Page 30 of The Only Time

What is it about her that has me reacting like this? I’ve never been so crazy over a woman before. I’ve been attracted to them, wanted to sleep with them, but it was never such an out of control, all-consuming feeling. Not like what I’m experiencing now.

This is terrifying.

I walk into the kitchen and she’s on her phone. She’s holding a cup of coffee in her hand and laughing at something. She hasn’t noticed me yet, so I just stand here watching her. She’s effortlessly beautiful.

Not an ounce of makeup on, hair a mess, but still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

I try to work out what draws me to her like this, but it’s impossible to calculate. She just seems different from any of the women I’ve been around. Kindness radiates from her, touching anyone who is in her path.

She’s dangerous. She has the power to break me, which is why I cannot let myself give in. I have to be strong and resist.

I take confident strides directly to the coffee machine. This is ridiculous. No woman has that kind of power over me anymore, not again. I start to pour my coffee and she reaches around me to grab the creamer.

Her arm brushes my stomach, causing the hairs all over my body to stand. She just goes about refilling her coffee like she didn’t just turn me upside down with a simple touch.

It pisses me off. I wonder how she would like it if I did the same to her.

Fuck it. If she wants to drive me crazy, let’s see how she feels. I’ve seen the way she looks at me, I know she likes what she sees.

I can tell she’s talking to Layla. I hear my sister’s loud voice through the speaker as she rambles on about God knows what. She has her elbows on the counter as she continues to talk like I’m not here.

She’s bent over the counter, ass sticking out. I decide I definitely need something from the drawer she is standing in front of. I can’t even remember what’s in that drawer at the moment, but that doesn’t matter.

I step behind her, my body a breath away from hers. I place my hand on her hip and give it a gentle squeeze. She stands up straight and turns to look at me. I step closer until my body is flush against hers.

Her eyes open wide. I let time stand still as we both stare at each other, our breaths mix together. I get lost in her reaction,noticing her cleavage that is now rising and falling rapidly. Then I remember what I’m supposed to be doing.

I reach for the drawer, pushing my body further onto hers. I open it and grab the first thing my hand touches, never letting my eyes leave hers. Retreating back a couple of steps, I raise my hand.

A small smirk creeps across her mouth. I’m holding my niece’s miniature doll. I don’t know how the damn thing got in there, but here I am, a grown man trying to play tricks on the woman who is driving him crazy, holding up a damn doll.

I feel my face turn down in anger as she bites her curved lip.

“Dammit,” I growl as I throw the doll on the ground and storm off.

That is not what was supposed to happen. My hand grips my hair as I pace in my bedroom. If I didn’t have this fucking sling on, I could at least lift some weights to blow off some steam.

I don’t know what the hell I’m doing anymore.

I want to tell her to leave, that this is starting to fuck with my head, but with her ex out there, I can’t imagine letting her leave. She’s only been here for a week, and I’m already worried about her like she means something to me. It’s crazy.

I need to figure out a way to release some energy in this damn sling. I have some large logs that need to be cut for my outdoor fireplace. I can cut through all of it if I use the electric chainsaw.

Fuck it. I don’t care if it’s annoying or how long it takes, I need to get out of here. I’ll get some work done later.

My arm is doing better anyway. With the ibuprofen, it only hurts when I move it. I slide my sling off and whip my shirt over my head with my good arm, then put the sling back on.

It’s sunny out and probably in the seventies, I don’t need a shirt while I’m working out there. We’re most likely on our last few days of getting some good vitamin D before the colder weather starts to gray the sky.

The sun beats down on my back as I cut the final piece of wood. I’ve been at it for hours, but it’s been worth it. I’m drenched in sweat. I wish I could go jump in the pool, but my stitches won’t allow for that. I’m stuck with only a shower to cool me off.

On my way back to the house, I spot movement by the pool. Mia is resting on one of the chairs in a red two-piece bikini.

Avoid her, you fool.

Instead of listening to my inner voice, my feet start taking me directly to the pool. I stand at the end of her chair as I wait for her to notice me. I cough, impatient with her complete disregard of my presence.

“Oh, hey,” she smiles up at me.

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