She turns around, running straight into my chest. Okay, maybe I was standing a bit closer than I thought, but she’s laughing, the sound light and happy. My arms are finally back around her so I can drag her against my chest again.
“Thank you,” she mumbles, and I rub her back. “For coming with me and helping me get this apartment,” she adds.
“You’re very welcome.” I pull her impossibly closer. “To be honest, this was also a very selfish move because now you’re here, and I get to see you more often,” I admit, making her step out of the embrace to nudge me. “Hey,” I complain, my fingers poking her sides to make her giggle.
She attempts to walk away, but I grab her wrist gently, guiding her back against my chest. Our laughter fills the empty apartment, but when she lifts her chin so her mouth is closer to mine, I can’t help but lower my lips. My nose brushes over hers, our breaths becoming one as I fight with myself.
“If I kiss you, would you hate me for it?” I find myself voicing the question without even thinking the words.
Nevaeh’s breath trembles as it hits my lips, but she doesn’t pull away. No. She takes a subtle step into me, lips almost brushing.
“I think it would do something more opposite, Adrian, so you really can’t kiss me,” she says, and yet, she still doesn’t move away.
Not until another breathless moment passes and we both realize nothing can happen, not right now.
“We better hurry. Knowing my sister, she made dinner as a bribe for us to get back as soon as possible.”
Chapter 31
Nevaeh
Gabrielissharingastory from his childhood while we eat the food Valentina and he made. She smiles at her fiancé while he goes on to tell me about Jean, his brother, who is studying business. The love I see in Val’s eyes and then in Gabriel’s when he catches her staring at him turns my stomach upside down. I’ve never felt a love like theirs. I can’t help but wonder how many people are lucky enough to experience it in their lives.
Adrian pulls me out of my thoughts as he guides my hair behind my shoulder, resting his head on his hand and watching me with half a smile.
“What?” I ask, and he looks down at his plate, a faint smirk on his full lips.
“I like having you here,” he admits, and my stomach turns for an entirely different reason.
His eyes drift to his sister before he looks away again and clears his throat.
“Anyway, I should probably head home,” Adrian says and sits up straight.
The words falling from my lips come out too fast for me to stop them.
“Take me with you.”
Surprise laces his features, and when I check to see Val’s and Gabriel’s reactions, they have the same shock on their faces as Adrian.
I let out a nervous laugh before adding, “I’d love to see where you live.”
Nothing is going to save me from this awkwardness. If anything, I’m only digging myself a deeper hole.
“And then I’ll drive you back here later?” Adrian asks, obviously unsure what I want. I don’t even know what I want. My first instinct was merely to spend more time with him because whenever I’m with him, I don’t think about work, Mama, or anything else that makes my blood boil. I only see him,feelhim.
“Sure. I mean, if you want.”
Oh God, this is getting worse by the second.
A chuckle vibrates off his chest, and he grins with his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek to hide his amusement. He stands up only to lean down and whisper something into my ear.
“If we start talking about what I want,mon paradis, then we’re going to have a very simple conversation we’re not allowed to have,” he says and holds out his hand to help me up from my seat.
With a blush settling on my cheeks and my heart racing, I take it but keep my distance from him. Val and Gabriel have luckily moved on by making conversation with each other, which takes some of the embarrassment off my chest.
I attempt to pick up my plate, but Val frowns at me.
“You leave that plate where it is,” she warns, and I raise my hands in surrender. “Good. I’ll see you later.”
