Page 86 of When to Call a Blitz

“I’m not sure I like how predictable I am.”

Heidi looks around the room, taking in everything I’m working on. I’ve moved some things around in the last few days, and the car is almost ready for another test drive.

And there’s a gift sitting on the work bench, but the second I see the look of acknowledgement in her eyes, it fizzles out in an instant.

Her lips turn down at the corners and I can see her bite her cheek, the dimple that forms a dead giveaway that she’s processing something.

“I can’t stay too long,” she whispers. “I just wanted to come talk to you about last night.”

“I meant every word I said,” I say quickly, mentally slapping myself.

She considers my words, and by the look on her face when she opens her mouth, I know I’m about to get hurt. “I have a date,” she admits, unable to meet my eyes.

“Then cancel.”

Her hair falls over her shoulder as she shakes her head. “I can’t do that, Emmett.”

“You can. It’s easy.”

“Emmett. You don’t get to reject me and then get upset when I move on.”

My ears start growing hot. “I’m not denying you.”

With a bite of her lip, Heidi gives one curt nod before turning around. “I think I need to go.”

“Heidi—”

I’m interrupted by her phone ringing, and I know I can be the densest person in the world, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduct who’s calling by the look on her face and the guilt flashing across her eyes as they whip to me.

“Don’t answer that,” I plead. Beg.

She takes the phone out, looking at it for a long second. So long that I think she may actually let it go to voicemail.

But then she hits accept.

“Hey,” she says, sorrow dripping form her words.

She’s been worried this whole entire time that I don’t want her because I don’t show that I do. Because I’ve turned her down. Because I haven’t made it perfectly clear that I want her without a shadow of a doubt.

So in a second of absolute insanity, I close the distance between us, backing her up against the barracuda, her eyes wide with shock.

“I was going to leave in a few?—”

I grab the phone, immediately hanging up without a word.

“Emmett!” Heidi pushes my chest, and I back away.

“Tell me you want me to kiss you,” I tell her, the desperation clear.

“I—”

“If you don’t want me to, I’ll walk out of here right now. But please, Heidi. Tell me you want me to kiss you. I’m begging you.”

Her mouth opens, but her words hang in the air between us. “I?—”

Her phone rings again. I look at it, watching as the nameConnorflashes across the screen.

I keep my eyes on hers as I answer the call, bringing the phone to my ear.

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