After a moment, he opened it and glared at her. “Well it’s about time.” He dragged her into his apartment. It looked the same as it had last time, neat as a pin.
“Hi. What’s up?” She studied him, wondering what it was about the man that sent her senses reeling. Brad seemed like the calm in a storm. Smith would be the rampaging tornado, knocking everything down.
“Where have you been? It’s four o’clock. I wanted to talk to you.” His frown deepened. He fidgeted as she watched him, and he barked, “What?”
Someone not familiar with Smith would be intimidated. Man or woman, a person would have to be crazy not to be a little taken aback by his powerful frame and dark moods. But Erin felt it comforting.I am so weird.
She swallowed back a sigh. “Smith, are you okay?”
He looked murderous. She was so turned on she blushed.
“Am I okay? I don’t know. My next-door neighbor keeps sexing me up then ignoring me. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.”
“Oh.” Wait. He’d noticed her absence? That meant he wanted her to be around him more, then. Didn’t it? Excitement made her breathy, and she hated that she loved he’d missed her. She wasn’t trying to play games. “I didn’t think you wanted me around.”
“What?” His eyes grew comically wide. “Are you kidding?”
“Well, you never called or texted until now.”
“I…” He opened and closed his mouth, giving her an odd look. “You didn’t either.”
“I didn’t want to be presumptuous. We had fun together, and I like you. But I’m not pushing you for anything, Smith.”
“I know.” He sounded subdued. “So, ah, what… What have you been up to today?”
She didn’t think that’s what he’d started to say, but she didn’t want to fight with him. She’d much rather make love with him.
The thought struck her mute.
“You okay?” He stepped closer.
Her awareness skyrocketed. He smelled amazing, as if he’d recently showered. Like sandalwood over his typical, manly scent. She couldn’t describe it, except to say he smelled good, clean. Sexy.
She cleared her throat. “I’m fine. Just a tickle in my throat. Today I went out with Rupert, Tilly’s nephew. He showed me around Queen Anne.”
“Huh. Did you have fun?”
He stood close, and she had to look up at him to make eye contact. Smith made her feel small, both protected and exposed at the same time. She didn’t think he’d hurt her, not physically at least. But emotionally he affected her in a way she didn’t yet understand. She felt electrified near him, attuned to his expressions, the things he did and didn’t say.
He raised a brow at her silence, and she blurted, “Um, fun. Yes, we had fun. It got a little weird at Rupert’s girlfriend’s house, though. She has strange pets and even stranger collectibles.” Sixty-niner. Geez. She eyed Smith, wondering if their size difference would make that act harder or easier.
She blushed at the thought.
“Rupert’s got a girlfriend?”
“Yes. I gave him a kiss on the cheek to thank him for taking me around, and she warned me away.” Erin could laugh about it now. “I thought she was going to sic her evil pets on me.”
Smith grinned. “That would have been something to see.”
“Lucky for me, Brad Battle knows them too. He arrived in time to bring me home, so I didn’t have to share the car with Rupert again.”
Smith’s smile vanished.
“Brad lives in 6B. Upstairs.” She pointed up. “Do you know him?”
“He’s a decent enough guy.” He sounded as if that pained him to say. “Did he ask you out?” She felt weird about answering but needn’t have bothered. “Of course he did.” Smith watched her like a hawk. “What did you say?”
“Is this really your business?”
