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He matches his long strides to my much shorter ones, following me down the empty corridor then waiting while I pull the key out of my dress pocket and put it in the lock. It sticks. I jiggle it impatiently and try again. I know this is the right key! Why won’t it work? Pulling it out I go to try again and his big rough hand surrounds mine with heat.
“Here,” he offers, “let me try.”
Warm tingles radiate up my arm from the innocent contact and I quickly release the key and withdraw my hand.
“Thanks.” I mumble. I try to move to let him get closer, but I’m caged in the circle of his arms as he turns the key in the lock. Of course, it opens easily for him. Figures. Shaking off my mild annoyance I smile my thanks and slip inside, heading straight to the cabinet that holds what I’m here for. All the housekeeping areas are set up the same to help us be as efficient as possible, even when we work on a different floor. Ms. Smith is nothing if not efficient.
Quickly pulling out what I need, I think to ask, “Does your room need clean linens?” I may as well have them ready if I’m going to need them.
“That would be great,” he rejoins, moving past me to the cupboard I just turned away from. “You will not be cleaning up after me though. I can do it myself.”
“But it’s my job,” I protest.
“It will never be your job to pick up after me, Ellie,” he
stares into my eyes intently, making my cheeks burn.
“O... okay,” I say, confused by the undercurrent of something I can’t put my finger on resonating in his voice. “Here you go then?” It comes out as a question. I hold out the stack of linens but he doesn’t move to take them.
“Could you help me?” he asks, “it’s easier to make a bed with two people.” He’s not wrong, but I make beds alone every day, so it’s not that hard.
“Ummm, sure… but I have to go help Faye first.” He closes the door behind us and I scurry back to Faye’s apartment with my arms full.
“I’ll be right here whenever you’re ready,” he calls behind me, stopping at the entrance to his place. Faye is standing right inside her door, a knowing grin spreading across her face as she takes in my flushed cheeks and Blake’s presence behind me. She plucks a pile of sheets and towels from my arms.
“Go help Blake first, so he can get back to work,” she says, “I’ve got nothing but time.”
Knowing that despite what he said earlier it is, in fact, my job to pick up after him, I turn and follow him inside his small apartment. It’s not as fancy as Faye and Travis’, but still very nice.
“I’ll just be a couple minutes,” I say, stepping past him and heading toward the open bedroom door. The hint of masculine soap and aftershave tickles my nose and I inhale deeply, trying to capture every last bit of the scent. My nipples tighten behind the bodice of my stiff grey dress as I breathe it in again, trying not to be obvious about it, just in case he follows me to the bedroom.
Mentally shaking my head at my behavior and my body’s involuntary response, I cross to the unmade bed and quickly fold the bedspread so I can set it aside and strip the sheets off the pillows and the mattress. His intoxicating scent swirls around me and I bite back a moan as heat floods my body.
Why is his smell doing this to me? It makes me want to lay down in his bed and wrap myself in it! Just ignore it. You’ll be done soon. I encourage myself. The feelings rioting inside my body are different from anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s embarrassing and unprofessional.
Wanting to get done as quickly as possible, I gather the sheets and drop them in a pile by the door and step into the bathroom. The spicy male aroma is stronger in here! With a small groan, I gather up the used towels and add them to the pile in the bedroom before returning to hang up fresh ones. Now for the bed.
Blowing out a quivery breath I return to the bedroom, and he’s there. Right there by the darn bed. Oh my-Lanta! He looks so good, stubble darkening his jaw, flannel shirt with rolled back sleeves untucked over a tight t-shirt. He looks perfect. More flipping perfect than any man I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Ready?” his deep voice rumbles, making me squeak in surprise even though I knew he was right there. Ugh! Why? I used to not be this lame. I used to know how to act around boys, men… whatever. Blake is, without a doubt, all man, and I have no idea how to act around him.
“Yes.” I rush to fill the expectant silence stretching between us. He grins, a sexy little twist of his lips that shows a quick flash of dimples in his cheeks that I definitely wasn’t expecting. Dimples too? How perfect can one man be?
“So am I,” he prompts, raising an eyebrow at me and looking pointedly at the clean sheets that he must have tossed on the bed while I was in the bathroom.
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry,” I mumble, reaching for the fitted sheet and snapping it out over the mattress with a practiced move. He grabs a corner and together we put it on the bed, followed by the rest of the bedding.
Stuffing the pillows into new cases, I dare a glance in his direction. He’s moved to lean against the door jamb, silently observing the stiff movements of my wooden limbs. I think I’ve developed a crush on my boss’ friend. Business associate, whatever he is. This is so not good. I’ve got to get out of here.
“Well, there you go,” I chirp in an overly high voice, scooping the laundry up off the floor and moving swiftly to get out of his bedroom. Out of his apartment. I need to get away from him and back to Faye’s so I can help her and then get back to my regular work downstairs.
I cannot be alone with this man again. I just can’t. Not when it makes me feel confused and completely out of sorts.
Chapter Nine
Blake
That didn’t go as planned. Not that I exactly had a plan. I’m not sure what spooked her, but whatever it was sends her racing back to Faye who is watching us from her doorway with a smirk on her lips. I hated watching her clean up after me even though all she did was change the sheets and pick up used towels. It wasn’t so bad when I was helping her, but I don’t ever want her to do it again without me by her side.
