“The location has potential, but we should see a few other sites before making a decision,” he says. “We have time.”
“Right.” I tap my fingers on the steering wheel, searching for something else to say. The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Listen, Martin, about Cassidy… He, um, seemed pretty interested in you. I, ah… I hope I didn’t screw that up for you. I mean, I don’t want you to feel awkward or anything, just because we’re working together or roommates or whatever…" I clear my throat awkwardly. "But, um, I kind of got the impression up there that maybe you weren’t into him, and uh…” My voice trails off awkwardly.
I wait, my heart pounding as Martin stays silent.Shit. I’ve totally misread everything. He’s pissed off.I grip the steering wheel tightly, bracing myself for his anger.
Finally, Martin speaks. “Jesse, you didn’t screw anything up.” His voice is soft, reassuring. The tension in my shoulders eases a bit. “I wasn’t interested in Cassidy at all. To be honest, I found his flirting a bit… uncomfortable.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Oh, okay. Okay. Good.”
He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “Really. I appreciate you looking out for me. It means a lot.”
Relief washes over me, but it’s quickly followed by a surge of something else. Something hot and exciting that I’m not quite ready to name. I’ve never seen myself in the role of a protector before. But I think maybe I like it.
I suck in a breath, the cool air from the air-conditioning filling my lungs. “Okay. Good." I take a deep breath. I guess now is thetime to tell him about my plans for the weekend.Shit, I hope he likes the idea.
“Okay, then,” I say again. “I, uh, I actually have a surprise for you.”
Martin turns toward me with a quizzical look. “Oh? What would that be?”
I take a deep breath. “Well, I know Richard’s birthday was a tough day for you, so I thought you could use a bit of a break.” I swallow before continuing, nervous as hell, for some reason. “Anyway, I thought, maybe, you might like to go to Disneyland and check out Galaxy’s Edge. So I made us some reservations for this weekend at the Grand Californian Hotel and got us park tickets.”
For a second, his expression is unreadable while he stares at me in silence.
Panic flares in my chest.Shit, did I go too far? Have I somehow fucked everything up by planning something so… relationshippy? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
But suddenly, the car fills with the sound of his laughter, and relief floods through me. “You’re serious? We’re going to Disneyland?” His eyes sparkle with childlike excitement.
I grin, nodding. “Yeah. All we’ve really done since you arrived is work. I want to show you California, and what better place to start than the happiest place on Earth, right?”
Martin reaches over and squeezes my arm, his touch sending shivers down my spine. “Jesse, this is brilliant. No one has surprised me like this in… forever. Thank you. Truly, thank you so much.”
I glance at him, ready to bask in his excitement, but I’m shocked when I realize his eyes are glassy with unshed tears. I’ve never seen him vulnerable like this, not even on Richard’s birthday.
My heart clenches, and I’m overwhelmed with the desire to touch him. I want to brush my thumb across his cheek and catch those tears before they fall. To pull him close and breathe him in. My fingers twitch on the steering wheel, itching to feel his skin under them.
I drop my eyes to his lips, and I’m hit with a vivid memory of how they felt against mine that night in Seattle. Soft, warm, eager. He tasted of whiskey and lust and something uniquely Martin. My mouth goes dry, and I have to swallow hard.
The air in the car is thick, and every cell in my body is screaming at me to lean over and kiss him. I’m dying to see if the intensity of that night in Seattle was real or if it was just some alcohol-fueled fantasy that I've been nurturing for all these months.
Now, though, there's more than just physical attraction between us. There’s something about Martin that makes my feelings run deeper, making me want more than just sex. His wit, his compassion, the way he listens like every word I say matters. I want to peel back all his layers, to know every secret, every fear, every dream. I want to know all about his past, and I desperately want to be part of his present. And, maybe, part of his future.
I force myself to look away, gripping the steering wheel so tightly, my knuckles go white. My heart beats so loudly he can probably hear it banging into my ribcage.
It wouldn’t work. It would be silly to try it. We decided to leave things as friends, and that’s fine. It’s fine. We’re working together. It wouldn’t be professional.The list of reasons I shouldn’t lean in and kiss him runs on a loop through my head.
The problem is none of the reasons currently running through my mind seem to be anywhere near as powerful as my desire to feel him pressed up against me again.
Chapter 6
Martin
The air in the car crackles with tension. I can see the hunger and lust swirling in Jesse's eyes. His gaze flickers to my lips, and for a moment, I think he’s going to close the distance between us. My heart races, anticipation building in my chest. But then, as quickly as it appeared, the moment shatters. He breaks eye contact, clearing his throat and shifting in his seat.
Disappointment lances through me.God, I want him to kiss me. I want him to use me, to take what he needs. I want to be the one to give him everything he craves, just like I did that one night in Seattle. A shiver runs through me just thinking about it.
“So, let’s be on our way,” he says, shifting the car into drive. “Traffic will be heavy getting up to Anaheim since it’s Friday, but we can check in to the hotel and then decide if we want to go into the park tonight.”
“That sounds perfect,” I say.
