Page 20 of Absolutely Not in Love
“What do you want?” she asks.
I brace both hands above the door jamb and lean close, close enough to catch the scent of her hair and see the freckles dotting her cheeks. “I just wanted to make a couple of things clear.”
She lifts her brows, her lips parting as she leans forward the slightest bit.
“Number one,” I say. “I would have gone to the symphony concert tonight regardless of whether you were playing. It’s something my mom and I like to do together.”
Color climbs up her cheeks, like she’s embarrassed she ever even considered that I was there for her. But she has nothing to be embarrassed about.
“But that doesn’t mean I didn’tthink about seeing you.” I lick my lips and lean even closer. “That doesn’t mean my eyes weren’t on you the entire night.”
Gracie sucks in a breath, but she still doesn’t say anything.
I drop one hand from the door jamb and slip it around her waist, my fingers pressing lightly against her back as I whisper, “You might as well have been the only one on stage, Gracie.”
She closes her eyes, and I see the flutter of her pulse in the hollow of her throat.
“As for changing your mind about hockey players,” I continue, “and this is point number two, my mother raised me to be a gentleman, so if you tell me you don’t want to date a hockey player, I won’t push you.”
Gracie tucks her dark hair behind her ear, and I resist the urge to reach out and slide the silky strands through my fingers.
“I appreciate that,” she says softly.
“But just for the record, I wouldlovefor you to change your mind. And if you ever do, I hope I’m the first one you think of.”
Her lips quirk up to the side, and her body leans toward me the slightest bit.
It’s all I can do not to wrap an arm around her waist and tug her into my arms, feel the press of her body against mine.
“Not Eli?” she says, humor lacing her tone.
My jaw clenches at the thought, my words coming out raspy and rough. “Definitely not Eli.” I reach up and touch her elbow, my fingers sliding over the soft silk of her black blouse. I hold her gaze for a long moment, then drop my hand. “Good night, Gracie.”
I’m just inside my apartment door, about to slide it closed when I finally hear her whisper, “Good night.”
It isn’t much.
But it’s something.
And with Gracie, I’m quickly learning I’ll take anything I can get.
Chapter Five
Gracie
“Youabsolutelyhavetogo out with him,” Summer says from behind me.
I lean against my front door, my back pressed flat, my elbow still tingling with the lingering heat of Felix’s touch.
“Seriously, Gracie. He looked at you like he wants toeatyou.” Summer steps up right in front of me, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “Yo. You in there? Speak, or I’m going to get Felix so he can come over and kiss you out of your trance.”
I roll my eyes and shove her hands away. “I’m not in a trance. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Because the kissing thing sounds like it could be really fun.”
I pull off my heels and toss them toward my bedroom door. “I’m not going to kiss Felix.”
“You are going to go out with him though. Please tell me you are.”
