“Those people don’t count, then,” she retorted, finally sitting next to him.
When he looked at her to reply, he saw that her head was down, her lips moving silently, and he realized that she was praying. Fuck, he was messing this up big time. He put his toast down hastily, waiting for her to finish because what the hell else were you supposed to do when the girl you were having breakfast with was praying? She looked up and grinned when she saw how he was watching her, and that he wasn’t eating anymore.
“You’re cute,” she laughed, picking up her fork. “You don’t have to stop eating just because of me.”
“I’m learning.” He gave her as nonchalant a shrug as he could manage and picked up his toast and butter knife. “You ever thought about getting something done? Of getting a tattoo?” he asked. She would look amazing with one of his pieces on her. All gorgeous lines and just the right shades to compliment her complexion. He would love to do it himself.
“Sort of…but,” she shrugged and bit her lip, looking like she was thinking how to explain before she finally said, “I was never in a position to get one is all.”
“And what about now?” he asked, his fingers moving to touch her wrist. Her skin was soft here, but she was soft all over, and he rubbed the delicate flesh, liking that it made her breath catch.
She swallowed hard, her eyes on his fingers as they lightly skimmed the inside of her wrist. “Now would be a good time.”
“Nothing holding you back now?” he asked, leaning toward her, and she licked her lips. She knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to and that made Steve want to do it even more.
“No, nothing. I wouldn’t know what to get, though,” she admitted, leaning toward him.
“I’ll draw you something. We’ll figure it out.” He brushed his hand down the side of her face, tucking her hair behind her ear, his other still rubbing her wrist. She blinked, taking in the purposeful look in his eyes and he could see she was realizing he didn’t want this to end. That it wasn’t just a passing night or two for him, that he did want to see her again, that he did want more breakfasts, more nights, more opportunities to get to know this beautiful girl. She smiled as the space between their lips shrunk down to inches. She angled her face up toward him, and her eyes closed in anticipation of the kiss.
“Would you do it for me?” she asked, voice just above a whisper, and Steve felt like groaning at the sweetness of it.
He chuckled, his fingers moving beneath her chin. “I wouldn’t let anyone else at the shop touch you.”His lips brushed hers, and she leaned into him eagerly, her mouth opening to his with a sigh as their kiss deepened. He threaded their fingers together while they kissed. It was a perfect moment, or it was until the sound of a key sliding into the lock interrupted the morning quiet of the apartment. He knew that sound anywhere, someone was trying to get in the apartment.
They pulled apart, listening even though he knew what it was.Whoit was. Steve turned his head toward the side, listening, but when they heard nothing for a few seconds, Jordyn touched his arm.
“Maybe it was just next door,” she whispered, sounding hopeful.
Steve really liked that she was hopeful. He liked that about her. But he knew better. Another quiet second passed before they heard the jiggling of the new doorknob, and a frustrated voice on the other side of the door. The key rattled in the lock, and then the knocking started.
“Jordyn! Open up, we’re going to be late,” Alex called.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Steve sighed, pulling away and standing. He’d known it was too good to be true. This perfect morning just had to have some shit smeared on it, and it came in the form of her asshole of an ex.
“It’s Sunday. I don’t understand. He’s usually at church all day.” Jordyn looked at the clock in the living room and shook her head. “This makes no sense that he would be here now. Let’s just ignore him,” she tried.
Steve shook his head, taking his glasses off and tossing them onto the table. “No. He’ll just come back. He shouldn’t be bothering you.”
Alex knocked again. “Jordyn!”
With a sigh, Steve started toward the door. Jordyn stepped in front of him. “Just don’t hit him. Please.”
He stopped short and stared at her, raising an eyebrow. “Why does that matter to you?” They both knew why he was asking. He wanted to know why she’d stop him. Was it for Steve, or was it because she still had feelings for the man outside?
“Because I don’t want you to get in trouble. I feel like he’s trying to provoke you on purpose. That’s just the kind of thing he would do,” she told him without hesitation. Steve felt the grip on his heart he hadn’t realized was even there let go. His shoulders relaxed, and Jordyn stepped closer, gently touching his arm. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, okay? He’s not worth it.”
He rubbed a hand against the back of her neck, surprising them both when he leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead. The gesture was sweet and unexpected, just like the girl in front of him.
“All right. Just stay behind me. I don’t want him any closer to you than he needs to be.”
“Promise,” she said and followed him down the hallway, one hand lightly pressed to his shoulder as they went. He liked having her this close, at his side, and Steve realized that if he didn’t watch himself, he was going to fall ass over heels for this girl.
But right now, even with her ex boyfriend on the other side of her front door, that didn’t seem like such a bad deal.
Chapter Fourteen
“Jordyn!We’re going to be late if— What the hell?” Alex gaped, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water when he saw that it was Steve opening the front door.
“Morning, sunshine,” Steve drawled, one hand on the door, the other on the doorframe. He grinned at Alex’s confused expression. “Surprised to see me again?”
