Page 16 of New Girl in Town
I nodded, running a hand through my hair and doing my best not to think of the state of my eyes or what kind of prescription I would need just to get the mail. “Of course,” I answered, voice coming out too shrill to be natural.
“Are you sure?”
“Why do you ask? I’m peachy.”
He rocked back on his heels. “You seem…stressed.”
“It’s these mailboxes. I think mine is broken,” I said, jerking a thumb over at the mailbox with a weak laugh. Gone was the easy way Grant and I had interacted, and I knew he could sense the absence. I read it all over the concern that painted his features.
His handsome features, which suddenly didn’t look a day older than 30.
The thought made me want to stamp my foot in frustration, but it couldn’t be helped, not when all I could think of was what Melinda had told me.
Ten years younger.
Good lord, what was I going to do? When I was alone, the answer was clear. I had made up my mind the second Melinda left for work.
I was going to let Grant down, I was going to let him know that, while the date was lovely, I couldn’t go out with him again.
That had seemed so much easier when it was just me and my thoughts. Grant being present really ruined things for me. I was left speechless and unsure of what would come out of my mouth, which was terrifying with how good the man looked. He was dressed in a soft white henley that fit him as well as any tailored suit might have, a pair of dark denim jeans, and well-worn work boots.
It was a good look.
“Here, let me see,” he said, stepping closer, right into my space. In the span of a heartbeat I found myself in the last place I anticipated being this early in the morning: sandwiched between Grant and a wall.
I gulped, squeezing my eyes shut, and managed to croak while forcing myself to watch his fingers spinning the dial of the mailbox lock, “Thanks.”
“No problem.” He leaned over my shoulder, eyes on the mailbox beside me. His chin grazed my shoulder and I shivered when I felt the ghost of his warm breath against my neck. I hated that I noticed he smelled like fresh peppermint. My mind, the traitorous thing, wondered if he would have tasted like peppermint, if I had dared to kiss him the night before.
I bit my bottom lip when his chest nudged against my back, and it took everything in me not to lean back into his warm presence.
“There, I think I got it,” Grant said. The sound of his voice made my toes curl, and I gave a quick jerky nod as I willed my body to stay still.
“I must have just put it in wrong.”
Grant leaned closer, his lips by my cheek now. My heart raced when he reached up to open the mailbox. “Happens all the time,” he murmured, making goosebumps raise up on my arms.
“I must have written down the code wrong,” I said, and sidestepped, trying to put space between us. All I managed was to crash into him, as he had moved that way too—to give me space. I’d zigged, when I’d been better off zagging or staying put.
“Sorry,” he blurted out.
“No, that was my fault.” I turned, putting a hand out to steady myself, and managed to smack my hand into his chest with a loud thwack. “Sorry, sorry,” I apologized, and opted to stand still as Grant moved back and away from me.
When we faced each other, he raked a hand through his hair and flashed me a warm smile. “I had a great time last night, Aurora.”
“So did I. Thank you for the lovely evening.”
“When can I see you again?”
I cleared my throat and looked away. “I really had a good time with you at dinner, but I don’t know if we should go out again.”
His brow furrowed. “What? Why not?”
“I just...don’t,” I hedged. I nodded toward my apartment and took a quick step away. “I should get back to unpacking.”
“Is it because you’re older than me?”
My mouth dropped open. “How did you know that?”
