18. Sienna
SIENNA
Despite my insistence that I was fine, that he could leave me to it and head home, Calvin didn’t leave.
He didn’t sit his ass down and rest his leg, either.
Instead, dressed in only his skin-tight boxers, he worked with me to clean up the salon and restock everything for tomorrow.
He even did a few of the odd jobs that we had lying around.
He put a picture frame back up that fell down a couple of months ago, and he put up the new shelves Bea bought to house our ever-growing collection of nail gel bottles.
Honestly, the sight of him in nothing but his underwear and a drill should be illegal. It’s been safely stashed away in my bean bank for later, that’s for sure.
What would have probably taken me two hours alone took only one with his help, so I can’t really complain. But I’d be lying if I said my blood wasn’t boiling.
I swear, every few minutes I caught him paying more attention to me than whatever I’d tasked him with. And every time our eyes connected, the air crackled with the same chemistry I felt when he leaned in to kiss me.
There’s a part of me that can’t help wondering what would have happened if I let him. Would we have gotten it out of our systems? Or would it have made it worse?
There’s no denying that I’m attracted to him physically. And from what I’ve learned from getting to know him better over the last week or so, I kinda like who he is as a person, too. But I still can’t let myself go there. Calvin Keller screams heartbreak, and I refuse to put myself through that.
“What’s next, boss?” Calvin teases, having finished restocking the cotton pads at the nail stations.
I look around, assessing our progress. “I think we’re done, actually.”
Excitement glitters in his eyes.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Your clothes should be dry by now, too.”
“And there I was thinking you preferred me like this,” he says, suggestively dragging his palm over his chest and abs.
“I like you just fine with your clothes on,” I mutter, taking off toward the back room and leaving him watching me go.
I only get a few seconds of relief before he shuffles in after me.
“You need to rest that leg,” I chastise as he lowers himself to the couch and instantly rubs it like it’s aching.
“Movement is good,” he says.
“Hmm,” I mumble as I pull his clothes from the dryer, trying to ignore the way his scent radiates from them. “Here,” I say, handing the warm fabric over.
“Thanks.”
While he dresses, I pull more wet towels from the washer and stuff them into the dryer, getting it going for what feels like the millionth time today.
“Have you had enough to eat?” Calvin asks. When I spin around, I find him gazing down at the leftover pizza. “You only had one slice.”
“I’m trying to be good,” I explain.
I instantly regret my words, because his eyes drop from mine in favor of my body. It isn’t a quick glance; he takes his time, ensuring he’s fully assessed every inch of me.
“You’re looking more than good to me,” he says, his eyes a shade darker than they were a few seconds ago.
Irritation licks through me. What is it about men who think our only reason to look a certain way is to appeal to them? Honestly, I couldn’t give a fuck what any man says about my body. It’s my body, and the only person on this planet who needs to be happy with it is me.
“I don’t really give a fuck what you think,” I snap before stalking toward where I hung my coat and stashed my purse earlier.
I pull my coat on and hook my purse over my shoulder, all the while Calvin’s stare burns into the back of my head.
“What?” I bark when I turn around and find him still staring at me.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. It doesn’t matter what I think. But for the record, you’re banging just the way you are.”
My body instantly betrays me, desire unfurling as heat surges toward my thighs.
“Thanks,” I mumble before taking off toward the door. “Are you coming or what?”
He quickly gathers up the leftover food and empty containers and follows me out.
“I’m assuming you want a ride home?” I ask once I’ve locked up and we’re both standing on the sidewalk in the rain.
“Uh,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. The move makes him look entirely too cute. “If you don’t mind. We are going to the same place, after all.”
“Come on,” I say, rolling my eyes as I lead him to my Mini.
After putting my purse in the back seat, I drop into the driver’s side and discover that it isn’t only the couch in the salon that Calvin makes feel small.
Thank fuck I don’t drive a stick, or I’d be grazing his thigh with every gear shift.
“This car suits you. It’s little and fun.”
“Um…thanks.”
“The go-faster stripes make it pretty sexy, too.”
“That is why I got them. Can’t have an unsexy car,” I deadpan.
“So…can we still stop for dessert?” he hedges.
“Don’t tell me you’re still hungry?” I balk.
“I’m a hockey player. I’m always hungry,” he reasons.
“Did you have anywhere in mind?”
“Of course,” he says, pulling his cell from his pocket and gesturing to my car screen. “You mind if I sync up?”
“Be my guest,” I say as I pull out of the space. I take a left, but obviously, when the GPS comes on, it was the wrong choice, and I end up turning around to head in the opposite direction.
I wasn’t going to order dessert, even after tallying my almost non-existent calories for the day into my tracking app.
But as we pulled up to the window, the words just fell out of my mouth without instruction from my brain.
And that is how I end up standing at my front door forty minutes later with a huge slice of salted caramel cheesecake in my hand.
“Are you going to unlock the door so we can eat these?” Calvin rasps. I swear his voice is rougher, deeper than it was in the car.
“Um…” Unwanted images of all the things that could happen if I were to let him into my apartment tonight play out in my head.
I might be a grown-ass woman who is capable of showing self-control. But also, I’m a red-blooded one who has needs. It’s not my fault if my body thinks those needs could possibly be delivered by Calvin tonight.
“I think I’m gonna go straight in the bath. I might even save this for tomorrow,” I lie. There’s no way I’m not devouring this the second I get inside. What I don’t also need to devour tonight is the man standing beside me.
“Oh, okay. Yeah, sure.”
Pulling my key from my purse, I push it into the lock. I turn it, and I’m about to push the door open when a giant hand lands on my waist, spinning me around with ease and pushing me up against the wall.
“Calvin,” I gasp as he shuffles so close his body heat sears down my front.
He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t do anything, either. Well, unless you count the way his eyes bounce between mine and my lips as if I’m a temptation he can barely hold himself back from.
The air between us turns thick, making it hard to suck in the breath I need.
My lips are parted, and I can’t stop my tongue from sneaking out to wet the bottom of my mouth as if I’m preparing for the kiss I ran away from at the salon.
“Sienna,” he whispers before his eyes flutter closed, as if just saying my name causes a reaction within him.
My heart races as my head and body war with each other.
Just kiss him. Find out how good it would be.
It’s okay to lose yourself every now and then.
Run. Run away.
Men are nothing but disappointments. And anyway, who’s to say he can be the one to “fix” you?
You might be disappointed this time.
“Fuck,” I hiss before slipping away from him and rushing into my apartment.
“The guys have a game Saturday night,” Calvin says, his voice sending a rush of tingles through me. “I’m not going, obviously. But…I wondered…would you…would you like to watch it with me? We can…hang out?”
The nervousness in his tone is the only thing that has me turning to look at him.
I just catch the end of him running his fingers through his hair.
“Obviously, if you already have plans then—”
“I’d love to,” I find myself saying before I’ve really had a chance to process his invitation.
The most incredible smile appears.
“Yeah?” he asks as if he didn’t hear me correctly.
I nod, confirming my answer despite the nerves that assault me.
“Okay, cool. It’s a d-date,” he stutters, a frown pinching his brows.
“It’s not a date. It’s a game,” I correct.
“Right. Yeah. Of course. I don’t date.”
“No. You don’t.”
His mouth opens like he wants to say something else, but he closes it again before any words appear.
“I’ll see you soon. Thanks for all your help tonight; I really appreciate it.”
He nods. “Anytime. If you need me, I’ll be right upstairs.”
One side of my mouth curls into a smile before I remind him, “Don’t make too much noise.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Night,” I shoot over my shoulder before letting my door fall closed.
For the briefest of moments, I wish he’d say, “Fuck this,” swing my door back open, storm in, and sweep me off my feet. But then I remember that I don’t live in a rom-com, and I force the image from my head.
Instead of doing any of that, Calvin just rasps a, “Night, darlin’,” before the door falls closed, finally cutting us off.
I come to a stop at my kitchen island and just stare down at the cheesecake. My mouth waters, but I fear it might not be for the dessert, but for the man I just left in the hallway.
You did the right thing.
Inviting him in and risking anything happening would be stupid.
Hell, agreeing to watch the game with him was stupid, but that didn’t stop me from saying yes.
I tell myself there’s plenty of time to cancel as I flip the lid on the container, grab a fork, and dive in.
“Oh my god.” I groan as the filling hits my tongue.
Before I know it, I’ve eaten half of it.
“Stop,” I tell myself, resealing the container again and putting it in the fridge.
I’m walking into my bedroom when my cell buzzes in my pocket.
I know who it’s going to be before I even look at the screen, but that doesn’t stop an explosion of excitement in my stomach.
I really need to get a grip on myself. Crushing on Calvin Keller will only lead to pain and heartache.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Tell me that cheesecake isn’t the best thing you’ve ever had in your mouth.
A laugh erupts out of me, and I’m replying before I can stop myself.
Sienna: I’m saving it for tomorrow.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Bullshit. I saw the way you were gazing at it like you wanted to inhale it. You can only deny yourself so much, baby *winky emoji*
Sienna: Some of us are able to control our urges.
I regret the message the second I hit send, but considering the ticks change color immediately, there’s no chance to edit or delete it.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Even the strongest can only hold out for so long. Embrace what you want and take all the pleasure you can get.
Jesus.
As much as I want to convince myself that we’re still talking about cheesecake, I know we’re not.
Hot and flustered, I abandon my cell and set about running a bath, hoping that’ll help loosen my tight muscles. And if it doesn’t, I’ll take my vibrator in there with me just to make sure I walk out after with my needs satisfied and a clear head.