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“We’ll see.”
A second later, I hear a rumbling sound come from over my head. I look up and my eyes widen. Cole shouts and yanks me out of the way just before a section of ceiling tiles crash to the floor. Years of built-up debris and dust rain down from the massive hole, then a pipe bursts, drenching everything below it in dirty, rust-colored water.
My breath hitches. My eyes go wide. Suddenly, I realize that I’m nearly face to face with Cole, who holds me tightly against his solid torso with his strong arms. He is very warm, and I get a huge whiff of his naturally clean, male scent.
The temptation to lean closer, press my nose against his neck, and breathe in more of that scent almost overwhelms me. I manage to keep my wits about me, but only just.
The noise subsides as the water slows to a trickle. Cole looks down at me as though he’s just now realizing that I am in his arms.
His throat works and he looks directly at my lips.
Lips that know exactly how well he kisses.
I lean in.
I want him to kiss me, I think. No, I need him to.
But then Cole gives himself a shake and lifts my body up and away from his. He sets me down and takes a step back, clearing his throat.
“Your ceiling seems to be leaking.” His eyes leave me and assess the dirty mess on the floor. “Do you have a mop?”
I’m too busy gaping at the hole in the ceiling. “Oh my god. Oh my god, how could this happen?”
“Easily. Years of neglect can do that.”
Without thinking, I reach out and push his shoulder, reprimanding him. “This place is sacred. Have some respect. No one was negligent, okay?”
“So you didn’t know about plumbing issues?”
I hesitate, licking my upper lip. In truth, I’d been warning the community center board that we should get some people out and do routine maintenance to the structure of this building for several years now. But this is the first time that anything has gone so terribly wrong.
“Ummm…”
“I take it from your lack of response that you knew.”
“I didn’t say that!”
“You didn’t have to. Now where do you keep the mops?”
“Oh! Probably.” My cheeks have got to be the shade of Mars right now. “I’ll go look for one.”
“Look for a way to turn off the leak while you’re at it,” he suggests.
“Uh huh.” I glance at the broken tile and hurry off toward the nearest closet, hoping to find a mop.
But inside my head, I am reliving the fireworks that I felt when Cole kissed me in the diner. Not just once, but over and over again in my memory. Pow! Pow!
I want to feel that again. For real this time. And I know that only one person can make me feel that way.
Christ. I have a serious crush on Cole! And I think he likes me too.
The question is… do I want him to admit that? Or am I just interested in having him bend me over a park bench?
This situation with Cole has got me wondering what exactly I have to do to make him make a move… and what move I want him to make.
11
Savannah
