His mouth opened and shut once before his eyes narrowed.
“Are you fucking with me?”
“Yep. Since me in jeans has you practically speechless.”
I stared down at my outfit again as Binh dropped off the drinks. Picking up a beer, I took a long pull.
“I like you,” he said, furrowing his eyebrows and picking up the beer to eye the label. He took a drink then put it down, crossing his arms to make his tattoos dance across his skin.
Now it was my turn for stunned silence. What do I say to that?
Thank you.
I like you too.
The way you wrapped your mouth around that beer bottle made me want to lick your lips like brownie batter off a spoon.
“I like your...” I whispered, watching the right side of Mark’s mouth lift.
I like your mouth.
I like your lips.
He cocked his head to the side. “You like my what?”
“Hmm?” I rested my one arm on the table and stared dreamily at Mark.
“You said you like my...something, and then you stopped.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
“Wait—what?”
Was I saying my thoughts out loud?
“Like you. I meant I like you too, Mark.” I glanced down at my hands and tapped my fingers on the table, trying to focus anywhere but on Mark’s full-on smirk. “Two likes is too much, probably.”
Mark laughed, and the rich baritone sound forced my eyes up to his face. He reached across the table, and his long fingers wrapped around my small hand. His palm engulfed mine in warmth, but the simple contact sent goosebumps up my arm as he stroked his thumb back and forth over mine.
“It’s okay, Jenna. I said it first.”
The air electrified around us, and our eyes connected. I swallowed, wishing I could convince Binh to let me use the walk-in freezer until my pulse slowed down.
“This conversation probably had a point,” I said, as Mark blinked and pulled back his hand.
“Right, sorry.” He ran his hand through his thick, blonde hair.“I was wondering if the offer to move in was still on the table.”
“Of course it is. I meant to text you today, but the clinic was slammed.”
“Are you sure?” He rubbed the back of his neck and took another sip of beer before pushing it to the middle of the table.“My hours will be crazy for the next two weeks, and Phoebe still needs extra care.”
“I truly don’t mind. I’m normally up by five and sleep like the dead. Phoebe can come to work with me until she makes it through her first rounds of vaccinations. It’s no trouble.”
“You are really pulling my ass out of the fire. You know that, right?”
“Hey, Mark. Listen,” I said, reaching across the small table to take his hand again. He looked at our joined hands before bringing his gaze back to my face.
“One of my best friends is Annaleigh Mackey. Jake Rosenburg is her boss. She told me what you did for her. How you helped her with that awful guy from her office.”
He blinked and shook his head, focusing on the window.
