“Nothing,” he says softly, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. “Deny it all you want, but you’re an old romantic at heart, especially over the holiday period. And if you’ve got Reed living with you...” It doesn’t take a genius to work out where he’s going with that.
“Firstly, less of theold, thank you very fucking much. And I’m pretty sure I can keep it in my pants, even with a tree and a few lights around the house.”
I roll my eyes for good measure, ignoring Sean’s muttered, “A few lights, my arse.”
“And anyway, I don’t even know if he’s going to take the job, let alone take me up on my offer, so can we just drop it?”
Sean holds his hands up and nods. “Yeah, of course.” Then he sets a hand on my shoulder. “Sorry if I overstepped. I love you, and I just don’t want anyone to get hurt, that’s all.”
Ugh, I hate him when he’s all thoughtful and caring. That fucker.
“I know.” I pull him in for a hug and pretty soon we’re joined by a tipsy Vic, which is my cue to leave.
“You were right.”Reed bumps my shoulder as we walk to my front door. Hailey and Charlotte were kind enough to give us a lift home, so we’re both a little drunk.
“About what?” It takes me two tries to open the door, and by the time I manage it, Reed is almost draped over my back.
He laughs, warm breath tickling my neck. “About Vic and Sean being all over each other. Sean had his hands down Vic’s trousers before we’d even left.”
“Told you.”
We stumble into the hallway, greeted by a sleepy but happy-to-see-us Jen. Kyla is nowhere to be seen.
“Hey.” Reed slides down the wall to greet Jen, stroking her head and kissing her nose. “Are you going to be okay with another cat living here?”
I huff as my dog rolls over onto her back, shamelessly lapping up the attention, and it takes way too long for Reed’s words to sink in. “Wait... what?”
Reed straightens—well, tries to—and I have to grab for him before he hits the floor. I push him gently against the wall. “What are you saying?”
Reed smiles at me, in my dark hallway his blue eyes are the colour of the deepest sea. “I think I’m going to take the job.” He hesitates, plump bottom lip drawn between his teeth and I’m suddenly aware of how close we’re standing.
I doubt you could slide a sheet of paper between us, and I’m so close to kissing him that I have to shove my hands in my pockets to stop myself from cupping his jaw.
“And... if your offer still stands, I’d like to stay with you for a bit while I sort out my house.”
The urge to kiss him increases tenfold as I realise that doing it is totally off the table now. I promised him, and I refuse to go back on it, no matter how badly I want to close the distance between us and taste him.
Reed’s eyes widen when I don’t answer right away.
“Of course it still stands,” I rush out before he can take it back. “I’d love to have you here. And for what it’s worth...” I slide my hands along his jaw like I wanted to before but keep my distance. “I think you’re making the right decision.”
“I hope so,” Reed says softly, gaze dropping to my lips, then back up. “Because I really want to kiss you right now.”
Fuck.
“Same.” I rest my forehead against his. “But we probably shouldn’t. Not if you’re going to live with me.”
“Ugh.” He lets out the biggest sigh. “Yeah, I guess not.” Then he straightens and smiles at me. “Friends?”
I push away the twinge of disappointment and grin back at him. “Friends.”
We stare at each other for a few more seconds, the air steadily thickening between us, so once again I do the sensible thing and take a step back.
Reed’s smile turns rueful as he watches me put distance between us. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“For being the sensible one and stopping...this”—he gestures between the two of us—“when I’m not sure I would’ve.”
