Page 17 of Suddenly Desired
“Trust me,” Ellie said, her voice softer than she intended, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. She could almost hear her brain screaming at her.You’ve known this guy for five minutes, and now you’re telling him he can’t afford you and holding his hand like it’s a scene from some romantic drama. “It will get better.”
Her fingers still tingled from the contact, the warmth of his hand lingering even as she pulled hers back. The sensation spread like a slow electric current, settling low in her belly and leaving her slightly breathless.
Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced down at the table, unable to meet Blake’s gaze. The flickering candlelight felt too intimate, the air between them too charged. She darted a glance at the bar, then at the couple laughing quietly in the corner, before finally settling on the ceiling fan, as if it held the answers to all her questions.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence felt heavy, not awkward, but loaded with something unspoken. Ellie’s pulse raced as she dared another quick look at Blake. His face was unreadable, but his jaw was tight, his eyes dark and stormy beneath his hooded brows. He looked like he was fighting some internal battle, one she couldn’t quite decipher.
Finally he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “You have a way of making things sound so . . . simple.”
“It doesn’t feel simple to you?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Blake shook his head, a faint, rueful smile tugging at his lips. “Not even close.”
Ellie swallowed hard, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her napkin. “Maybe you’re overthinking it,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “Sometimes you just need to . . . let go.”
Blake’s eyes snapped to hers, and the intensity in his gaze sent a spark rushing through her. The corner of his mouth curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile — more like a challenge.
“Let go, huh?” he murmured, his voice low, almost teasing. “And what would that look like?”
Ellie’s breath caught, her mind scrambling for a response. “Well,” she said, forcing a small, nervous laugh, “it probably wouldn’t involve brooding over an espresso.”
Blake chuckled, the sound deep and rich, sending a delicious shiver down her spine. “Point taken,” he said, leaning forward slightly, his forearms resting on the table. “But maybe I need some inspiration for what else to do. Any suggestions?”
Her heart skipped, the space between them suddenly feeling much too small. She tried to focus on her drink, but his gaze was magnetic, pulling her back to him.
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice softer now, almost breathless. “Maybe start with something easy. Like . . . relaxing.”
Blake smirked, his eyes flicking briefly to her lips before meeting hers again. “You make it sound so doable.”
“It is,” she shot back, her confidence building under his scrutiny. “You just need the right company.”
His smile deepened, and he leaned in just a fraction closer. “Lucky for me, I seem to have found that.”
Ellie felt her cheeks burn, the heat spreading down her neck as her pulse thundered in her ears. The tension between them was palpable, a slow, simmering heat that made her feel like the room had grown ten degrees warmer.
She cleared her throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. “Let’s hope I’m as good an influence as you think Iam,” she said lightly, though her voice trembled just enough to betray her.
Blake’s lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile, and the look in his eyes made her stomach do somersaults. “Oh, I’d say you’re doing pretty well so far,” he said, his voice low and smooth, sending another ripple of heat through her.
“Mr Fielding,” she said, leaning back and crossing her arms, her confidence blossoming. “Is that your way of saying you’re impressed?”
Blake raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Maybe.”
“Not too sweet for your bitter, coffee soul?” Ellie replied, her smile growing.
His eyes gleamed, a spark of intrigue lighting them up. “Oh, I can handle it,” he said, his voice dropping slightly. “The question is, can you?”
Her heart skipped, but she didn’t look away. “Guess we’ll find out.”
The playful tension between them simmered, and Ellie felt like the world outside the booth had melted away. It wasn’t just the flicker of candlelight or the quiet hum of the café — it was him. His presence, his voice, the way he looked at her like she was the most interesting person in the room.
And for the first time in a long time, she liked how that felt.
Ellie traced her finger around the rim of her cup, her gaze flicking up to meet Blake’s. She felt relaxed in his company, not scared that he was going to change his whole persona the way Josh used to, depending on who he was trying to impress.
“You ever meet someone who seems like they have it all together, but underneath, they’re just . . . pretending?”
Blake raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “All the time,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “Why?”
