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It had been a long time since I’d felt that way.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t ever noticed a random gorgeous guy before, but there was something different about the tall man with the chestnut-colored hair. He’d held himself with an air of confidence that could have easily been mistaken for arrogance, but there’d been a kindness in his sapphire eyes that had left me thinking it was just a little more confidence and a little less arrogance. The warmth began to fade, and my eyes automatically shifted to the windows to see if it was snowing again. After so many years of living in Phoenix, I still couldn’t get used to the sight of snow, and while I’d loved experiencing my first “White Christmas,” I was still on the fence about having four actual seasons in a year. In truth, I knew the weather probably didn’t have much to do with my feelings about New York.
Or the fact that I always felt cold.
I forced myself to focus on the customer in front of me and was glad when Emily repeated the customer’s order from behind the giant espresso machine so I wouldn’t have to attempt to rattle it off. Half-caff, double-whip, no foam… I couldn’t keep the fuck up. I mean, I liked the occasional latte here and there, but these people were positively obsessed with their drink orders.
I still didn’t know how I’d gotten here. Twenty-four hours ago, I’d entered the little coffee shop after the sight of a life-size Captain Kirk wax figure had caught my eye in the window of the shop as I’d been walking by. I’d wanted a few minutes to escape the cold and avoid going home, but somehow my distraction had turned into a job just a few short hours later.
I’d only gotten halfway through my drink the day before when my phone had buzzed and I’d snatched it up to see the ominous message pop up on the screen.
Where are you?
The words alone hadn’t been ominous in any kind of meaningful way, but I knew Billy well enough to hear his voice as if he’d been speaking them in my ear.
He hadn’t been asking the question out of curiosity. No, he’d wanted to know where I was because I wasn’t where he’d expected me to be.
Home.
Waiting for him in case he decided to drop by.
I’d quickly punched out a response that I was getting a protein smoothie from a new shop I’d come across in the neighborhood and offered to bring him one. The answer had seemed to mollify him because his response had been simple.
My usual. Hurry up. I have to leave soon.
I’d been lucky on two fronts. One, that there was, in fact, a smoothie shop near my apartment and two, it hadn’t been busy.
That was pretty much where my luck had run out, though, because Billy had been waiting for me in the apartment when I’d arrived and he hadn’t been in the mood to talk… or listen. He’d only stopped by to get off. It was something I should have anticipated, considering he had an important meeting that day, but I’d been caught up in my own thoughts.
I’d walked into the apartment, mentally rehashing some song lyrics I’d been toying with when I’d suddenly been grabbed from behind, a thick arm curling around my shoulders and a hand grabbing my forearm. I’d jumped in fear and surprise, yelping and putting my hand to my heart as Billy had released me and then doubled over with laughter.
“Shit, Billy. You scared the fuck out of me. Please don’t do that. God.” I’d felt stupid tears threatening to fall as the adrenaline rush had been followed by my heart rate spiking. He knew I hated to be startled like that. It had only been a few years since I’d been treated for a serious heart condition, and he knew how terrified I was about doing anything to jeopardize my heart. I still had a hard time wrapping my head around how he could have been so damned sweet before and after my surgery, only to pull shit like this now, especially since he knew I lived with the fear of my health once again failing on a nearly daily basis.
“Don’t be such a pansy, Ashton. The doctor said you’re fine,” he’d said with a laugh.
“That’s not exactly what he said. Besides, I don’t enjoy being startled and you know it,” I’d grumbled. “Here’s your smoothie.” I’d long ago gotten into the habit of dropping my eyes around him, since he always seemed to prefer that, so I’d been surprised when he’d reached out to grab my chin to make me look at him. His strong fingers had dug into my skin and I’d forced myself not to wince at the pain, for fear he’d tighten his grip and leave marks.
