“They give you a hard time, huh?”
“Yep! They’re impossible.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Enough about them though. Honestly, it’s always a good night. Live music, a good crowd…”
He leans in slightly. “Sounds like the kind of night I’d enjoy. Maybe I’ll crash one weekend.”
My stomach flips, nerves and anticipation swirling in the best kind of way.
“I’d like that,”I say, my voice soft.
“Yeah?”he asks, his eyes locked on mine.
“Yeah.”
He smiles slowly.“Another drink?”He nods toward my nearly empty glass.
“Please. Actually... I’m kind of starving. Want to grab something to eat? I think the kitchen’s still open.”
“Food sounds good. I’ll grab a menu. Another red wine?”
I nod, returning his grin as he stands and weaves his way through the crowd toward the bar.
As Ben disappears into the crowd, I lean back in the booth and try to catch my breath. I’m still not sure what this is. A drink after work? A spontaneous dinner? Something more? I’m not usually a giddy, nervous, overthinking mess. But it’s Ben. The guy I’ve been crushing on for months, who’s also my boss. It’s probably the worst idea ever, but here I am, silently hoping whatever this is turns intosomething.
We spend the next hour eating, drinking, and talking like we’ve known each other forever. There’s not a single awkwardpause. We just click, bouncing off each other like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
As much as I don’t want the night to end, my mind keeps skipping ahead to the moment when he drops me off. Will it just be a quick goodbye? Or… will he kiss me?
It kind of feels like he might. And I really hope he does.
“Ready to call it a night?” he asks half an hour later.
“Yeah,” I say, finishing off the last sip of my wine.
We get up from the table and make our way through Eden. Ben’s hand settles on the small of my back, the heat of his touch seeping through my cami and sending a jolt of electricity up my spine. Outside, he drops his hand as we walk side by side toward the car.
“I had a great time tonight,” he says once we’re both buckled in and I’ve pointed him in the direction of my apartment.
I glance over at him, meeting his gaze. “Me too, Ben. Thanks again for dinner.”
He waves his hand. “Of course. It was just a burger and fries, Ash.”
“It’s just here on the left,” I tell him a moment later, and all too soon, the car comes to a stop outside my building.
Nerves swirl in my stomach as he kills the engine.
“I’ll walk you to your door,” he says.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
My lips curve into a soft smile. “Okay.”
We climb out of the car, and I fish my keys out of my purse, swiping my fob to unlock the front door. I walk in with Ben just behind me. We wait in silence for the elevator, and when the doors slide open, we step inside together. I press the button for the third floor, and as the car ascends, the air between us grows thick with unspoken tension.
I steal a glance at him, only to find him already watching me. He smiles, and I smile back. My eyes stay locked onto his as the elevator doors open. Neither of us moves until the doors begin to slide shut again. With a soft chuckle, Ben steps forward, placing a hand between them to keep them open.
“We should probably get off before we end up back in the lobby.”
