I loved it instantly. “You have to start somewhere,” I said.
“Hazel?” Reid asked.
“Yeah?” I looked up at him, suddenly aware of just how close he was. The space between us had all but disappeared, and the bed was right there, just a step away. The air was charged with something unspoken.
“Do yourself a favor and don’t quit your day job, okay? I don’t think you’re cut out for a career in interior design.”
“Excuse you, Mister Beige-and-White-Everything.” I nudged him in the chest.
My heart stuttered as his gaze dropped—just briefly—to my mouth. Now my imagination was running completely out of control. I couldn’t stop myself from imagining what it would be like if he leaned in a little closer, eyes locked on mine, then on my lips. What it would feel like if he finally closed the distance between us and…
Heat flooded my body. Wow. Say what you will about a lava lamp, but this lighting really set the mood.
Reid’s gaze darkened ever so slightly. There was something there, behind his normally buttoned-up exterior. Or was that just wishful thinking on my part? Was I mistaking his kindness for something else entirely?
Then I saw it—a vein in his jaw standing out as he clenched it. Thatdefinitelywasn’t my imagination. God, what I wouldn’t give to be the kind of person who could simply stand up on their tiptoes and kiss him without overthinking it. Ineededto know what his lips tasted like.
Was he a good kisser? Good in the bedroom?
It had admittedly been a while for me, so it wasn’t shocking that merely being alone in a bedroom with Reid was enough to fire up my imagination. I’d had approximately three awkward first dates and one terrible second date since Paul and I had broken up. Only one of those dates hadresulted in intimacy, and it was mediocre at best. I hadn’t even come, and he’d barely said goodbye after he pulled out and hightailed it out of my apartment.
Being with Reid would be nothing like that. I knew it in my bones. He would be careful. Thoughtful. He was the type to make sure a partner was alright and take care of her afterward. He wouldn’t rush.
The fantasy had every nerve in my body at attention. Shit. How long had I just been standing here staring at him? I’d be embarrassed, but he was right here with me. We were both drowning in the silence.
Before I could second-guess it, I leaned toward him.
That seemed to break whatever spell we were under. Reid blinked a few times and looked to the wall.
“Well, uh—I’d better get some sleep,” he said, his voice far deeper than it had been a moment ago.
“Oh, yeah, same. I’m pretty tired.” I was not tired in the slightest. It was only eight.
“Goodnight, Hazel.” Instead of brushing past me, he put a hand on my shoulder and gave it a small squeeze.”
“Night, Reid.”
Then he was gone, the only evidence of our moment the intense tingling sensation raging on my shoulder from where he’d just touched it.
EIGHTEEN
Reid
“How the helldid you convince me to do this?” I grabbed Hazel’s hand and gave it a tug so that she wouldn’t walk too far ahead of me.
“We’ll take a look and be out of here in five minutes,” she said, offering me a smile that did absolutely nothing to reassure me.
We’d parked around the corner, and despite every ounce of good judgement I possessed, we were now slinking up the sidewalk toward Paul’s apartment.
It was my fault for saying anything. I’d known it would lead us here. An hour ago, I’d been about to make dinner when my phone buzzed with a notification. The catfish account had received a message from Paul. He was at the gym, flexing a bicep. “Getting some sets in after work,” he’d written.
I’d shown Hazel and she’d practically flown to her car without giving me the option to protest. I’d tried to convince her that we needed to think this through, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She’d insisted we had to go right then, or we’d lose our opportunity. And since there was no way in hell I was about to let her go alone, here I was, trailing behind her.
“Which one is his?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You don’t have to talk so quietly. We’re on a public sidewalk,” she said at full volume.
“Shhh.” I held a finger to my lips out of instinct.
