And then he started lifting boxes out of the way.It was easier said than done because the area was so congested.He had no choice but to stack them again.And these were not small boxes nor were they light.
“Justin, I’m over here.”Her voice was muffled.
Hearing her speak sent relief flooding through his body.“Just hang on.I have to move a few more boxes.”
Whoever put these in here should have known better than to stack them this high.No wonder they collapsed.Anger at the unknown person pumped through his veins, giving him the extra oomph he needed to raise the heavy box above his head and place it on top of the stack.That just left three boxes to move.
He moved the one closest to him.When he did, he could see Felicity’s legs.As he worked, he once more felt guilty for not being the one to get the sewing machine.It should have been he who got knocked to the ground.Not her.
Maybe if he wasn’t so busy trying to put distance between them, he would have stopped her and gone after the sewing machine himself.Then she wouldn’t be hurt.He just had to hope her injuries weren’t serious.
“Just two more to go.”He searched for a place to put the box.
It took him an agonizing moment to find a spot for the box.He had never seen so much stuff in a storage unit.
He turned around to find Felicity pushing the final box off herself.It was such a relief seeing her moving.He gave her a hand with it.
Once he had the last box out of the way, he turned to her.“How are you?”
She got to her feet.“I’m fine.”
He gave her a once-over.“Are you sure?Maybe we should head to the hospital and let them have a look at you.”
She frowned at him.“When did you become such a worrier?”
“Well, those were heavy boxes.Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?”
“I’m sure.It was my fault.I saw a box with sewing supplies in it, and I wanted to take a look in it, but I must have bumped another box.The next thing I knew they were tumbling down on me.”
“Let’s get you out of here.”
“Not without the supplies.”When he frowned, she said, “I can’t sew anything without thread.”
“Fine.”He turned to straighten the boxes.
It took them a couple of minutes until she located the right box.“I’m not going to open it here.”
“What if it doesn’t have what you want?”
She shrugged.“I’ll deal with it.”
“You’re sure?”When she nodded, he said, “Okay.You go first.”
She arched her brow at him before moving.But the next thing he knew, she tripped over something.He reached out and drew her to him.Her shoulder slammed into his chest, knocking the air from his lungs, or maybe it was her nearness that had him losing his breath.
She turned in his arms and stared up at him.It felt as though time stood still as they stared into each other’s eyes.His heart pounded against his ribs.Could she feel it?Did she know what sort of power she could still wield over him?
In that moment, the past and present collided.His gaze dipped to her lips.They were plump and rosy, just begging to be kissed.Common sense utterly fled him.
He lowered his head to capture her mouth with his own.Thunk!It sounded like one of the boxes he’d moved had fallen.The sound jarred him from the spell that had been cast over him.
Felicity pulled out of his arms.She was now avoiding his gaze.“This can’t happen.”
Her words hit him like a slap in the face.It felt as though the past were repeating itself and not in a good way.She was right.Of course, she was right.He wasn’t thinking clearly.He just needed to get away from her and regain his senses.
“Let’s go.”He nodded toward the furniture they still had to climb over.
She hesitated as though there was something more she wanted to say, but then she turned away.As she climbed onto the armchair, he reached out, holding on to her waist to steady her.Once she was out of reach, he turned and picked up the cardboard box.
