Page 74 of We Met Like This
“I know you didn’t just ask me to model for you,” Oliver said. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Stop looking at me like that.”
I had been scanning his body, trying to imagine what was hiding under his thick, dark T-shirt. “Have youseenyourself? You were made to model. Show me what I’m working with.” I tugged on the sleeve of his shirt. “Just a little peek.”
He met my eyes with a calm stare, but I could see the teasing twinkle behind it. “Is this how you talk to your friends?”
“All of them,” I said.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oliver, I promise it will be tasteful and anonymous. Here, let me show you what I’m talking about.” I clicked on what I thought would open a new window on the computer only to have a screen from the bottom bar open. A paused image of Johnny and Baby from the cabin scene inDirty Dancingcame up. “Are you watching this movie?” I asked, surprised.
“Someone told me it was good,” he said, meeting my eyes, his expression suddenly impossible to read.
“It is,” I said. “A classic.” My heart thudded heavily in my chest as I remembered what I’d told him about this movie. That if someone hadn’t watched it, that was a dealbreaker. It had been a joke, but still, he really was trying to get to know me better. Putting in the work. I couldn’t remember the last time a man had done that for me. “What are your dealbreakers?” I said, realizing I’d never asked him that question.
“Someone asking me to model shirtless for their website.”
I laughed. “Seriously, nobody will know it’s you.”
“Youwill. And you’ll tell Sloane. And she’ll tell everyone.”
“I swear on my life I won’t tell her.”
“Margot, come on.”
“Yes, come on.” I took his hand in mine, always looking for an excuse to touch him—I’d been wanting to all night—and met his eyes.
“Not even with those eyes,” he said, squeezing my hand. “But your idea is good. What about a bright room with a messy bed in the distance. It would be less in-your-face. Perhaps a step classier.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled. Maybe he was right. A dark hall, a lit bed in the distance? “What’s your bedroom look like?”
“I was thinking we’d use yours.”
“I want a man’s bedroom. Is your bedroom as cool as the rest of your house?”
His fingers tightened around mine as if he was talking himself through all the possible outcomes of having his bedroom posted online. He came to some conclusion, because he stood. “You tell me.”
CHAPTER 22
The hall wasn’t that long, but the walk from the office to the door at the end seemed like an eternity with my heart thumping heavy in my chest and my skin reacting to every stimulus, even the air, it seemed.
I have self-control, I reminded myself once more. Unless he didn’t want me to have it.No.I had not come here to ravage Oliver. We were getting to know each other. I had come here to make a website.
The hall was dark. Had it always been this dark? It would be perfect for the photo, but right now my mind didn’t need any more excuses to think what it wanted to think. I looked around for a light switch, but we were already to the door. Standing outside of it. He paused as if he understood the story element of a dramatic reveal. He grabbed hold of the handle and leaned his right shoulder into the door. I was next to him, waiting. When nothing happened, I looked up at him.
He smiled. “I can’t believe you talked me into this.”
“It honestly wasn’t that hard,” I said. My voice was silkier than I meant for it to be.
He held my stare as if daring me to do something. I broke eye contact first. He opened the door and flipped on the light.
“My sister would love you,” I breathed out as I took in the room. The bed had a dark wood headboard. Around that, thin strips of wood formed geometric shapes that were then painted the same color as the wall. The bedding was rich in both color and material. A double row of pillows leaned against the headboard.
“She does interior design?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “This is why you agreed. You knew you had the perfect bed for this. It’s even framed perfectly by the door.”
A smile crept onto his face. “It is rather perfect.”
