Page 16 of Mark my Words

“Is that what’s been wrong with you this week?” Here I thought it was because I’d riled him up. “You can’t handle reading about a little dick?”

“Well, I thought we talked about that part before.” He leaned in even closer, his hand coming forward to rest on the elevator wall next to my head. “You told me I had big dick energy.”

I most certainly did not tell him that, but now I was wondering...

The hairs on my neck stood up as I gazed at his intense stare. His lips parted slightly, and I couldn’t stop looking at them. Would they feel as soft as they looked? Was he one of those soft sensual kissers, or did he push you up against the wall and take over until you felt like your lungs would explode? I wasn’t sure which one sounded more appealing.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at a loss for words,” he whispered as his other hand reached toward my face. My lips parted, and I held my breath as his finger touched my cheek—tucking a wayward strand of hair behind my ear—his hand lingering and then pulling away. I’d always thought that was only a cliché in the romance novels I edited, but it still made my pulse skyrocket.

“Who...” I breathed out, suddenly having an Amy Farrah Fowler moment. I could understand her involuntary noises around attractive men on a soul-deep level. It took a lot to get me flustered, but Sam whispering the word dick in my ear was making something other than my jaw clench.

“Use your words, Kristine. I know that you are familiar with quite a few of them.”

I can’t right now, Sam. But keep up the teasing, and I might be able to use my kneecap.

“I...uh…” Couldn’t form a complete sentence to save my life as his masculine scent clouded my brain cells and, apparently, my judgment as I kept staring at his mouth. What in the fuck was wrong with me?

The elevator stopped, and Sam stepped back, shooting me a teasing grin over his shoulder before holding out his hand and gesturing for me to walk out ahead of him. “After you...”

Dodging the people waiting just past the door, I wove through the building lobby, unlocking my phone and trying to see if there was an Uber nearby. I could tell by the beating of my heart that the thought of Sam coming after me again excited me. I already knew that because I’d slumped against the locker room door the other day in the gym, panting as if I’d run a marathon instead of three miles.

Maybe I was the one who’d been broken. My physical reaction to Sam was precisely why I liked to stay in my own lane. Adrian and Sam had forced their way into my life, and now those little shits were screwing everything up.

“Hey, wait up,” Sam’s voice carried across the lobby as I pulled open the door. His hand grabbed the frame and held it while he followed me out onto the sidewalk.

“What do you want?” I asked and watched as his gaze swept down my body before he looked back into my eyes.

“I’m going to the dentist. I wasn’t trying to skip out on work. Andrea asked me about something for one of her classes, and I was helping her out before I left.” He seemed a little flustered, and I wasn’t sure I was happy I’d gotten what I’d asked. It made me want to return to the days when we just passed each other in the hallways with a nod and sat across the table in department meetings. Being thrown into proximity to him was messing with my head. “Next time, just tell Adrian to send Carson to get his food.”

“I would have, but he cornered me in Isobel’s office, and she told me to go. I’m sure she was trying to get rid of me. Have you been getting some weird vibes off them lately?”

“Yeah, I have, but...” A loud honk from the street drew our attention. It appeared my ride was waiting.

“I should go,” I said awkwardly and watched as he shoved his hands in the front pockets of his pants.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll see you around.” He nodded, and then I awkwardly nodded back, not knowing how to navigate this new dynamic in our relationship. His body language indicated that he was nervous around me, but I’d also noted minor signs of attraction. I knew I’d felt the same way, but it was probably because of what we’d read together. I was projecting the chemistry that Chase and Evan had produced onto Sam.

It couldn’t possibly be that he was attractive, vaguely funny, had gorgeous eyes and broad shoulders. It most definitely was not because I wanted to run my fingers through his hair to see if it was as soft as it looked.

“You better go.” He gestured toward the waiting car as the driver rolled down his window and gave me the stink eye.

“Yeah.” Before this got any more awkward. “See ya later, I guess. Are you coming back this afternoon?”

“I should be, but...”

“Yeah?”

“Are you planning to hit up that bar where the graphic design team is throwing Carrie’s birthday party on Friday?” I looked up at him in surprise. While he may have been social with others we worked with, I tended to stick to myself. Even friendships got messy when you worked together; it was easier not to form attachments.

“I wasn’t, but...”

“You should,” he encouraged. “It’ll be fun. They’ve got karaoke and darts.”

Another honk from the curb, and I knew this guy would ding my rating if I didn’t hurry up.

“Just text me the details, and I’ll think about it.” I held my phone up like a giant dork and shook it before I hustled across the sidewalk and into the waiting car.

“Sorry,” I apologized as I buckled myself in. I’m sure the driver probably already started the clock, so my awkward little exchange with Sam cost me more than just my sanity. At least Isobel’s expense account was the one paying for it.

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