Page 21 of Grayson

“No.” I pick up my phone and reach for the door handle looking back over my shoulder at him. “I’m not.” Pulling, I open the door of the cab and climb out.

I was lying, and he knew I was, I could tell from the way he was watching me. I had to clear my head. I needed some space.

Vivian was right, this was a bad idea.

Reaching the stairwell, I start to climb the stairs, hearing his boots beating the pavement behind me. Then the pounding of his footsteps on the stairs, I refuse to look back.

Once I’m at the top and I can see the door to my apartment I feel a sense of relief, which is short-lived. A strong arm wraps around my waist and suddenly I am brought to a halt, my back collided with a strong chest.

“What are you racing to, or should I say running from?”

“You.” The word tumbles from my lips and I instantly regret it.

I feel him take a deep breath, as he has yet to release me.

“There’s no reason to run.” He buries his nose in my hair, and until then I hadn’t realized that I was holding my breath. When his hold starts to relax and slowly his hand falls from my waist he steps back and I know I should feel relief only I don’t.

“Good night, Skye.” I swallow hard, closing my eyes. “Good night,” I reply in nothing more than a whisper.

Forcing my legs to move, I walk toward my door and push my key into the lock. As I twist the handle I look to my left to see him standing in the threshold of his own apartment.

“I enjoyed spending time with you tonight.” It’s not what I expect him to say. “We should do it again some time.”

And with that he moves into his apartment and I remain in the doorway of my own, finding the urge to chase after him.

15

Grayson Hawk

“Are you sure you measured this?” I laugh when Scarlett glares at me.

“Yes, three times.” She huffs in annoyance.

“Did you measure it from edge to edge, or did you overlap and got corner to corner?” She pauses, looking out to the counter space and then the opposite side. I can tell she is lost in thought.

“From edge to edge,” she finally offers, but her furrowed brows and creased forehead tell me she’s not sure.

“Give me the tape measure.” I grab it from her and go from the inside of one space to the opposite side. Then I measure the pantry cabinet and find that it’s about a quarter of an inch too wide for the space. “Won’t work.”

“It will.” The only thing she is missing is the stomp of her foot to complete her pouting fit.

“How about I grab a beer and sit right over there. If it’ll fit, I’d love to see you make that quarter inch disappear.”

“Have I ever told you that I hate you?” She glares at me and I fight the urge to laugh.

“Every single time I tell you something that you don’t like to hear.” Turning around I grab myself a beer and then take one out for her too. Popping the top she sits down at the table and she joins me, scowling at the beer bottle like it is responsible for the wrong measurements of the cabinet.

“I don’t think I can return it.” She looks so sad.

“I’m sure you can find someone that can use it.”

“Do you need a pantry?”

“You know me, I barely have food in my place.” I take a drink of my beer. “It would end up holding junk that I need to hide in a hurry when someone knocks on my door.”

Scarlett laughs. “Like empty beer bottles and empty take-out containers.”

“Yep.” She knows me well. “And dirty socks.”

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