Page 35 of Timelessly Ours
I sigh. And yet…she was my very first real friend after I got out of rehab. The one who welcomed me into her life, no questions asked, and told me she needed me. Needed someone to look up to, like an older sister.
The bitch was also the first one to make my eyes water.
My skin tingles. And I don’t have to turn around to know why.
“You don’t have to do that, you know?” he says, stepping up behind me.
I twist my neck. He’s in jeans and a white long-sleeve shirt that seems soft to the touch. His biceps stretch the fabric, making my fingers itch.
“Afraid I’m going to break more dishes?” I avoid looking directly at him again since I can’t seem to do anything but make him turn away from me the first chance he gets.
He steps behind me, brushing my arm with his built chest as he shuts off the water. It’s…innocent, but scorching. “House chores are not part of our arrangement.”
“Fine.” I throw off my rubber gloves, feeling my cheeks heat. My frustration is likely misplaced, but I’m fueled with way too much ammunition. “Once you figure out what I’m actually good for, why don’t you let me know.” I pick up the rag I’d been drying with and toss it at him on my way out. He catches my arm and twists me back. I gasp, my face nearly colliding with that broad chest again.
“Don’t take that tone with me.” It’s a sexy growl that makes my heart slam against my ribs.
My lips part and I’m ready to push until more of his goddamn wall is broken. “Is this going to be a regular occurrence, because I have a hard time keeping a filter on it.”
His grip tightens around my wrist and I wince. Not from pain. But what in the actual fuck I was doing to him.
This is your boss, you idiot.
He drops my hand and backs away. “Of course not. I apologize. I um…I came down to see if you’d like to go over to your place now for some things.”
Flustered, I nod. “I’ll go grab my keys.”
We’re both quiet on the ride downtown to my place. Royce offered to stop by the hardware store for boxes and I told him there was no need. Everything I plan to bring, I can fit into one large duffle bag.
“You know,” I finally snap, breaking the silence in the car. “I shouldn’t be apologizing because I did nothing wrong, but…I’m sorry for earlier.”
He inhales, his chest rising as he watches the road.
“But what do you expect?” I continue. “You hired a bartender. This is how we are. We’re loud and forward and…” I trail off, wondering why I snapped the way I did in the kitchen. What had set me off? Guilt over upsetting my friends? Or did it have something to do with the man sitting next to me being so hot and cold?
“And what?” he asks, too calmly.
I hesitate and lower my voice slightly. “Defensive.”
“You’re right.” He glances at me. “You shouldn’t be apologizing.”
I nod slowly.
“But you do know what this means?” he asks.
“What?”
He turns to me with a raised brow. “I’m making you a chore list.”
I smirk. “It’s the least you can do.”
We return to the house an hour later with the one bag I’d prepacked in my head before we even got there.
He puts the car in park in his driveway and takes a breath instead of stepping out.
“Are you sure that’s all you need, Nicole? You seemed to leave a lot of stuff at your place? There’s plenty of storage here if—”
“This is all I need,” I assure him.
