“I was.” I just left out that I was leaving to go see her.
“Cool,” she said as her focus kept drifting to the side.
I leaned against the door jamb, blocking the view. “Need something?”
“No. Yes. Maybe?”
“Is it a multiple choice? Am I supposed to pick?”
She gave a soft laugh, but there was no smile on her tense face. Not even a tilt of those full lips. “I know you’re busy. And I know I said I didn’t need you.”
Fuckin’ ouch.
As if that didn’t burn enough, she paused there. Letting that statement hover. For a second, I thought she was just there to rub salt in that emotional road rash by emphasizing that she didn’t need me. But then I caught it. The way she eyed me expectantly.
Like she hoped I would again offer to accompany her.
Like it killed her to ask for help.
Too bad.
I’d seen her walk through Rye to inspect every inch of the building without giving away a single thought or emotion in her expression. I’d seen her get up and take control after the drive-by, and the only indication she’d nearly been shot was the blood that’d steadily leaked from her forehead.
A forehead that was still bruised and had to hurt like a bitch, but that she hadn’t mentioned once.
Yet standing there on my landing, her pretty brown eyes aimed anywhere but me, she fidgeted with her fingers before roughlyshoving her hands in her hoodie pocket. Even then, she shifted her weight from side to side as her expression quickly morphed to annoyance.
Wasn’t sure if it was aimed at me or herself. Also didn’t matter.
Crossing my own arms over my chest, I remained silent as I waited, getting off on her discomfort.
I was beginning to think we’d be locked in that stalemate all day when she rushed out, “Do you have time to come to the bakery with me? It’s okay if you don’t. No biggie either way.”
Could’ve let her off the hook. Could’ve easily agreed to something I wanted to do anyway.
But I liked seeing her ruffled.
And I was an asshole.
So I pushed.
“Do you want me to go with you?” I asked.
She glared. “You offered yesterday, and I just thought since we’re supposed to be building our… you know. Whatever. The whole thing.”
“Doesn’t answer my question, Lo.” Uncrossing my arms, I put my hands on the door frame at either side of me and leaned closer. With our height difference, she had to crane her neck to meet my gaze. “Do youwantme to go with you?”
Her glare intensified.
Safe bet she has a piece strapped to her somewhere.
Also a safe bet she’s contemplating using it on me.
It was a thought that shouldn’t turn me on.
Yet there we fuckin’ were.
She must’ve decided the paperwork wasn’t worth it because she inhaled deeply. “Yes, I want you to come with me.”
