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“Now, now, where would the fun be in telling you? I’d rather make you sweat. Hot and bothered is a good look on you,” he drawled as he gently pushed my arm away, and the doors slowly slid closed.
My mouth gaped as I watched the doors close, taking Dawson up to third floor, leaving me stiff, hot, and full of panic.
I can’t fuck this up.
This might be closest I ever get to a date with Dawson Richards.
Because it wasn’t a date by any means. Dawson was a man of his word, and I’d won fair and square. It was just good sportsmanship, nothing more.
Even if I wanted it to be...
So, as I gathered myself and headed down the hall to my apartment, I promised myself I would do whatever it took to make the one shot I had absolutely perfect.
CHAPTER 9
Dawson
I’d never been so relieved to be cut off by an elevator in my life.
I just couldn’t seem to help myself around Nolan. I liked pushing his buttons, throwing him off guard and causing a little chaos to his daily routine, I could admit that at least.
But there was a moment, in that elevator where I’d forgotten who we were, where we were.
As I leaned against the wall, staring down at those pouty, perfect lips, I thought fuck, this is it. This is my sexual harassment suit in the making.
I sighed as the doors opened on my floor, thanking the heavens above for the brief moment of reality.
My body was flushed, still hot, and I was certain it wasn’t entirely from the run.
Once in my apartment, I could relax. Or at least, that’s what I intended on doing. Shower, clean up a bit, maybe get some take out before I headed back to the firehouse. I stared at my phone on the counter, feeling a little antsy.
It’d been a weird fucking day, and a part of me wanted to call my best friend and dish about all the grade A tea. About that hot-as-hell phone call, Nolan showing up at my brother’s... that hot-as-hell race, and me nearly losing all my fucking marbles in that damn elevator.
But a part of me also knew that Cade was in that new relationship haze.
Which meant for him nothing would matter except the man he was all twitterpated for at the moment; a man who was actually good for him. I wanted things to really work out for them.
I wasn’t lying when I said what I did at M’s Place the other night. I wanted to see my ex turned bestie settle down and have the life he always wanted. I sighed, shaking my head.
What about what I wanted?
Did I want some white picket fence, brunch on Sundays sort of life that everyone around here seemed accustomed to?
I swear, sometimes it’s like the Stepford Wives up in here.
I’d always known what I didn’t want. But knowing what I did want... I wasn’t so sure what that was.
There was a sort of rhythm to being a bachelor. To living life the way I had, without attachments. I’d had boyfriends, sure, but I hadn’t been on a date somewhere like Sedona in a while. I knew immediately I’d wanted to take Nolan there, not only because I knew it would shock him—I doubted the pencil pusher had been anywhere like the five-star restaurant in the city that’s famous for its cocktails and it’s flaming tower dessert—but because for some reason I couldn’t explain... I wanted to impress him.
I wanted the chance to show this pain in the ass that I wasn’t just some dumb, charismatic asshole who lived to make his life hell.
Even though I do enjoy raining hell down on him.
Why do I care what Nolan Harding thinks of me?
I slid out of my shorts, groaning in defeat as I headed for the bathroom, the cool air of my apartment kissing my skin.
I knew the answer, even if I didn’t want to admit it.
