For safety reasons, I didn’t leave my windows open while I slept, so after gingerly hopping out of bed, I headed toward my front door. After looking through the peephole to make sure no one was outside, I took a step onto the landing.
I leaned over the railing and took a deep breath, savoring the cool night air. A gentle breeze caressed my flushed skin, strands of my hair tickling my cheeks. The scent of flowers hung in the air, and the distant murmur of traffic created a tranquilambiance. Until a noise next door pulled my attention. Before I could retreat, Jackson’s door opened, and he stepped outside.
“Jesus, Sophie!” he exclaimed, clearly startled by my presence. But I was too busy staring at him to apologize for scaring him. He wore dark jeans and a gray striped shirt. His baseball cap made him look approachable, if that made a lick of sense. This was the first time I’d ever seen him fully dressed, and I had to admit, he was almost as delectable as he was naked or barely clothed.
In my haste to cool down, I hadn’t paid attention to my attire, which was a simple pair of boy shorts and a teal crop top, sans bra because I’d been sleeping. Goose bumps spread over my skin, the reaction having nothing to do with the night air and everything to do with the way Jackson’s gaze devoured me. My brain refused to form a coherent sentence as we stood two feet apart, staring at each other. Then he spoke once more, and whatever admiration I held for his appearance quickly evaporated, carried away by the gust of wind kicking up around us.
“What are you doing out here dressed like that?” The roughness in his voice prickled my skin and not in a good way. I’d like to say I was shocked by his hostility, but so far, we’d only had one decent interaction. It would probably kill the man to be nice to me.
“I was hot.”
“Open a window,” he barked, shattering whatever composure I had left. But as hard as it was to do, I held my tongue for fear he’d fire me. The man standing before me struck me as unpredictable, and I didn’t want to rock the proverbial boat.
Retaining my job was more important than telling him exactly what I thought of him and his attitude. When I was younger, I would have never held back. I was a different person back then, but over the years, I’d been conditioned to keep quiet,to swallow my feelings and never step out of line. The old me had disappeared long ago.
Jackson continued to stare at me, his gaze lingering on my mouth before roving over my body once more. I couldn’t blame him for looking. If he stood before me in nothing more than his underwear, like he previously had, I’d take my fill.
When he encroached on my personal space, I took a step back. Did I think he’d touch me without my consent? No. But I barely knew him, so to try and predict what might happen was ridiculous as well as naïve.
An expression crossed his face but disappeared so quickly, I couldn’t read him, although I was sure that was his intention. Instinct told me he kept his feelings close to the vest.
“Did you need something?” I finally asked, curious as to why he continued to linger on the landing with me. Clearly, he was on his way out.
“Did you?”
“Nothing more than some fresh air.”
Jackson leaned against the railing and crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps flexing against his shirt.
“What?” I asked, more than a little impatient now.
“I’m waiting for you to go back inside.”
“Why?” My conversation skills were at an all-time high.
“Because you’re barely dressed, and someone could see you.”
“Other than you?”Don’t get involved in this type of chitchat with him. Nothing good can come of it.
His bottom lip disappeared between his teeth before popping free. “Yeah, other than me,” he replied, his tone not as gruff as before.
“Where are you going?”
That’s it. Divert the conversation and get all up in his business. Smart move, Sophie.
“Out for a drink.”
“This late?”
“It’s quarter after ten,” he responded, tilting his head and looking at me like I’d asked the most asinine question known to man.
“I thought you couldn’t drink while you’re training.” My comment was based solely on what I’d read about athletes in training and not on anything anyone told me.
“I can have one, every now and then.” His features softened the more we talked. Not by much, but a fraction was an improvement.
“Want some company?” I blurted, snapping my mouth shut right after the words fell from my lips. Why I would offer to join him was beyond me, seeing as how the man could barely stand the sight of me.
“No.”
