And that’s fine. I don’t have to be his cup of tea, but I will be damned if I’m going to be the type to just stand around and wait for him to decide.
“Do you need something?” I cut him off a little harshly and see his cheek tick. I feel bad for being a brat. My shoulders drop. “From town, I mean. Can I bring you anything?”
“Oh… uhh, no.” He pushes himself off my door and steps back. “Just be safe. Those aren’t snow tires, and you should probably get chains for them.” He points, and I feel two inches tall. Of course, that’s what he’s worried about. Being a gentleman and all that.
“Oh.” I feel like the world’s biggest jerk. It’s not his fault I have a crush on him and that he only probably sees me as his annoying neighbor. “Thanks. Is that like chains from a hardware store?” I ask and wince at myself.
“No.” His lips twitch, and that itty-bitty change in his expression feels like a gift. Like the sun shining through the clouds in the sky. “How about I go with you and help you out?”
“Go with me?” I repeat, wondering who this man is. He’s so anti-social but now wants to go to town with me? “I was only going to check out the bookstore and pick up lunch from the diner,” I share, and he nods. “Maybe a coffee.”
“Sounds good to me,” he says, shocking me again. He opens my door, and I frown as he reaches in and undoes my seat belt.
“Umm, excuse me?” He stops and looks at me.
“What?”What?Just what he says, like this is a normal thing to do.
“What are you doing, big guy?” I ask, and it happens. Reed leans in closer, his face a mere couple of inches from mine, and smiles. His lips quirk upward, and my heart flips inside out at the sight.
My neighbor is a man through and through.
Devastatingly handsome no matter what, but it’s like a shot to the heart when he smiles. His straight white teeth gleam against the freshly fallen snow and a contrast against his beard. Whatever bit of my heart he took, he steals another piece. A bigger chunk this time. All with a simple smile.
“I’m going to town with you,” he explains.
“Okay…” I sound out slowly. “But, umm…” I try not to stutter as I try to get my footing with what’s happening. “Why are you taking my seat belt off?” I ask softly. His hand moves and cups my face. I fight the need to close my eyes to soak in his caress fully and completely.
“I’m driving.” My eyes widen at his words.
“You’re driving?”
“Yeah, babe.” He extends his hand, and without thinking, I take it and step out. The easiness of his smile disappears as his eyes soak me up, and I swear, hand on a bible, he growls. Or at least I think that’s a growl. I’ve never heard a man make that noise before. “What are you wearing?” he asks, taking his hand away from mine and running it through his long locks. But his gaze never moves from me. He looks me up and down, and his jaw clenches.
“What?” I look down at myself. I’m in my coat and beanie, but you can see the dainty colorful pattern on the skirt of the dress underneath it. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” I ask, feeling slightly self-conscious. If I were paying attention and not feeling like I messed up or did something wrong, I would notice the very pronounced ridge in the front of his jeans.
“You need to change,” Reed demands, and I laugh. There is no way he can be serious right now!
“Excuse me?” I give him the chance to change what he just said to me.
“You need to change and—” And I’ve had enough.
“Nope,” I say, letting the ‘p’ pop loudly. He folds his arms in front of his chest. His biceps and the muscles at his shoulders flex and become even more pronounced.How is that even possible?
“Excuse me?” He sounds a little flabbergasted this time, but I’m not going to listen to a word of it.
“Look, big guy, I don’t know what you’re playing at, and honestly, at your age, you would think you would be over the whole playing head games with someone.”
“I wasn’t?—”
“Never had a dad, and my mami, God rest her soul, is in heaven. Hopefully partying with his purple highness, Prince.”
“What? Sunshine—” he tries to talk, but I’m past the point of listening.
“No one tells me what I can and can’t wear,” I point out. “I’ll get the tire chain thingies figured out in town. On my own. I’m sure I can ask someone and they will be all too happy to help. Thanks for the offer, and seriously, thank you for worrying about me yesterday. It was sweet and appreciated more than you know. That being said, I’ll be grabbing an emergency kit, and I’ll look into purchasing a generator. You won’t have to worry about me anymore. I’ll be better prepared from here on out.”
I have no idea where the fierceness is coming from, but I embrace it as I get back inside my car. I ignore his stupid handsome face with every passing second as I put my seat belt on and drive off.
When I look at my rearview mirror, his eyes are set in the direction of my car, not moving away from my driveway. Andeven though I’m pissed off, I know the bits of my heart he’s stolen are still in his hands.
