Page 41 of Falling For You

As my nose started to run in an utterly non-embarrassing way, I gently forced my eyelids open as he slowly poured the water over my eyeballs.

“Aah,” I said softly. “That feels amazing. I can’t believe it’s not hurting.”

“Blink a few times, and let’s keep pouring.”

I wasn’t one to argue in this situation and happily opened and closed my eyes a few times since everything around me was extremely blurry.

I was drenched from head to toe, with my clothes sticking to me likesnakeskin. My hair was now plastered against mycheeks, with soggy strands dripping down my body. If I had a shot last night with him, I was pretty certain this just made him count his blessings.

“Okay, just a little bit more,” he said sternly. His hand braced the back of my head as he let the liquid trickle over my face, and I tried to pretend that I didn’t look like I felt.

A completely hot mess with a dash of regret sprinkled on top, possibly?

Oh… Why did I try to make friends with Maza? It felt like this was a euphemism for my life.

“How did you know I needed help?” I asked, fluttering my lids a few more times.

“You mean before or after I saw your legs sticking straight up like upside-down popsicle sticks?” He chuckled and shook his head. “I heard a coupleof yelps and a splash. Thankfully, I was just right over the fence line again.”

“You’re really into that property, huh?” I propped open one lid with my finger, still unable to focus entirely on the figure in front of me.

“I might have been hoping to run into you,” he confessed.

My heart skipped a beat between my teeth chattering as I slowly opened my eyes.

Owen was shirtless, a wet flannel draped over his extremely defined forearm. A dopey smile plastered his face as his head tilted slightly.

“You must be freezing,” I said, shivering.

“Nah.” He shook his head. “You’re the one sopping wet. I’ll be fine.”

I started to shrug off his coat, and he laughed.

“It’s already drenched. I won’t be needing it.” He stepped closer, and my heart raced.

I tugged on his wet jacket and smiled at him. “Thank you for this. I don’t think I would have gotten out in one piece.” I took a step forward and stumbled from the cold into his arms.

“Careful now,” he said softly, wrapping his arms around my waist to steady me.

I glanced up at him, shivering. “I still can’t believe Maza pushed me in.”

He smirked. “You sure you didn’t just trip?”

“Positive.”

His eyes locked on mine, making my heart flutter. “And here I thought you noticed me next door and fell for me… literally.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Too soon?” he joked, neither of us taking a step back.

“Definitely too soon.”

Owen’s eyes stayed locked on mine. “I’m just glad you can see again.”

My eyes flitted to his defined chest, only inches away, and a blush crept up my cheeks. “Me too.”

He laughed, and I realized what it looked like.

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