Chapter 6 #2
“Is it broken?” Reid asked.
”No.”
“We have a nurse at the hotel. She’ll take a look at this.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just tripped.”
Reid glared before gripping my arm, inspecting my wrist closely.
“Does it hurt? Be honest.”
His tone was so commanding that it didn’t cross my mind to lie.
“A little,” I admitted but looked away quickly before I also acknowledged just how good it felt to have his hands on me.
“You scratched your right ankle too. That needs to be cleaned up.”
I glanced down. That explained the stinging.
“Right. Here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to cancel your next appointment and go back to the hotel with me.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Hailey.”
“You can Hailey me all you want. I’m not canceling anything.”
“Don’t make me throw you over my shoulder and just carry you to the hotel.”
“What are you going to do? Hold me captive in your bedroom? Chain me to your bed?”
He leaned into me until his mouth was almost touching mine.
“Don’t tempt me.”
He’d spoken every word deliberately, in a low, determined voice. Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed by him, by all the sensations spurred by his fingers pressing on my arm, his hot breath feathering above my upper lip.
I’d never met a man who could rattle me so effortlessly. He dropped his gaze downward. Then he leaned in, brushing his mouth over mine.
Every inch of my body sizzled in anticipation. When his hand slid to the back of my head, I parted my lips, letting him in.
The way he claimed my mouth…. Oh, fuck. This kiss was just surreal.
“Miss, are you okay? I have a first aid kit here for you.”
The voice reached me as if through a fog, but it was enough to break the moment. I pulled back, avoiding Reid’s eyes.
A fresh-faced girl wearing a shirt that proclaimed her to be a volunteer for the run stood next to us, holding a kit. I could still feel where Reid had touched me before.
“Oh, thank you. Yes. I’ll need to clean up my scratch. Banged up my wrist. Can you take a look at it?”
She crouched down, and after turning, flexing, and poking my wrist said, “It’s not even sprained. Soreness will fade in an hour or so.”
“Thanks.”
I couldn’t help myself and glanced at Reid. He’d narrowed his eyes, as if he wasn’t buying the assessment.
After she left, I cleaned my ankle with the alcohol wipes she’d given me. I felt that hum deep in my body again. I was sure Reid was watching me. He awoke something inside me that no one else had before.
When I finished cleaning up, he held his hand out for me, helping me to my feet.
“See? No need for your nurse to see me. I’m good.”
Reid tilted his head, a playful glint popping up in his eyes.
“Are you always going to say no to whatever I ask?”
“Depends on what you’re planning to ask me.”
“Take a guess. A wild one.” The playful glint was still there, but the longer he looked at me, the more feral it became.
Well, mister. What can I say? Just being around you makes my entire body hum. Being alone together? Sounds like playing with fire.
“Wild, huh? Are you trying to make me late for my next meeting?”
“Very hard.”
I laughed, unsure what to say. I couldn’t even look away, that’s how much power he had over me. “Well, I really can’t miss it, so why don’t we pick up this fascinating conversation at another time?”
He smiled, as if he knew where my thoughts just went.
Definitely playing with fire, because I was already involved personally in this.
I didn’t usually call clients’ sisters. He looked at me as if he’d love getting me into his bed.
I was pretty sure he was hot as sin in that department, but this just spelled headache.
Maybe he was still hung up on Marion; what did I know?
“As you wish. When will that time be?”
This would be so much easier if he weren’t so alluring. And if I didn’t feel as if I could just tell him all my secrets.
“First things first. Think about my interview idea, and let me know your answer. We’ll take it from there.”
“No, we won’t. I want an answer from you first.”
I said nothing.
“Told you I’m more open to people I know. So unless you want that interview to feel like drawing water from stone….”
“Is that a yes to the interview?” I asked hopefully.
He grinned. “Points for trying.”
Well, it was worth a shot. I brushed my hands over my face, resting them on my neck. “This is weird.”
“What? That I enjoy your company?”
“Well, yes. In your office you looked at me as if you were hoping I’d just vanish into thin air.”
On second thought, that was safer. Now he was looking at me as if he was hoping my clothes would vanish.
His eyes darkened. “I’m sorry about that. It wasn’t personal. I just don’t appreciate being blindsided. I promise, I’m not an asshole.”
I’d pieced that together myself. He really was more of a Mr. Darcy type. My kryptonite.
“You’re also not patient.”
“Is that so obvious?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Care to change that?”
“Sure. I’ll wait for your message. Not too long though, or I’ll take matters into my own hands.” He flashed me a megawatt grin. “You know what they say. Go big or go home.”
And I knew exactly what he’d choose.