“You aren’t.” He was doing the exact opposite of scaring me off, but I didn’t say that.
“You had a hard night. I don’t want to take advantage of anything.”
My eyebrows drew together. “You aren’t, Reid.” This was probably the part where I was supposed to tell him I’d been thinking about kissing him for a lot longer than just this evening, but I decided to refrain.
What if this was his excuse to let me down gently? It sure as hell didn’t feel that way, but my self-preservation mode kicked in all the same. If he wanted to kiss me, he would, right? Wasn’t that, like, basic human instinct?
“You should probably get to bed,” he said, giving me a final squeeze before I scrambled off of him and we both stood up.
“I have a few clients early in the morning,” I offered pathetically, wanting to seem like going to bed was just as much my idea as it was his.
We stood, idling awkwardly near each other.
“Um, well. Goodnight,” I said at the same time as he leaned in.
He pulled me in for another quick hug.
I let him hold on for a second longer, trying not to get lost in how good his arms felt around me.
TWENTY-ONE
Hazel
Two days.
Two freaking days and no word about the kiss. Everything was at a standstill lately and I hated it. Patience wasn’t my thing. I’d always been the type to move fast. I dropped out of community college and enrolled in cosmetology school on a whim. I bought the first clunker car I found online that fit my budget. Idefinitelymoved in with Paul too quickly. I wasn’t one to overanalyze. I liked instant gratification, and I liked taking action.
So, two days with absolutely zero mention of the kiss we’d shared was driving me up the wall. I mean, technically it had only been a day and a half. It happened two nights ago, and it was only eleven a.m. right now, but it might as well have been aneternity.
Granted, Reid and I hadn’t seen much of each other since. I’d had back-to-back clients yesterday and then he met up with a friend after work before getting online with his investigator group all evening. Apparently, my case had put them behind on a cold case they were blogging about, and they had a new break they wanted to discuss.
I wanted to ask him about it. It was interesting. I hadn’tmentioned it to him, but I’d started reading his blogs. They were good. Enticing. I knew from talking to him that their group split up the work. They’d take turns writing, editing, and posting. Each of their different styles shone through in the blog and made it a compelling read. I was dying to know what else they would uncover on some of these cases.
I poured myself a bowl of cereal and slurped up a spoonful.
“Shit,” I muttered when a splash of milk dribbled out of my mouth and onto my sweater. I was already dressed for work in head-to-toe black. I was already running late as it was. I pulled out a piece of paper towel and dabbed at the damp spot.
“Oh, you’re still here.”
I froze.
Reid stood in the hallway that led from the open living area to his bedroom and office.
Shit, was it possible he looked better since the kiss? Ever since I’d cut his hair, he’d been letting it grow out. It was thick and slightly wavy. Honestly, it was a total crime that he used to buzz it all off. Some people would kill for that head of hair.
“I was just about to head out,” I said at the same time he said, “Want any lunch?”
I cringed, looking down at my bowl of sugary cereal. It was the first thing I’d eaten all day. I hadn’t meant to sleep in, but I’d stayed up way too late last night scrolling on my phone.
“I’m covered,” I said, holding up my bowl.
His gaze was heavy with judgement as he took it in. “Nothing like a balanced meal.”
“Exactly. Whole grains, dairy. I’m covered.”
“Who needs protein and complex carbs.”
“Exactly.” I laughed, hating how nervous it sounded.
