjoyed the books. I know I can be hard on myself, but it’s difficult for me to understand just how much impact a book can have on people.”
She shrugged. “I know. I’ve read a few of your books and I don’t get it either.”
In the blink of an eye, any chance of having a decent conversation vanished. I guess the compliment in her office was a one-time slipup.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you don’t.”
She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, just forget it.” I went to pass by her, but she stopped me with a hand on my wrist. I froze in place and looked down at the contact.
It wasn’t enough to hurt by any means, but it did something to me I didn’t have the courage to explore. Heat flared in my eyes as her hand burned into my skin. This was the first time any part of her was touching me, and I didn’t know how to react.
“No, what exactly are you saying, Blair?”
“Don’t. Touch me,” I bit out.
She released her hold on me and I turned back around to look her in the eyes.
“You wouldn’t understand. You don’t know what it’s like to put something out there and worry people won’t like it.
You own a bookstore; your job is easy. Everyone loves bookstores.
I have to actually create something and hope it’s good enough for someone and deal with the criticism from those who don’t like it.
And of course you don’t like my books. You have made it perfectly clear that you don’t like me.
I told Cara this trip would be a waste of time.
You don’t like anything except yourself! ”
She laughed. “Please, anyone can make up a story. Do you want a key to the city, Mother Teresa? And just because you aren’t one of the things I like doesn’t mean they don’t exist. You’re right, but I know the feelings are mutual, so don’t pretend you’re the sad little victim.
I’m sorry you have to deal with the fact that someone doesn’t find anything about you appealing, as hard as I’m sure that is to swallow. ”
I scoffed. “You are unbelievably insufferable, do you know that? I was trying to have a civil conversation, and you couldn’t even put in that much effort. I don’t know why you have to make things so difficult. At least I was trying.” I was becoming more frustrated with every second.
“Excuse me?! You’re the one who makes everything so frustrating. Nothing is ever good enough for little miss perfect!”
“Me? I’m sorry, I’m not the one—”
My words died off when she cut the distance between us and backed me against the wall. I took in a breath when she leaned in closer.
She had one hand braced on my hip, caressing it delicately with her thumb, just a whisper of a touch, and the other was pushing a piece of hair back behind my ear. The softness of her touch was vastly different from the harshness of her words.
The movement was so quick I had no time to think, and the feeling of her fingers on the skin above my shorts was sending the wrong kind of messages to the wrong kind of places.
I was breathing like I had just run a marathon, and my face was on fire. Inhaling her scent was causing my heart to pound faster. She had a musky scent mixed with cinnamon and cardamom, and I could have sworn my knees started shaking… actually shaking.
Our eyes were fixed on each other without a word, the tension growing thicker and thicker with each passing breath.
Was she going to finally take her frustration out on me? Would I do the same? Would she slap me or throw me on the bed and show me just how frustrated she really was? Whatever the answer, a part of me was dying to find out.
“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded in a hushed voice.
“You seem to have a lot to say, darling, but I’m sure we can find something more useful for you to do with that mouth of yours. For example, I bet it would look so good wrapped around my clit,” she whispered.
I couldn’t find any words to say, and I was embarrassed to admit the image she painted turned me into an aroused mess.
“I’m…”
She leaned in a little closer, our lips only inches apart as she brought her hand to my face, and I instinctively wrapped her shirt in between my shaking fingers, closing my eyes.
Was she going to kiss me? My heart was pounding erratically, and it showed no signs of slowing down the closer she got. We were so close that one inhale from either of us would bring our mouths together.
I should’ve stepped back, but I was frozen in place with need. I needed her to kiss me. I needed our bodies to collide. I needed our clothes—
I jumped when the phone rang. When I opened my eyes, she was still extremely close, before she slowly took a few steps back. She covered her face with her hands and muttered a curse I couldn’t hear, before she turned around and headed to the bathroom.
“Drea…” I called out to her, but she didn’t turn around.
“Great,” I muttered softly before walking over to pick up the phone.
“Hello?” My tone was a little clipped, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the fact that I was going to let her kiss me, or because we didn’t get the chance.
“Hey, Blair, how’s it going?” Cara’s voice on the other end brought me back to reality.
“Cara, hey. It’s going fine. No big news to report yet.” I hoped she didn’t hear the deflection in my voice.
“Good. Can I talk to Drea? She wasn’t answering her phone. Is she okay?”
I cleared my throat, tearing my gaze away from the closed bathroom door. “Of course she’s okay. Why wouldn’t she be? She’s in the bathroom, but I’ll tell her you called, okay? Call you tomorrow.” I hung up the phone, still sweating with nerves.
Nothing had happened, but I felt the guilt sinking in, like I was hiding something from her.
Eventually I got tired of waiting for Drea to come out of the bathroom, and I went to bed.
I was glad we were leaving tomorrow, but that car ride was going to be the longest hour of my entire life.