21. Matteo #2
He gives me a thankful smile. “Thank you, but I fear this storm will force their hands anyway.” Shooing us along, he urges, “Go on now, before it worsens.”
“Nice to meet you, Patrick!” Evie calls over her shoulder, her shoes squeaking with water.
“You too, dear.”
Hurrying Evie into the elevator, we watch as Patrick ambles behind the concierge desk, muttering to himself as the elevator doors close.
“He’s a sweetheart.”
“That he is,” I agree.
Evie peers at me out of the corner of her eye. “Trying to do his job for him?” she questions.
“He developed arthritis this past year. He isn’t as sturdy as he once was but he refuses to say no to people.”
“That’s sweet of you to notice and care,” she says as the elevator dings before opening on our level.
Shrugging off the compliment, I murmur, “It’s no big deal.”
Slotting the key into the lock, I let Evie step inside first, placing the sodden groceries on the kitchen island as yet another strike of lightning hits, illuminating the otherwise dark apartment.
Evie flinches at the following thunderous boom.
“Why don’t you take a shower first? Get warm.”
Nodding, she bites her lip, looking outside at the black Denver sky. “Okay, I’ll be quick so you can shower after.”
I sound like a sick fuck but I love showering after her. The bathroom is always teeming with her scent, and I swear it’s the most heavenly thing I’ve ever smelled. A twisted thrill shoots down my spine knowing that in a short few minutes the bathroom will be filled with her fruity fragrance.
For now, I quickly duck out onto the patio, bringing in all the furniture that could fly away. I know I’ve made the right call when ten minutes later, I struggle to get the door closed through the violent gusts of wind.
Heaving out a breath once it’s firmly shut and locked, I run a hand through my wet hair, just as the lights above me flicker.
“Fuck,” I curse beneath my breath.
Rounding the kitchen, I get to work on what I can. Quickly washing my hands, I cut up a brown onion, boiling some water and salting it before pouring the pasta in. I’m about to start the sauce when the sound of Evie’s feet padding down the stairs have me craning my head over my shoulder.
My body coils tight, my hand white-knuckling the pan’s handle.
A blush crawls across her cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind.
I tried searching my boxes for a sweater but couldn’t find one.
I haven’t unpacked what the movers brought over, which thank you, by the way, for organizing someone to get all my belongings.
I’ve been living out of the suitcase you packed because I haven’t needed anything warmer to wear. ”
She’s babbling because she’s nervous.
Nervous because she’s wearing my hoodie.
Evie is standing in my living room, wearing my hoodie.
I’ve never been more turned on in my life.
It swarms her, coming to rest along her tan thighs. My swallow is audible as I try to get a hold of my erratic heartbeat, but it’s impossible. Evie is standing in the middle of my kitchen, wearing my hoodie, and she looks so fucking good while doing so.
She looks so…right.
My apartment that I’ve lived in for four years finally feels like home, and it has everything to do with the girl with blonde hair and glacial blue eyes.
Clearing my throat, I choke out, “Looks good on you.”
“It’s comfortable.”
“It’s my favorite.”
She steps closer, allowing me to drag my gaze from her thighs all the way to the top of her wet hair. “Well, I promise not to steal it then.”
“Maybe I want to be robbed.”
The words fall from my lips before I know what I’m saying. I’m dancing a line with her, toying with the one we both drew in the sand, and yet I can’t seem to remember a single reason why I ever kept her at a distance.
The lights flicker again, flashing like my pounding heart.
“Go on up and shower before we lose power,” she whispers, not taking her eyes off mine.
Finally shaking myself out of my stupor, I turn back to the pot before me. “I was hoping we could do this together.”
“If you’re fast enough, maybe we still can.”
Dipping my chin, I murmur, “Okay, just keep stirring the pasta.” Taking out an apron, I hand it to her, my body instinctively leaning forward, and I stop myself just in time.
My eyes widen as I see what I was just about to do.
I’m a mere inch from the top of her head…to fucking kiss her.
As if it’s second nature.
As if this is normal.
As if this is our routine.
Oh my fucking god, I’ve gone insane.
Evie slowly lifts her head, her thick black lashes blinking up at me, a question brimming in her eyes.
Thinking quickly on my feet, or perhaps not at all, to brush off the near kiss, I do what comes to my mind first.
I pretend to pick lint out of her fucking hair like I’m some goddamn animal grooming her.
Clearing my throat I choke out, “Dust.”
Before I can do another stupid thing, I turn on my heel and hightail it out of the kitchen, getting as far away from the girl that’s always been off limits my entire life.
If I had stayed in there for a moment longer, I know I would have done what I’ve wanted to do for years—kiss the woman I’m madly in love with.