Page 50 of Avoiding Temptation
His words hang heavy between us. I desperately want to agree and allow myself to see where this thing between us might go, but I’m scared. Terrified actually.
“Joe, I—”
“Let’s not do this now. Let me walk you up?”
I should say no, but when I open my mouth, those aren’t the words that fall out. “Sure.”
By the time I pull myself from the passenger seat, Joe is already walking towards me, having retrieved my bag from the back of his van.
“If you’re lucky, I’ll give you a little something to tide you over until after work tomorrow.”
Ignoring the heat that rushes through my body, I turn to look up at him. “I don’t remember agreeing to seeing you tomorrow night.”
“I wasn’t aware I needed your permission.”
I want to argue, but the sight of the front door of my building makes me lose focus. The panels where the glass used to be is now two panels of plywood, and the metal by the lock is very obviously buckled.
My heart jumps into my throat, and my stomach turns over. I don’t need any more information to know who it was that caused that.
I can feel it.
As I go to take a step forward, I swear my fucking bones tremble with fear.
Will he be upstairs waiting for me? Was my paranoia warranted? Have I been being followed?
A million and one thoughts and fears hit me at once as I fight to drag in the breath I desperately need while not trying to look like a total head case in front of Joe.
“What the fuck is wrong with people?” he asks, walking us up to the door and giving it no more than a gentle shove to make it open. “Fucking kids.”
If I were a little more focused on him right now, I might make a joke about the kind of teenager he was, because from the things he’s hinted at this weekend, breaking into a flat building is probably tame for what he got up to.
“They probably just wanted to steal the post or something,” I mutter, not believing a word of it. “I’m okay from here if you want to head off home.”
“I thought I just promised you another orgasm.”
“I know, but I’ve already taken up all of your weekend. I’m sure you’ve got better things to be doing.”
“Absolutely not. Trust me when I say that there’s nowhere I’d rather be, or anything else I’d rather be doing right now than be with you.”
I nod but I don’t really register the words. I know I should be swooning, but I’m too focused on what I’m going to find on the other side of the door.
“I know what you’re trying to do, Quinn, and it won’t work.”
“What’s that?” I ask, feigning innocence.
“You’re trying to hide the fact that you’re scared by pushing me away.”
Damn him.
“I…I…” Sucking in a deep breath, I allow the fear I’m trying to stamp down to rumble down my spine.
“What are you scared of?”
“I’m just being silly. Come on, I’m sure it’s just a broken door.”
He looks at me curiously, but after pausing for a beat he gestures for me to walk into the building.
Everything looks as it usually does as we climb the stairs. The terrible graffiti is still covering the walls. The same bare patches on the steps stare up at me. Every single thing is exactly the same as every other time I’ve been here, until we’re facing my door.
