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As we walked to the front door, I racked my brain for something witty or romantic to say, anything that might give me a clue about where we stood. But all that came out was, “So, uh, big meeting tomorrow?”
“Yep,” she replied, chuckling softly. “You know how it is, spreadsheets and calculators.”
“Ah, the glamorous life of an accountant,” I teased, earning another laugh from her. Every laugh was like an ego boost. I loved making her laugh and smile.
“Hey, it pays the bills,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, someone has to keep the world financially stable while you're out there saving fawns and wrestling bears.”
“True,” I admitted, smiling down at her. As I closed the front door behind us, I hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Should I kiss her? Hug her? Shake her hand like an awkward neighbor?
“G’night, Connor,” Rebecca said softly, breaking the silence. She leaned in and gave me a quick hug before walking to her car.
“Wait,” I called out, slow jogging after her. My heart raced as I realized that I couldn't let her walk away without expressing how I truly felt.
She stopped in her tracks and turned to face me, her hazel eyes searching mine for answers. “What's up?” she asked softly.
“Becca, I…I can’t just let you leave,” I said.
A hint of a smile played at the corners of her lips. “I've missed you too, Connor.” She took a step closer, her eyes never leaving mine.
“I'm sorry for pushing you away.” I said. “I was scared, but I want to make this work, no matter what.”
“Me too,” she whispered. Her eyes traveled to my lips, then back to my eyes.
That was exactly what I needed. My breath caught in my throat as I closed the gap between us, pressing my lips against hers in a desperate, passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer as if trying to merge our bodies into one. My heart pumped out of control, and the waistband of my pants tightened.
“Connor,” she whispered between kisses, “come over to my place. Please.”
Fuck yes.
“Nothing could keep me away.”
18
Rebecca
As I slid into my car, the lingering taste of that earth-shattering kiss still tingled on my lips. Connor's gift weighed heavily in my hand—not from its physical mass but from the sheer emotional gravity it carried.
The beautiful little fawn looked remarkably like the one I’d saved. He’d really captured her essence. I clutched it to my chest. The love and thought he had put into this gift filled me with happiness and excitement.
I drove to my apartment, the anticipation building with every passing second. The moment I stepped inside, the scent of vanilla and lavender greeted me, enveloping me in a calming embrace. I lit some candles. Luckily Lindsay was out with her boyfriend again, so we’d have the apartment to ourselves.
A knock on my door made my stomach tighten. Connor didn’t waste any time driving here. I opened the door without hesitation, but my smile quickly slid off my face.
My eyes met the dark soulless brown eyes of my neighbor from 2C. My heart thundered in my ears as I slammed the door shut. But his foot blocked it, and he forcefully barged into the living room. I stepped back and stumbled into the coffee table. Recovering quickly, I positioned it between us and continued to slowly back away.
“You bitch,” he snarled, voice dripping with gruff malice. “15 years, I’ve been doing this. Never even close to being caught. And you somehow figured me out.”
“Get out of my apartment,” I shouted back at him and attempted to dodge out of his way.
“I should have disposed of you when you were in that shitty cabin.” Had he been watching me? He lunged for me, and I landed a kick to his shin.
He cursed as I darted for the balcony. What the hell was I going to do on a balcony? I lived on the second floor.
Before I could make a plan, Connor burst through the door, fist flying and connected with my neighbor’s jaw. He hit the floor with a thud and didn’t move.
Connor scooped me up in his arms asking, “Are you ok?”
My heart pounded against his chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. “Yes.”
