Chapter 4
Rosalie
The rain fell in steady sheets, a rhythmic pattern that filled the air with the scent of worms and wet dirt.
I still couldn’t believe that Silas managed to pull me out of the street in the nick of time.
Truly, it was a miracle he was even there in the first place.
Quite the coincidence, really. I was cold, soaking wet to my very core.
I lifted my hands to rub my arms. Walking side by side with Silas I stole a glance of him.
His dark hair glistened and his snake bite piercings reflected beneath the dim street lights.
The soft glow of his freckles, and the sharpness of his jaw drew me in.
His eyes were a rich shade of chocolate.
A warm flutter in my stomach replaced the adrenaline from cheating death.
What is this feeling?
“Are you cold?”
“Huh?” My eyes met his.
“I asked if you were cold.” Silas took off his leather jacket, lifting his arms to wrap it around me.
He was so much taller than I that I practically drowned in his jacket, but it was warm and dry, and who was I to say no to such a gentleman?
Let alone the man who quite literally just saved my life.
“Thank you…” I trailed off, pulling the jacket closer around me. Side by side, his elbow went to my shoulder.
He nodded, and silence loomed around us except for the splash of our footsteps.
I cleared my throat. “I uhm…can’t believe you just swooped in like that.” I paused, my pitch a bit higher than I would have liked it to be.
How embarrassing.
“Do you have a superhero cape or something I didn’t know about?” I gasped. “Don’t tell me you’re like Batman?”
He chuckled. His laugh was rich and warm, cutting through the bitter cold of the rain.
“Side gig, actually. Just got my ‘Saving People from Being Hit by Buses’ Certification pretty recently,” he teased, his chocolate eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Next time though, I’ll be sure to wear my cape… and my mask.”
“Well, you definitely earned some major points in the whole hero department… I owe you one.”
Silas placed his hands into his pockets. “I wouldn’t mind being owed a favor,” The corners of his lips lifted into a bigger smile. “Maybe… we could get lunch one day? I promise I won’t let any buses try to come between us this time.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Is he asking me on a date?
I totally needed to text Sadie about this later. “Lunch? Lunch sounds good.”
“Great,” he replied far more enthusiastically than I had ever seen him act before.
Does Silas Wilcox actually have emotions?
I’ve worked with him for nearly a year now, and I only just realized I barely knew him beyond our work chats.
We turned the corner; my apartment was just one more block over.
The thought of saying goodbye when things were just getting interesting was disappointing, but I certainly wasn’t going to invite him into my place just because he saved me.
“So…” I paused. “Do you always go around saving girls on rainy days like today?”
“Only the ones who make the best lattes.”
“Oh, really?” I quipped, arching an eyebrow. “Says the one who makes the best iced caramel macchiato —”
“With extra caramel drizzle,” we said in unison.
I cleared my throat. “Right… exactly,” I squeaked.
How does he know me so well?
We made it to the front steps of my apartment. I reached into my pants pocket for my keys. They jingled as I unlocked my door and opened it. I turned back to him. “Thanks for walking me home, Silas. And you know, for saving my life and all.”
The grin he gave me was made of sunshine; I was certain of it.
“Anytime. I’ll be on the lookout for rogue buses in the future.”
A comfortable silence engulfed us. “Goodnight, Silas.”
“Goodnight, Rosalie. Sweet dreams,”
There was something about the way he said my name that made me feel weak in the knees.
“See you at work?” he asked huskily, just about to turn away and descend the steps.
“Definitely,” I stepped into my apartment, closing the door softly behind me. I pressed my back against the wood, my heart racing.
What just happened? Did I seriously just flirt with a co-worker? Not to mention, my boss. What am I thinking? That is literally a recipe for disaster.
I shook my head; biker boys were always bad news. Even if they were gentlemen or—I looked down, realizing I still had his jacket.
Shit.
Turning around, I opened the door. “Silas!” I shouted from my porch but—he was long gone.
With a sigh leaving my lips, I headed back inside my apartment.
I closed and locked the door behind me. I guess I would just have to return his jacket to him tomorrow.
Poor guy, he saved me from becoming roadkill and then had to walk home in the rain without his jacket.
That was really sweet of him, but I hope he doesn’t get sick because of it.
Still, it was the first time a guy had ever been that nice to me. I couldn’t help but be tickled by the gesture. Pulling out my phone, I dialed Sadie’s number.
She was not going to believe this.