Nephew. He was her freaking nephew. I never believed the world was that small, but apparently it was.
“And I’m guessing you two have also met,” she continued before I could fully comprehend the situation before me.
And to make everything exponentially more awkward, Beckett said “yes” at the very same time I said, “no.” I looked up at him and caught his eyes already on me, that crooked smile tilting his lips.
My eyes narrowed, and I glanced back at Ms. Crawford as I felt my cheeks heat. She cautiously glanced between us, and I was eager to move on and complete the move-in process as quickly as possible.
“Are you ready to head upstairs?” I asked, ignoring the higher pitch of my voice. I cleared my throat and tried again. “We can view the unit before the movers begin, and I can answer any questions.”
Her eyebrows shot up toward her hairline, and my stomach rolled. I wished I was better at controlling my facial expressions, because I was sure she could see my anxiety plain as day.
“Upstairs sounds good,” she finally said, and I didn’t hesitate to lead the way over to the elevator bank.
I pressed the up button and took the few seconds for them to follow to compose myself. I took a couple deep breaths and reminded myself I was working.
So, I just started talking as we stepped onto the elevator. I ranthrough the instructions for the move-in checklist and details about the property. There was so much information to go over that I was able to talk through the elevator ride, as we walked down the hallway, and until we walked into the unit.
We stepped into the open-concept apartment, and a smile spread across Ms. Crawford’s face. She lit up and clasped her hands beneath her chin as she walked into the living room and peered out the glass doors that looked out onto her balcony and the courtyard beyond.
“It’s perfect,” she said, and I returned her smile.
“I’m so glad you like it.”
“Like it? Love it!” she cried as she strode into her bedroom.
And suddenly, I was all too aware that Beckett and I were alone. Like all the air had been sucked out of the room, my heart started pounding. I dropped the move-in checklist on the counter along with the other information I’d verbally gone over a few minutes before.
Usually, Gloria would wait until the tenant had approved of the space and escorted them back downstairs to finalize the paperwork. But I couldn’t stand there a second longer with my anxiety climbing and my heart racing and all these thoughts about what I could have done differently or how I deal with it now.
I prepared to walk back to the door when Beckett stepped into my path, and I gasped, reeling backward and into the granite countertop behind me.
My mouth went dry, and I struggled to swallow as he towered over me. Not that he was trying to, he was just tall, and it happened whether he wanted it to or not.
“Hawkins,” he said, and why did everything he said have to sound like he was recording erotic audio or something? It was especially unfair when it was my last name he was saying.
He stepped closer, which I didn’t think was possible without him touching me, but it was. Although if I’d been breathing, mychest would have brushed his, and he likely would have felt my exhale.
He made a low sound in the back of his throat, and I watched his eyes shut softly for a moment. The tension between us skyrocketed, and I braced my hands on the counter behind me, hoping it would keep me standing because I swore I was going to pass out.
“Do you know,” he began, his voice a low rumble, “how long I’ve been looking for you?”
“What—?” I croaked, but I didn’t get a chance to finish my sentence.
“This is just so perfect!” Ms. Crawford exclaimed. Her voice grew closer, and Beckett took a gloriously large step back as she rounded the corner.
I sucked in a much-needed breath and plastered on a smile. “I’m so glad you think so.” I was panting like I’d been running for my life, but thankfully she didn’t notice. “There’s just a few more things we need to finalize downstairs, then you’ll be good to go.”
“Oh,” she said, clapping her hands together and turning toward me. She frowned and sighed. “Do you think my nephew could finalize everything? I want to stay up here and wait for the movers.”
“Of course,” I said, while internally I was screaming the opposite with a string of expletives I didn’t normally use. “I’m sure we can manage.”
I grabbed my keys off the counter, leaving her set behind, and strode to the door, but Beckett was already there, swinging it open and waving for me to exit first. My steps stuttered, but I managed to recover.
Even though I could feel him following me down the hallway and back to the elevator, I kept my steps even and my spine straight. I pressed the “down” button, and Beckett came to stand beside me.
I let myself peek over at him for a very short second just tosee his hands were once again in his pockets with his eyes straightforward, like he was utterly unaffected.
The doors opened, and one of my favorite residents, Mr. Rogers, stepped out.
