Page 51 of Anything To Be With You

The front door swings open, cracking off the wall.

"Well, isn’t this sweet," Axe’s body slams into mine and I’m squished between two tall boys. "I really feel the love in here, you know."

I snort out a laugh.

"I really feel like punching you in the throat, you know." Mason replies, grabbing Axe’s shirt and drags him out of the kitchen.

"Play nice, Bubba." I call after them, giggling at Mason’s groan.

I turn back to the flowers. I’ve never gotten flowers before, and a part of me is thrilled that a man took a break from his schedule to buy them. I grab my phone again; this time I shoot Luke a text.

Me: Thank you for the beautiful flowers

I toss my phone on the table and wander into the living room. My house is clean, mostly because I went on a cleaning bender when I got home yesterday. I tend to do that when I’m upset or angry. I flop on the couch. My phone dings in the kitchen. If it’s Luke, I will talk to him tomorrow. If I can get past the fact that what he said made me mad at myself for the way I reacted.

Mad because I want him to do everything he’s been thinking about doing to me. I shouldn’t be thinking these kinds of things, he’s my boss, but there is something about him that has me turned inside out.

He’s just…different. Like a tornado. Beautiful but dangerous. He’s organized and professional and hot under the collar. He’s a rubber band ready to snap. He’s completely different from me and I think that’s part of the attraction.

"Oh, thank Christ! You’re alive." Erin’s voice rings out.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t hear the door open.

"Why wouldn’t I be?"

She walks into the living room and sits next to me. "I texted you like six hours ago, and you never answered."

I give her a look. "You did not. I was just talking to you a few minutes ago."

"It’s ten after five."

"What!" I scream. I’ve been sitting on the couch for six fucking hours!

"What’s going on, babe?"

I brush my hair off my face, gripping it at the roots and tell Erin everything I have been going over in my head. From my attraction towards Luke and the way his words made me feel.

"Damn." Erin slumps back against the couch with me.

"Yeah." I release my hair.

"So, if I understand this correctly, you’re pissed that you’re attracted to him," she says.

I nod and she slaps the back of my head. "What is wrong with you? There is nothing wrong with being attracted to him."

I rub my head. "Yeah, there is. He is my boss."

Erin throws her hands in the air. "And Jake was my professor. What’s your point?"

I open my mouth but snap it shut.

Shit. She’s right.

"It’s perfectly normal to be attracted to someone." Erin points out.

"I know."

"Then what’s the problem?"

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