Page 40 of The Next Door Billionaire's Deception

Of all the places to meet Richard, it’s in the parking lot.

“Just heading back from work?” He asks.

“Yes.” I give him a look over. “I guess that’s not the case for you though, right?”

He’s wearing a casual outfit. As always, he looks irresistible.

He chuckles, rubbing the back of his hair with one hand. “Right. Well, I’m out of cookies, and I thought I’d stock up on supplies.”

“Um.”

The air is thick, as silence hangs between us.

“Can I … walk you to your apartment?”

I eye him. His face is unreadable.

“Sure.”

He retrieves his box of cookies, and we walk to our doors in silence.

On Friday, after the kiss, he said little as well. After the party and throughout the jaunt back to our apartment, we didn’t say a word to each other.

Good night.That was the first thing he said since the kiss and the last of that night.

We reach our apartments. I rummage through my bag to find my key, but he’s already with his. His lock clicks just as I find it, but I fumble, trying to unlock my door with trembling hands. The key falls. I reach for it, but my hands touch his instead.

He reaches for it as well.

My eyes meet his, and my chest flutters, with my cheeks blushing pink.

“Need some help there?” He says, rising to his feet.

“Um…” I find it hard to mutter words.

He inserts my key into the lock, and it clicks open. Turning to me, he hands over the key.

“Th–thanks,” I say in a low, muttering voice.

“No problem. And,” – he lifts a hand to tuck strands of hair on my temple, but stops, clenching his hands – “uh, goodnight.”

He picks up the pack of cookies he dropped and walks into his apartment, shutting the door behind him. I look down at my fingers. They’re still trembling.

I walk into my apartment, dumping my bag on a table. I slump to the chair, running my fingers through my hair.

Why did he stop? It’s almost habit now for him to tuck my hair behind my ears whenever he sees me.

Did the events of Friday change history mind?

I’m not allowed any more time to think as my phone rings without warning. I check the number. Alex. I pick up the call.

“Hello? Hello? Is that you, ‘Lissa?”

There’s an evident longing in his voice that breaks some bricks off the wall I’ve built around my heart.

“Yes, Alex. It’s me.”

“Listen. I know we’ve had our issues, ever since Hannah, but I just really wanted to talk to you.”

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