“Yeah, I’m sure Drew would just love dealing with your smart mouth,” Walker mutters under his breath.
“Excuse me?” I shift forward in my seat, stunned that he just said those words out loud.
Before he can answer, one of the babies begins to cry. Not long after that, the other follows suit. Addie and Eli seem to be battling it out for who can scream the loudest.
While Roman tries to soothe her, Addie takes the opportunity to spit up all over him.
“Shoot. I’ll go get a burp cloth,” Eva tells him before running over to the corner of the room.
While she begins to wipe up Roman’s shirt, Walker places a pacifier in Eli’s mouth and tries to soothe her. She seems reluctant to take it, whining every few seconds.
I suddenly don’t feel like I can finish my food, my appetite stolen with the bitter taste in my mouth. I push out my chair.
“Um, I think I’m going to take off. You guys have your hands full. Thank you so much for dinner, Roman. It was delicious.”
Eva gives me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. We’ll get better at this hosting-with-a-baby thing eventually.”
I wave my hand at her. “Oh, stop it. Next time, I’ll provide the food so you two can have a break. I’d say my place, but it isn’t big enough to host.”
“Take care, Jessie. I’ll be in touch about Drew,” Roman adds as Eva continues to wipe up the spit-up all over him.
“Bye, Walker,” I say through clenched teeth. “Have a lovely evening.”
His piercing stare sends goose bumps up my spine. “I’ll make sure you get home safe.”
I start to head toward the door, not understanding why he even cares. “I’m fine, Walker.”
“I said”—he raises his voice as he places Eli in the stroller, then grabs his diaper bag and slings it over his shoulder—“I’ll make sure you get home safe.” He waves over his shoulder. “Thanks for dinner.”
The room feels too small, too hot. I let out a breath, trying to push away the storm brewing inside. Instead of fighting him, I hold open the door so he can push the stroller out.
We wait in silence for the elevator, the air between us thick with unspoken words. When the doors slide open, the quiet follows us inside, pressing closer than the steel walls ever could.
The space feels charged, the silence crackling like static before a lightning strike. I keep my eyes fixed on the glowing elevator numbers, refusing to look at him, though his presence presses against me with a force that steals my breath.
If this is how he is going to be, I would rather he not walk me home. I’ve been living alone in this city for years; I know how to take care of myself.
“I’m fine getting home on my own,” I say lightly.
He lets out a grunt. “No.”
I’m fed up with his attitude. I don’t deserve this kind of treatment when he’s the one putting us through this. “Let me be clearer. I don’t want you to walk me home.”
He shifts his body until he is towering over me. I crane my neck to meet his piqued eyes. For a beat, he just looks me up and down, as if he’s sizing me up. I swallow back my fear of trying to face off with him when I’m so consumed by the fire his presence engulfs my body in.
“Let. Me. Be. Clear. I am walking you home whether you like it or not.”
My jaw falls slack. I’m shocked at the nerve of this man. I point my finger directly into his chest as hard as I can. “Youdon’t get to tell me what to do.”
He stumbles backward but catches himself, though he doesn’t seem pleased. I begin to pull my hand back, but he grabs my wrist and pushes me up against the wall of the elevator.
His lips are a breath away from mine. My anger mixes with lust. It’s a push-and-pull that is making my panties uncomfortably wet.
“Don’t push me right now, Jessie. I’m not in the mood. Let me get you home safe, and then you can go on your little date with Roman’s friend.”
I knew he was pissed about that. I try to shove him out of the way, but he gets back in my space.
“Don’t you dare act like you get a say-so in who I date. You made it pretty clear where we stand, so you don’t get to have an opinion on the matter.”
