Page 21 of Enemy Crush
I glance up and see the fire in his eyes. I guess he’s right. He’s sure surprised me.
We finish dinner and go back to having a few beers and playing our old pub-style games. We play the same games over and over, but the fun never stops.
“Here, stand here,” he says, putting his hands on my hips and pulling me over in front of him. I feel my cheeks burn from having his hands on me. I let the ring go and it sails through the air, but it doesn’t land on the hook. I couldn’t focus with the way he was touching me and the funny thing is that it was a completely innocent touch. He didn’t even seem to notice it.
He catches the ring and I try again. This time, I push everything from my brain. I ignore the way one of his hands is still lingering on my hip. I ignore the way his breath feels on my cheek as he watches from over my shoulder. I let the ring go, it flies through the air, and then I hear a littlechingsound. It landed on the hook!
I throw my arms up and cheer as I spin around to face him. He’s wearing a wide smile and his eyes are bright and sparkling. He cheers with me, but somehow it feels like we’re both moving in slow motion. We’re getting closer and time doesn’t speed back up until my arms are around his neck and I’m pulling his lips to mine.
His mouth was tight at first with the surprise, but his lips become more fluid and they move with my own as his hands move to my hips, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss. This is the second time we’ve kissed and I’m not sure what to think. I mean, does he like me? Does he want to date? And how can we go from hating one another to kissing so fast? What does all this mean? Where will it take us? There’s so much to talk about, but how do you bring up something like this in normal conversation?
I’m about to pull away and ask all these questions, but his hands start to move up my back. They’re strong and powerful, but soft against the back of my dress. I thread my fingers into his hair, slightly tugging as the kiss intensifies. Butterflies in my stomach take flight, fluttering their wings against every nerve ending and lighting my blood on fire. I’ve never wanted to be with a man as badly as I want to be with him, but this is too fast.
I slow the kiss and break it off. My hands are against his chest as I take a step back. “I should go.”
His smile falls slightly, but he catches it and pulls it back into place. “Uh, yeah. Okay.”
The two of us head for the back door and we walk into the house together. In the living room, I grab my purse and he holds open the front door.
“Thanks for inviting me over. I had a lot of fun.”
He nods. “Yeah, any time. I promise I’ll make something better than hot dogs next time.”
I smile. “It was great.”
“Good night, Stella,” he says softly, sounding like he wants to say so much more.
“Good night, Paxton,” I reply, wanting to say more but not knowing what.
I start my way home, walking down the sidewalk. The sun is starting to set and the crickets are starting their song. It’s a beautiful day and the breeze is still warm. There are children playing in their yards and a few cars and bikes riding down the street. But I don’t really notice any of them. My mind is still back there in Paxton’s back yard where my lips were against his.
I know I should have asked all my questions right then, but I think a part of me didn’t want to bust the perfect little bubble we’re in right now. Right now, not knowing, this could be anything. It could be the start to an epic love story, the beginning of our forever. But knowing is where the danger lies. What if he just says something like,I thought we were just having a good time. I didn’t mean anything by it. Then all my hopes and dreams are shattered. Not knowing can sometimes be better than knowing.
I get home and I take a long hot shower after spending the day outside. My hair is tangled from the wind and I take extra time to do a hair mask while I shave and wash off. By the time I get out, my hair is free with tangles and my skin is silky smooth. I pull on some warm pajamas, make a cup of tea, and go to the bedroom to read. The story is not enough to keep my mind occupied through and I find that I’m too amped up to do something as quiet as reading. I toss the book to the side and instead grab my computer.
I reach out to a few more authors, explain the situation, and ask if they’d be interested in helping the store. I send out the emails and by the time I finish, it’s nearly ten o’clock and my energy is gone. I shut everything down for the night and drift into a peaceful sleep.
I wake in the morning and I get ready for work. I stop at the bakery and grab some coffee and a muffin. I pass by the bookstore, but it’s dark inside since it’s too early to open. I head to work and get busy. It’s pushing noon when I decide to check my email again. To my surprise, I have a new email from author Tracy Q. I click on it, preparing for a rejection. My eyes skim the letter. She’s agreed to do a signing! I grab my phone, ready to call Paxton but decide against it. I’m so excited that I want to tell him myself, not over the phone. I reply to her email, thanking her again and again. For the rest of the day, I feel like I have ants in my pants. I can’t sit still and my focus is on Paxton and the store.
I finally clock out at three, knowing I won’t make it the rest of the day. My work has been completed and there is nothing else to do anyway. I say goodbye to my boss and head out to my car. I drive directly to the shop with the printed email. I want to watch his face as he reads the email. The door to the store has been propped open to let in the warm breeze. I walk through the open door and spin in a circle, finding nobody.
He must be back in the office. I head toward the back of the store and that’s when I hear the sound of a woman’s voice. I stop in my tracks and peek around the corner. It’s Paxton and his ex. They’re alone in his office.
It feels like I’ve gotten the answer I didn’t want. Instead of interrupting them, I turn and walk away, leaving the piece of paper on the counter for him to see. I’ve just been reminded of why mixing business with pleasure doesn’t work. Paxton and I are nothing to one another. But I still have a job to do and I have to pretend like my heart isn’t broken. I never should have let things go this far.
I climb behind the wheel and start for my house. I drive slowly, not in any hurry to get anywhere at this point. My mind is completely silent for the first time in a long time. For once, I’m not thinking about what I need to do or the work that needs done. I’m not thinking about my job or the store. I’m not thinking about Paxton. I’m just thinking of nothing but the weird pain in my chest.
I pull my car into the drive and I shut it off. I unbuckle my seatbelt and grab my purse. Opening the door, I step out and head for the house. Just as I’m putting my key into the lock, I hear the sound of gravel crunching and I turn around to see Paxton’s truck pulling up behind my car.
A long breath escapes my lips and I don’t even know where it came from. He looks panicked. He throws the truck into park, shuts off the engine, then jumps out and rushes up to me.
“What?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You were just at the store?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
