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Did he notice? When did they start printing the expiry date in such large type? I fight the urge to tell the guy that they didn’t have a very long expiry date even when I bought them. It was a spur of the moment thing so I’d have them on hand after Owen and I broke up. Just in case.
Nope. This man really doesn’t need to know any of that. Get it together, Elena. My face burns as I scramble to pick everything up. Thankfully he doesn’t comment on my other random items that really belong hidden away in the bathroom without being seen by anybody but me. Once they’re all safely stored back in the box, I finally look directly at him.
“Thank you,” I say as I stand up from my awkward crouch, stopping short when his looks hit me with full force for the first time. Damn, he’s gorgeous. His tall, powerful body is more thanenough to keep me staring, but I lock in on his face. Charcoal black hair sets off his gorgeous features. His dark eyes meet mine and I force myself to look away.
So extremely handsome.
He nods. “Glad to help.”
I turn my back against the continuing glare of the doorman. He obviously need to relax, his lobby’s already back to normal with no harm done. The elevator doors have closed in the meantime but they slide open the moment this hot stranger presses the button.
He holds the door open for me as I drag my suitcase with its wheel now firmly stuck in place onto the elevator. Mr. Doorman must think I’m scratching up the floor, even though I’m not. There’s nothing metal touching the beautiful floor, I’m making sure of that. The last thing I want to do is cause any damage or trouble for myself, especially after my wild entrance.
Fortunately there’s no one else on the elevator. The man gives me another smile as the doors close behind us.
“Let me help you with those,” he says, glancing at my armful of boxes. I take in his suit, which is impeccable and obviously very expensive.
“Oh, no. It’s fine. I’ve got them now.”
“It’s no problem at all.” He’s got them out of my hands before I can protest anymore. My arms are starting to ache so I’m grateful for the help.
“Thank you again,” I say.
His hand hovers over the buttons. “What floor?”
“The penthouse,” I tell him.
I’m very aware of how close I am to this man. Color starts to climb back into my cheeks and this time it’s absolutely not from being embarrassed.
Well, maybe just a little. Mostly it’s from the growing heat between us that I can’t ignore. My pulse speeds up as heglances my way. For some reason he’s looking at me like I’m as captivating as he is.
As if. I could be projecting my own attraction onto him but I don’t think I am. As alluring as he is, there’s something else going on.
“It’s never easy moving into a new place,” he says. “I haven’t lived here that long myself.”
I swallow. “Right.”
He’s about to say something else to me when he’s interrupted by his phone ringing loudly in the silence. He balances the boxes against the wall and takes his phone out of his pocket to check it.
“I can take those back if you need to answer that,” I tell him.
He slips his phone back in his pocket easily. “No need. It’s fine.”
I’m racking my brains for something to say that’ll make me sound wonderfully sophisticated and interesting. Like someone put-together and worthy of living in this building. Maybe also worthy of this guy’s attention.
He has a really nice manner about him, and not just because he helped me out when I needed it. I should know that first impressions aren’t always right but what the hell. I’m starting my new life here. I can act differently than I usually do around men, which is awkward and self-conscious.
I’m going to be a new, very confident me from now on. If I start practising now, maybe I can make it last beyond the time when I have to leave this building. How great would that be? I’m not super shy but I always get nervous around people that I want to impress. Like this man. Instant attraction. I’m into him.
I straighten up and hold my hand out. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Elena Olson.”
“Asher Kingston.” He folds my hand in his large, warm one. My heart jumps. His simple touch is giving me goose bumps.Can he tell what kind of effect he’s having on me? I don’t have a poker face by any stretch. “It’s nice to meet someone else in the building who’s under sixty,” he continues.
“I thought I might be the only one,” I say.
“There’s a few of us around, although we’re in the minority. It’s surprising, since this is a newer building,” Asher says.
I’m casting around for something else to keep the conversation going when the doors slide open. I didn’t realize we were going to the same floor until now.
