19. Lennox #2
To be fair, I didn’t ever blame them. I wouldn’t have sought me out, either.
Big emotions made me feel awkward. One time, when one of Josie’s boyfriends broke her heart, she cried on my shoulder, and I just kind of awkwardly patted her back until her tears dried up.
None of that had changed over the years.
Until now.
I leaned in on instinct, wanting to drift closer, but that’d been a mistake. My foot caught on the door, and I tripped. My hand landed on the wall with a soft thud. I closed my eyes, hoping he hadn’t noticed, but the sudden brightness told me otherwise.
I cracked one eye open, peeking at the massive man standing in front of me. Bishop had one hand braced on the door, scowling at me like I was an intruder. I guess I kind of was. We'd never have crossed paths if I’d minded my business and stayed in the loft.
“What’re you doing out here?” he asked, looking around me down the abandoned alley. “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
“I could ask you the same thing. I heard rest is important for the elderly.”
“I’m not really in the mood for the jokes, Lennox,” he sighed, looking up into the loft. The soft glow of the fairy lights and my television lit up the space. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were in here. I must’ve been distracted.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. Don’t ruin a perfect moment, Lennox. No jokes. No snark. You can do this . “It’s fine. I was just watching a scary movie and then heard you moving around, so I thought I was about to be murdered.”
The corner of Bishop’s lip lifted a fraction. “No homicidal maniac here.”
“Just the regular kind?”
“Pretty much. Wouldn’t say I’m functioning on all cylinders,” he said, slipping his hand into his pocket. The music played softly in the background as he ran a hand along the back of his neck. “I’ll get outta here. Should probably get some sleep anyway.”
“Or you could join me.” The words left my big, fat mouth so quickly, as if it were easy. “Sorry,” I said with a breathy laugh, trying and failing to shrug it off. “You literally just said you needed to get some sleep. I just thought…” I trailed off, twisting my hands in front of me.
Bishop reached out and ran his finger along my jawline. He tipped my chin up gently so that I met his eyes. “You thought what?”
“I just thought you might want some company,” I said, swallowing my pride and whatever stubborn bullshit I was holding on to.
“You and me alone in an abandoned barn?” he asked, quirking a brow. “That seems like a recipe for disaster, killer.”
Killer . He hadn’t called me that since Dad’s birthday. Before everything had gone horribly wrong, we’d been on the precipice of giving into this raw energy between us. The way it rolled off his tongue, decadent and low, sent shivers down my spine.
“Well, we aren’t alone,” I whispered, licking my lips because they’d suddenly gone bone dry.
Bishop’s gaze darted down, tracking the movement with expert precision. “Is that right?”
Had his voice dropped lower, or was I just imagining things?
“Mmhm,” I said, nodding. “I mean, we are surrounded by animals. And you’ll have to share the couch with me and Callie.”
He glanced down at the dog sitting at my feet. “I think I could make that work.”
“Are you sure? She kind of hogs the space.”
He leaned in, and I caught a faint whiff of cologne. Since when did he wear cologne to work? I mean, I sure didn’t put perfume on when I was getting ready to shovel shit for hours at a time. “I’m a big man, killer. I’m used to taking up space.”
Oh boy, I was in fucking trouble now.
“Well, if you’re sure,” I said, stepping back.
I needed a bit of distance, just a moment to clear my head.
I didn’t know what to do with this softer side, especially not toward me.
Bishop was compassionate and hardworking and dedicated, but he was also gruff and brash and had zero patience.
Most of the time, the latter was his default.
It seemed only in the quiet moments that he let that other side slip out and show itself. Like right now, in a silent barn filled with sleeping horses and no one around but us.
Bishop reached up to turn off the lights, but I stopped him. “Aren’t you gonna grab your beer?” I asked .
He turned and stared at the bottle, hesitating for a moment before shaking his head. “Naw. I don’t need it.”
“Wait… What? Did you, Bishop Bryant, just say you didn’t need a beer?
” I reached up, placing the back of my hand along his forehead to check for a fever.
Clearly, he must be on his deathbed to make such a bold claim.
“Is there such a thing as a fever being so hot that it nearly feels cool to the touch? That’s the only explanation I can think of. ”
Bishop gripped my wrist, gently pulling it away from his face. “It’s nearly midnight. Why would I need a beer?”
I narrowed my eyes into tiny slits. “Have you been abducted by aliens again? It’s weird they tried for a second time when their first was wildly unsuccessful.”
“Nope. No aliens, no body snatching. Just Bishop.”
“Just Bishop,” I repeated slowly. He still had hold of my wrist, his thumb sweeping gently across my pulse point—which was embarrassing because I could feel it racing. I was too aware of the contact, how close we were, and how much closer I wanted to get.
“That’s right.” He gave me a small smile and nodded toward the stairs. “Now, let’s see what gore fest you’re up there watching.”
“I’ll have you know it isn’t a gore fest ,” I said, walking backward. “Scream changed the horror genre, okay? It is witty and well thought out. And the cast, Bishop! The cast is so good. And?—”
“And you have a weird thing for the mask?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you asking me if I have a mask kink?”
He lifted one shoulder. “What if I am?”
I didn’t know how to respond, so I said, “I wouldn’t call it a mask kink… But maybe a Ghostface kink? Is that a thing?”
He chuckled. “Can be, I guess.”
As I turned to climb the stairs, I realized Bishop’s face would be eye level with my ass.
Did I put a little extra swing in my hips?
I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe I was the one who was going insane because what the hell was I doing alone with Bishop in my loft about to watch a scary movie?
That sounded like a recipe for disaster.
Or the start of a really fun night…