Page 66 of Who's Loving You
The door is pushed wide and behind it stands a man with a smile that would have ovaries bursting all over the world. I don’t see a pimple patch anywhere in sight, but the sweatpants he wears are lethal.
Grey.Every woman’s kryptonite.
Now while I don’t actuallyknowwhat he’s packing beneath them, I know enough to cross my legs and squeeze my thighs to ward off the tingles that begin to spread. I’m a sensitive ball of hormones and one touch will have me short circuiting.
A grocery bag hangs from his hand and he makes a beeline for me. I stay seated behind my desk because I need the protection. I’m too close to breaking.
“Why are you always feeding me? Are you trying to make me fat?” He sets the bag down on my desk and in a flash, he’s leaning over and kissing my lips.
My eyes don’t even get a chance to close he’s in and out so quickly. The kiss is soft and chaste, like what you would give a spouse, meeting them for a meal on your lunch break. It’s become second nature to him and I don’t know if I like that. The bigger problem could be that Idolike it.
“Mi Reina, you’re perfect. But you don’t eatenough. Every time I talk to you, you’re eating a piece of chocolate or energy drink like that’s enough to somehow nourish you..” He pulls the chair closer and plops down then begins pulling items out.
“That’s not true. I eat and drink more than that.”
He lifts his eyes to meet mine with a cocked brow. “Chips and queso and peach margaritas don’t count as an actual meal.”
I narrow my eyes and stick my tongue out at him, but he only laughs and continues piling snacks on my desk.
“Jesus, Nic. What is all of this? That’s like a bag of diabetes. Yet you were just giving me shit for eating chocolate?” I scan all that’s laid out before me and pick up a small container. “Oh wait. Here’s some carrots. That makes it all better.”
He snatches them out of my hand and throws me the same tongue out response that I handed him.
“It’s called balance, baby.”
I’m trying desperately not to smile and laugh, but this has got to be one of the most thoughtful yet ridiculous things a man has done for me.
I examine all of the contents of Nic’s bag o’ treats. Crackers and cheese, apple, carrots, candy –I quickly snatch the Cherry Twizzler tidbits– and…
“Spicy Dill Pickle chips? That sounds vomit-inducing.”
“Mi Reina,” he says in shock. “These are the world’sbest chips. You’re going to fall in love with them, then fall in love with me for introducing them to you. Well that and for my charming personality and devilish looks.”
“Sure buddy. Let’s play pretend. I used to like that when I was a girl.” I chuckle and open one of the packages of sliced apples. It looks like a toddler’s snack time which seems very fitting for Nic.
“Well if those don’t work on you, maybe I'll win you over with my massive dic–”
“Stop!” I hold my hand up to halt where I know this is going. “That is never going to happen so I don’t need the visual.” Though I already have an idea.
He waggles his brows at me and the smoldering look in his eyes has me imagining him looking up at me from between my legs. The vision comes out of nowhere and takes me by surprise. Moisture begins pooling between my legs and I’m once again squeezing for dear life.
“So earlier I mentioned that I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Mmhm,” I mumble as I immediately begin shoveling an apple into my mouth, coming to the realization that I’m actually starving.
“Well it’s my bye week which means we have four days off. This morning was our last practice.” Crackers and cheese get placed in front of me and I promptly shove one of each in my mouth. “Now I know you know that Chase is taking Lucy to Colorado for a little getaway and he invited us.”
I swallow down the dry bit of cracker and nod. “Yeah. I know. But of course I told Lucy that’s not possible.”
Nic twists open a bottle of mineral water and hands it to me. I take a big gulp, soothing my parched mouth.
“I told Chase you wouldn’t go for it. But I was kindof hoping I could still convince you to go away for a few days…with me.”
My mouth stops mid chew to allow for the words to process. I study him like he’s a Rubik’s Cube that I can’t solve. How could this boy think that I’d want to go somewhere alone with him if I didn’t want to go somewhere with himandfriends?
“Yeah. That’d be a no from me, lover boy.” I give him my final word and return to eating the sweet apple and tangy cheese.
A warm hand covers mine that has me freezing and the world going quiet. The effect he has on me is more than I can handle. My once strong will that allowed me to ward off men and all of their bullshit is standing on weak knees.