Finally, after a minute or so, the glowing in my hands go back to normal. I have no idea how I’m going to explain what just happened. I so badly wanted to be normal for him and the team, just for a few hours.
I’m so embarrassingly attracted to you that my stupid body is trying to combust, Big Cheese.
I stand up straight again to find Nathaniel watching me closely. I worry my bottom lip.
“Claustrophobic?” he asks, head tilted and eyebrows creased with worry.
My shoulders collapse forward in relief at the simple excuse he hands to me.
“Yes,” I lie. Easily. “So much.”
He starts to step forward only to think better of it and stops. “I’m very sorry. I didn’t even think to explain … The walls are filled with—well, it’s for safety, but it’s expensive and so the building is very small. Dylan refuses to go in there.”
He’s rambling and I’m only half-listening because even now he’s so damn endearing in his concern.
“I’m okay.” I hold up a hand to gently cut him off. “I’m embarrassed, but I’m okay.”
“Please don’t be embarrassed. It’s a normal reaction to that sort of environment.”
“Let’s just pretend it didn’t happen,” I say with a forced smile.
“Okay.” He nods. “Deal.”
Normal reaction? Nothing about that or me is normal. How could I possibly accept a job that had me this close to the edge within just the first hour?
I had been so close to saying yes, so close to giving in to Nathaniel. This reaction is the reminder that I needed.
There is no normal for me.
